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Join our Philosophy forum to discuss religion and spirituality.

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Join our Philosophy forum to discuss religion and spirituality.

Philosophy/religion

Ordination and all that.

29 replies

CaulkheadNorth · 08/05/2017 20:37

Anyone at a stage of exploring/discerning a call to ordination?

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Littlemisssorrow · 08/05/2017 22:57

My DH has just been recommended for training.

The discernment process was long and complex for him. It certainly was a rollercoaster ride of emotions!

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CaulkheadNorth · 08/05/2017 23:27

Congratulations! How long did it take, from when he first saw the DDO?

I keep hearing that it's hard to get into a BAP at the moment, but not sure if that's just summer ones filling up or just a general shortage.

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Littlemisssorrow · 09/05/2017 07:23

It took three years. We had a few hoops to jump through first!!

Our diocese prepare you very well for the BAP. I wouldn't rush the discernment process and DH believes that although three years seems like a long time, it really wasn't. It allowed him to fully understand his calling.

Good luck!

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Littlemisssorrow · 09/05/2017 07:25

As for a shortage. He does not think there is. The BAP is very rigorous so your DDO will not send you unless they are certain you are ready.

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Niminy · 09/05/2017 08:01

Very exciting, Caulkhead! I'm out the other side of the process now )will be ordained priest this summer - God and the bishop willing) but remember the discernment process very well.

How far have you got? Have you talked to your vicar/vocations advisor/DDO? In my experience the process seems to take ages, although it took for me about two years which is actually quite speedy as these things go. But the time you spend in the process is really important. You learn lots about yourself and it's a really good preparation for training.

Your DDO won't put you forward for a BAP until they think you are ready. They do get very busy at this time of year because everybody who is going to start training in September has to be through a BAP by the end of June. The timing of when you go is something for you to talk about with the DDO. Some dioceses have courses for potential ordinands and events for people considering a call to ordination.

It's a bumpy but exciting journey! Very happy to do a vocations support thread here.

You may have seen this cartoon. It's roughly accurate!

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CaulkheadNorth · 09/05/2017 08:18

LOVE that cartoon. I hadn't seen that one but have a book of his others.

I work FT for a church so it's been an bit of an ongoing conversation with the vicar here for the last 6months. The DDO here leaves in September so I've done exploration course but nothing else, so I don't begin with one person and then move to another - that is her suggestion for anyone approaching her at the moment.

I first saw a DDO in 2003 so it feels like a long time of praying about it and talking myself out of it

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TwoAndTwoEqualsChaos · 09/05/2017 08:21

I know which Diocese you are in!!!!

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CaulkheadNorth · 09/05/2017 08:23

Haha. I don't put anything on here that I'd have an issue with someone coming and telling me they saw, so it's okay. Apart from this obviously, hardly anyone knows about this...

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TwoAndTwoEqualsChaos · 09/05/2017 08:24

I think that is very fair advice, as it is going to be awkward enough hand information over the Curates currently in training: relationships are such naninprtabt part of the process.

Is it "Signposts" you have dome?

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TwoAndTwoEqualsChaos · 09/05/2017 08:24

*done

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TwoAndTwoEqualsChaos · 09/05/2017 08:25

*Sigh, I can'tell spell this morning.
*handing over the Curates
*an important

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CaulkheadNorth · 09/05/2017 08:27

Doing it currently, as it was moved from Lent till now.

It's really good, and a wide mix of people from those who are new to all of this to those have been talking to the DDO for a while.

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TwoAndTwoEqualsChaos · 09/05/2017 08:27

I can't put done the role I have, as it would make identifying me VERY easy ... not senior but a known point of contact.

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CaulkheadNorth · 09/05/2017 08:28

Ah, we may well vaguely know each other then. I'm on the diocesan pay role, but based in parish. What a small world!!

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TwoAndTwoEqualsChaos · 09/05/2017 08:32

I am currently on the bus and speculating as to who I have had contact with who fits your description ... happy to chat via PM, if I can be of help or you just want to find mutual friends ... I am on the Diocesan pay roll, too!

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TwoAndTwoEqualsChaos · 09/05/2017 08:35

Niminy, a vocations thread sounds like a great idea for support.

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CaulkheadNorth · 09/05/2017 08:47

littlemiss is your DH going to a local college or will you all move?

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Littlemisssorrow · 09/05/2017 11:29

He has conditions to meet. He has to do a pre-training course to meet his conditions. He starts this today doing one evening a week!! Then in Sept 2018 he starts full time. He only had his BAP in April, once you've been recommended they work fast to get you started.

We don't move out of our town as his Uni is commutable. He will do mixed mode. One day at Uni, working in a parish the rest of the week, plus a study day. Whether we move into the parish he will based in is not yet decided. We have a year yet to prepare though!!

Being recommended with conditions is very common. Since his recommendation every Priest we have spoken to says they had conditions too.

After DH got his "yes" I was very emotional and cried on and off for several days. Being selected is an honour and we were both very humbled by it.

God bless you OP

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CaulkheadNorth · 09/05/2017 20:11

Is it a course organised by the diocese or university or something? I have a theology degree so I'm hopeful...

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Littlemisssorrow · 09/05/2017 23:02

It is organised by the university. They tailor each course to your individual needs.

Possibly by having a theology degree you might be able to undertake a shorter training period.

But honestly, DH didn't think too much about training until after he had been selected. He focussed solely on the BAP and his discernment and trusted that God had a plan for him.