Process of Discerning Ministry

Individuals who have been a member of The United Church of Canada for at least 24 months and who believe they are called by God to a specific ministry in the United Church may ask their church board, council, or session to enter into an inquiry/discernment period.

The inquiry period is an opportunity for the congregation and the individual to reflect on ministry and call, to discern gifts for specific ministries, to understand the expectations of the church, and to discern together how the individual will respond to God's call.

The Discernment Committee is made up of people from the congregation and the presbytery, and it meets over a period of 12 months. The committee makes a recommendation on the individual's call and suitability to prepare for specific ministries.

Once the Discernment Committee has recommended a specific ministry, interviews by the Conference Interview Board and the Presbytery Education and Students Committee take place.

The Presbytery Education and Students Committee may then recommend to presbytery that the individual be named a candidate for ordered ministry (diaconal and ordained) or be appointed to a pastoral charge as a designated lay minister. Each type of ministry has its own requirements for education.

The handbook Discerning a Call (DIS 200) [PDF: 24 pp/298 KB] is designed for individuals, faith communities, and committees seeking to support and help people to understand, clarify, and respond to being called to be ministry personnel or to use their God-given gifts in The United Church of Canada.