News by email Donate

Suggestions

Top Stories

Most Read

Popular Videos

Congregation-Main_article_image.jpg
Congregation - Copyright Paul Grover / REX
UK News

Fresh push to find new clergy

by Hannah Tooley

The church wants to find new role models, increase the number of minority ethnic vocations and encourage more women to take up leadership roles.

Parish and diocesan leaders are also being encouraged to take a pro-active culture towards vocation by providing opportunities to get involved and praying and teaching about vocation.

Catherine Nancekievill, Head of Discipleship and Vocation for the Ministry Division of the Church of England, told Premier's News Hour the Church wants to encourage more minority and ethnic leaders.

She said: "If you don't see somebody leading who looks and sounds like you, then you're never going to think it's a possibility for you.

"One problem we have is about the role models we have out there already - so we're just encouraging churches and people to think about that."

Catherine Nancekievill said people do not need to be convinced, they just need opportunity.

"It is about God calling people, and He is.

"He's calling different people all over the country into all sorts of different vocations.

"Not just ordained vocations, not just clergy roles, it's about people are listening and hearing that call and then they're acting on it and we're giving them opportunities to do that."

The campaign comes after the General Synod backed moves to increase the number of candidates for ordination by 50% over the next five years and to increase the youthfulness and ethnic diversity of candidates.

Nigeria-born Martha Weatherill, a first year ordained at St Stephen's House theological college in Oxford, said her calling to ordained ministry was inspired after attending a Minority Ethnic Vocations Conference supported by the Committee for Minority Ethnic Anglican Concerns (CMEAC) and the Ministry Division of the Church of England.

She said: "I've always served, doing one thing or another in the Church, but I saw myself as someone who was going to graduate and get a job in the City, as an accountant.

"Four years ago when I was serving in a care home, a woman who was a resident said to me 'thank you so much for the Holy Communion service, without this we wouldn't get access to the Church or have communion.'

"At that point, I felt like a switch had been turned on, as if the Lord was saying to me that this was my destiny, this was what I was born to do."

The resources have been published in advance of Vocations Sunday when parishes will ask congregations to reflect on God's call in their lives both in the Church of England and in the wider world.

Resources to encourage prayer including 'Prayer Postcards' have been created to share with people seeking to discover their vocation. 

Listen to Premier's Antony Bushfield speak to Catherine Nancekievill here:

A Monthly Gift Of $11 Makes A World Of Difference

In a world of fake news there’s never been a greater need for quality Christian journalism. Premier’s mission is to provide the Church with the most up to date and relevant news, told from a Christian perspective. But we can’t do it without you.

Unlike many websites we haven't put up a paywall — we want to keep our journalism free at the point of need and as open as we can. Premier’s news output takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. No one in the USA is sharing news like we are across radio, magazines and online so please help us to continue that today.

For a monthly gift of $11 or more we’d also be able to send you a free copy of the brand new Premier Bible, a wonderful Anglicised version of the NLT packed with exclusive bonus content, reading plan and resources to help you get the most out of scripture.

Your monthly support will make a world of difference. Thank you.

Support Us
Continue the conversation on our Facebook page

Related Articles

Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed with news from a Christian perspective.

News by email

Connect

Donate

Donate