THE MINISTRY OF PRIESTS
All Christians are called to ministry by the Holy Spirit who calls us and empowers us to serve. If you are discerning a call to ministry of priesthood, we welcome you this site where you will find a description of the Diocese of Washington’s ordination process, the qualities we are looking for in our future priests, and all documents you will need should you begin down this particular path of discernment.
The central focus of the discernment process for ordination to the priesthood is not whether an individual is called to ministry, since by baptism God has called all of us to minister. Rather, the principal focus of discernment concerns how closely an individual’s gifts and experience match the unique challenges of priestly ministry in this time and place.
The landscape of Christianity in America has changed dramatically in the last fifty years and the rate of change continues apace. Models of pastoral leadership that previously served God’s people well are less than effective now; new times require new skills and aptitudes. We believe that God is calling the Episcopal Church to mission and ministry in the midst of change so that the richness of our spiritual tradition may serve the needs of our time. Every congregation, from the largest Cathedral to the smallest country church, faces new challenges and new opportunities.
The Diocese of Washington needs ordained leaders who will equip our current congregations to adapt to new realities, sing the Lord’s song in new lands, and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in ways that speak to the varied contexts and cultures of our communities. We seek leaders with the skills and capacities to plant new congregations and worshipping communities.
May God bless you in your vocational discernment, wherever the path leads.
