10 Top Tips – Is God Calling?

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”

1 Corinthians 12:4-7

Everyone has a vocation – what is yours? These quick tips will help you start to explore God’s call on your life.

1. What are your gifts as you see them or as recognised by others? How are you currently using those gifts in church or in life? God calls individuals to a wide range of ministries, lay and ordained and across the whole church. Identify your gifts* as your gifts will match your calling.
2. After identifying your gifts, offer them to God in prayer. Think about how your personal and potential gifts might be used to serve God in the Church and the world. What are you passionate about when you think about serving God?
3. Talk to others about your passions and what you feel God might be prompting you to do. Do others recognise your call to a particular vocation in the Church?
4. Do you have a disciplined and structured pattern of prayer that sustains your daily living? Try to build this into your daily routines (10TT Daily Devotionals)
5. How are you living out your life as a disciple of Jesus every day and how are you showing God’s love and sharing your faith in a relevant way? This already reveals what God is calling you to.
6. Learn more about the variety of ministries of the Church of England through reading, talking to those in ministries and listening to podcasts.
7. Spend time with God in prayer – take a retreat* and spend time praying and reflecting on Scripture or a Bible character you have affinity with. How did they respond to God’s call?
8. Have others recognised or affirmed your calling – those in your family, church, or who know you well? Ask them for feedback on your thinking so far.
9. Book a conversation with your church leader about your call and discuss what you believe you are called to be or do. Prepare by drawing or writing out your journey of faith at this point. Notice where God has been at work in your life.
10. Calling is not just for the individual to discern but something discerned with others, always in local or church contexts and sometimes with diocesan and national support.

Further Resources

*Discerning your Gifts: ‘Gifts for Everyday Faith’ is an audit tool from Oxford Diocese to help you discern your God given gifts., and the first part of their excellent ‘Personal Discipleship Plan.’

Read: When Jesus Calls, by Marcus Throup (2022)

Kingdom Calling: The Vocation, ministry and discipleship of the whole people of God (2020)

The Christian Priest Today, by Michael Ramsey

Churchwardens: A Survival Guide, Martin Dudley and Virginia Rounding

Websites: Information on vocations to ordained and lay ministry can be
found at: churchofengland.org/faith-life/vocations/explore-ministries

layministry.org.uk/about-us/lay-ministry  

churchesforall.org.uk (disability and the church)

anglicanreligiouslifeproject.org.uk/communities (Anglican religious communities)

churchofengland.org/faith-life/vocations/ministry-experience-scheme (young vocations)

churchofengland.org/about/governance/general-synod/structure/house-bishops/house-bishops-declaration-ministry-bishops-and-priests-and-five-guiding-principles (The Five Guiding Principles)

Podcasts: Talking Theology (from Cranmer Hall, Durham)

The Curious Case of Being Human (Ridley Hall)

Reflections on Ordained Ministry (Diocese of Ely)

*Retreat Hub: www.retreats.org.uk

To explore your calling contact your church leader, or Diocesan Director of Ordinands & Vocations Clay Roundtree email: clay.roundtree@lincon.anglican.org   tel: 01522 452014