THE PATH OF DISCERNMENT TO HOLY ORDERS
At C4SO, we believe in the priesthood of all believers. Whether we serve as lay leaders or ordained clergy, each of us is called to help build churches that exist for the sake of others, faithfully stewarding God’s grace in its many forms.Some are called to serve as staff or ministry leaders and become Licensed Lay Ministers. Others are called to a lifelong vocation of ordained ministry as deacons, priests or both within the Anglican Church. If you sense God may be calling you to ordained ministry in C4SO, we invite you to begin by exploring what ordination means.
Ordination is both a lifelong calling and a sacramental act of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. It is a recognition that God has set someone apart to serve his Church through ordained ministry.
That’s why C4SO’s Path of Discernment to Holy Orders is exactly that—a path. Discernment is not about rushing to an answer. It is a prayerful journey we walk together, seeking God’s direction for your life and ministry.
Along the way, we explore your calling, your gifts, and where God may be leading you to serve. From the first conversation to the final stage of discernment, we are committed to walking alongside you with care, wisdom and prayer, trusting the Holy Spirit to guide us every step of the way.
Before you consider this path, meet with the rector of your local C4SO church and talk about the pre-discernment qualifications. This conversation will cover the basic requirements for beginning C4SO’s local discernment process:
● The church currently has no other candidates in process
● The aspirant has been a member of a C4SO church for a year or more
● The aspirant has been confirmed or received in an ACNA church
● The aspirant has a staff or stipend position in a C4SO church
● The aspirant is seeking or willing to complete education prior to ordination: either
a diaconal certificate for the vocational diaconate or an MDiv for the priesthood
● If the aspirant is divorced, he/she understands the canonical approval process
Mission Statement
Because C4SO exists to spread the gospel through church planting, we ordain ministers, both women and men, who are serving in paid or stipend positions in growing C4SO churches that need more clergy; or having achieved a healthy core congregation, are ready to lead a church plant.
Alignment to C4SO’s Vision and Values
Ordination is a Divinely-initiated and sponsored process. Ordination is not a civil or personal right. Neither is it owned or controlled by various denominational judicatories or bishops. It is God who calls, gives character, gifts and ministry-fruit. The Church, in any form, recognizes such people, and in Anglican circles, discerns which of them are called to Holy Orders. Then we simply seal that discernment by publicly recognizing, in the form of an ordination service, what God has done from before time (Psalm 139, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Isaiah 6:1-8, Luke 9,10 sending passages, Ephesians 2:10, John 20:19-23, Revelation 22:5, etc.). The real differentiating power begins, stays and ends with God, not the candidate or church hierarchy. C4SO cannot give the gifts or fruit of the Spirit. We can coach, mentor, teach and offer relationship, but we can’t create effectiveness. And demonstrated fruit-of-proven–ministry is the chief box to be checked in the ordination process.
Our Ideal Candidate
Because C4SO seeks to focus on church planting and multiplying apprentices to Jesus in kingdom living, we ordain people who are called to start churches or to work in a substantive, paid role in a growing local church.*
Such candidates will possess these attributes:
- Character and the lifelong pursuit of spiritual transformation through apprenticeship to Jesus, as the core of their life
- Competency: a proven track of fruitful ministry (based on the testimony of others)
- Calling: a clear purpose, people to serve and place to work
- Alignment to core C4SO values: Kingdom, Spirit, Formation, Mission, Sacrament
- A paid/stipend place to work/serve
*A vocational deacon might not get paid from a local church, but they should be able to demonstrate the ability to raise money for whatever ministry they are doing in the world and should have the financial backing of a church.
Steps Along the Path of Discernment
Individual explores their calling with Priest/Rector
Individual meets with Dean and Ordination Preparation Team
Individual undergoes training and assessments, as well as a Bishop’s review
Ordinand and Rector work with diocesan office to plan ordination