There are a number of ways in which God might be calling you to grow deeper into discipleship and ministry. Everyone has a vocation, or several: the unique things that you can do because of your gifts, skills and personality. God calls us to serve in diverse and sometimes surprising ways. We might not feel well equipped or ready to take the next step, but when God calls, God is always faithful.
By baptism all Christians are called to play a part in the mission of the church. For all of us this means living out our faith where we are, serving God in the world and the church. For some, God calls them into particular forms of ‘recognised’ ministry. Below are some resources to help you rxceplore your calling and gifting, as well as information on some of the recognised ministries available.
Called to Serve roadshow events for 2025
Called to Serve is a range of events for people who want to find out more about different ways of serving, especially in ordained or licensed ministry or roles like youth and children’s worker.
In 2025 Called to Serve will be hitting the road, with shorter events across the year, in multiple locations across the diocese and different times of the day and week.
More information and booking links will be coming in the New Year, but if you would like to find out more about how you could serve in a variety of ways, get one of these dates in your diary:
Called to Serve Road Show events
- Evening of Thursday 27 February 2025 Elworth St Peter CW11 3HU 19:00 to 21:30
- Morning of Saturday 17 May 2025 Ellesmere Port St Thomas CH65 6UW 10:00 to 13:00
- Morning of Monday 2 June 2025 Church House WA4 4GE 10:30 to 13:30
- Morning of Saturday 27 September 2025 Stalybridge St Paul SK15 2PT 10:00 to 13:00
In the New Year we will publish links for booking onto an event via Eventbrite but in the meantime if you want to register your interest or find out more, email ministry@chester.anglican.org
A First step — the Foundations for Ministry course
FfM is for lay people who want to grow in serving God in the church and in the world. It is not a basics course, so those who attend will have some background in Christian life and thinking. It takes place over two ten-week blocks, exploring areas such as the Church, using your gifts, and mission and Evangelism. Participants go on from Foundations for Ministry to explore many different kinds of Christian ministry, or to minister more effectively in the contexts where they already serve.
One of the biggest gifts of FfM is the opportunity to learn and share with others in a supportive and prayerful environment. There is the option to complete some assessed work, but this is not compulsory! We ask that anyone applying discuss it with their incumbent or equivalent and gain their approval and backing for doing the course. More information is available on the Ministry section of the Diocesan website.
Click here to find out more Foundations for Ministry - Diocese of Chester
Talking to someone - Exploring vocation
We have a range of Vocations Explorers who would be happy to work with you to talk about your life journey, gifts and sense of calling and direction. These are experienced people spread across the diocese who are able to talk through how you can best serve God. Email us on ministry@chester.anglican.org if you could like to work with someone in this way.
Some areas of Ministry
Here are some things you might like to consider prayerfully as you reflect on your own sense of vocation.
Occasional Worship Leaders
OWLs are those who find themselves leading worship on an occasional basis, (no more than once a month) and are not called to licensed or ordained ministry. They are discerned and authorised locally in the parish, via a safer recruitment process, but resourced by the Ministry Team through a four-week course in Leading Public Worship. Some examples of those who might benefit from this training include those planning and leading worship in specific regular services (for example, monthly café church, Taize, Iona, etc), those who occasionally lead Morning or Evening Prayer on Sundays, or Churchwardens and others leading services during a vacancy.
Click here for more information Occasional Worship Leaders - Diocese of Chester
Licensed Lay Ministers
As theologically trained and practically experienced people, Pastoral Workers and Readers are a skilled and flexible resource for the Church. They are licensed by the bishop and are accountable to both the bishop and their incumbent (or equivalent) and play a full part in the regular worshipping community of the church in which they are licensed. Pastoral Workers are called to draw alongside people in their parish who need pastoral support. This is a ministry of presence and attentiveness which is worked out in a wide variety of ways, in both church and community. Readers are called to teach, preach and enable Christian people to explore and grow in faith in everyday life. They work with fellow ministers in their churches in teaching and preaching, leading worship, mission and often in pastoral work. Readers and Pastoral Workers are recommended to train via a diocesan discernment process. Foundations for Ministry forms the first year of training, followed by two years with Emmanuel Theological College (Readers) or the Diocese (Pastoral Workers). There is the option to gain a university qualification during training, but this is not compulsory.
Church Army Evangelists
Church Army is a national organisation that trains and commissions evangelists who work towards fulfilling the vision for ‘everyone everywhere to encounter God’s love, and be empowered to transform their communities through faith shared in words and action. Church Army Evangelists come in all shapes and sizes, and from all traditions of the church, from all backgrounds, and all educational abilities. They train part time, coming to the Wilson Carlile Centre in Sheffield for 6 weekends each year and completing practical work in the place where they live and/or work. Church Army Evangelists receive a licence from the Archbishop of Canterbury and work under a licence from their local Bishop. They work in a huge variety of contexts, some are employed by Church Army, others by a church or diocese, others in secular contexts. The thing that holds them all together is their passion to share God’s love in both word and action.
Ordained Ministers
Ordained ministers are those called to be deacons, priests and bishops. There are a variety of ordained ministries in the Church of England, from Vicars, to Ministers in Secular Employment, to chaplains. Some ordained ministers have leadership responsibility, in both church and community. Others serve as assistants, often carrying out a self-supporting ordained ministry alongside a different career or other responsibilities. Those who feel called to ordination undergo a discernment process at local, diocesan, and national levels. Training takes place at various theological education institutions, followed by three years as an Assistant Curate licensed to a parish.
Spiritual Companions
In spiritual accompaniment (sometimes called spiritual direction) you meet with someone who listens to you, to help you reflect on your own life and relationship with God. Things that you find confused or complicated become clearer as you open them to God. You will usually meet with your spiritual companion for about an hour, every 6-8 weeks. Spiritual accompaniment is open to everyone, lay or ordained. It can be very valuable if you are in a time of change or exploring some kind of vocation. Chester Diocese is also offering a training course for those who feel a call to this ministry, and expressions of interest are welcome from both lay and ordained people.
Click here for more details Spiritual Companions - Diocese of Chester
Religious Life
There are over 60 different Religious Communities in the Anglican Communion, with about 1200 ‘sisters and brothers’ who feel called to live our their faith under vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Communities vary; some are large, some small, some enclosed and some working the community.
People who apply to a Community are usually aged between 21 and 45. Academic qualifications are not essential. There is a discernment period of about 3 years before vows can be taken.
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To find out more about any of the above ministries, or to explore how you might serve God in new ways, talk to your incumbent or another minister in your church, or email the Ministry Team using the email address below and we will advise on the steps you might take next. This may involve some initial conversations with someone outside of your context, who is trained and equipped to listen to you and work with you to discern what God might be saying to you at this time. Get in touch – we’d love to hear from you!
Email ministry@chester.anglican.org