Advice wanted from female pastors in ministry

[StillBloodyWaiting]

I've ncd as I'll be v.identifiable otherwise. The most info I'm willing to give about me is:

I believe God has called me into ministry - this happened nearly 9 years ago. Long story short, nothing has happened so far. If anything I feel more strongly that this what I should be doing and am heartsick that I am still nowhere near ministry. Over the years, we've relocated (due to finances/work) and moved church (not lots). No reasons being given, other than I have children (like I hadn't noticed !).

Please can you either share you experience of how you proceeded from call to training - either here or by PM. I am feeling increasingly miserable - this is no life, it is an existence - I know I'm not doing what I'm called to do and I'm really struggling to keep waiting (I've been told to bloody wait for nearly 9 years - at this rate I'll be retired!).

A woman who attends our Women's Fellowship meetings is a retired Minister and has suffered frustrations, I'll ask her to post, or PM you. It'll be after Easter as I'm on holiday. I find it hard to believe the prejudice against women in ministry (you don't say this is the cause of the delay, SBW, but I suspect it is) in this day and age.

What do you want right here, right now OP? What denomination are you operating under?

I'm a priest in the Church of England, married with three children. From my first talk with my priest about how I felt I might have a vocation to the national selection conference was just over two years which is about average for my denomination. I then had three years training at theological college which I did part time so the children did not have to move school.

I don't understand a nine year wait. Does your denomination affirm women in leadership? I'm happy to chat by PM.

What denomination are you? I've trained for ministry (not to be a priest though) and worked for a Church with various ministry roles for several years, currently on a break for personal reasons. The route will be different depending on which denomination you want to train for.

As CoolCat2014 says a lot of this comes down to denomination. Also to which ministry you feel called into. When you say you are no where near ministry does this mean that you are not allowed to serve on committees or lead housegroups or do all the general work around the church that is a good way of discerning whether this is a realistic call or not?

Do you have a spiritual director to talk this through with or is this not part of your tradition?