Growing Vocations Summary

Content Renewal & Reform Research Good practice Under-represented groups Discernment model for vocational culture Questions Statistics Discussion

Renewing Discipleship and Ministry for a growing church and a flourishing ministry Developing Discipleship Lay Leadership Growing Vocations to ministry Lay Ministries Future Clergy Resourcing Ministerial Education

Growing Vocations to ministry Ordained vocations aspiration: to increase by 50% to shift the emphasis of the characteristics and skills to encourage underrepresented groups Lay Vocations: Every Christian on a vocational journey Lay ministries as part of the overall increase in ministry In paid and voluntary roles, supporting new forms of church

Barriers and encouragements How I perceive myself How I perceive ministry Structural/process problems Encouragements Opportunities for experience; small steps. People – role models, seed planters, supporters, mentors

Good practice research - informal Attention Normalising vocational conversations Vocations are infectious! Accurate information – online and for parish leaders Mobilise role models Tell stories of vocation Experience Opportunity to ‘have a go’ Open-access local courses, formal learning opportunities Facilitate peer discussion Multiple access points

Good practice in parishes and dioceses research - informal Attention Normalising vocational conversations Vocations are infectious! Accurate information – online and for parish leaders Mobilise role models Telling stories of vocation Experience Opportunity to ‘have a go’ Open-access local courses, formal learning opportunities Facilitate peer discussions Multiple access points Attention Normalising vocational conversations Vocations are infectious! Accurate information – online and for parish leaders Mobilise role models Tell stories of vocation Experience Opportunity to ‘have a go’ Open-access local courses, formal learning opportunities Facilitate peer discussion Multiple access points

Peter walking on water – disciples watching?

Good practice research - formal Multiple access points to discernment process Don’t assume clergy support at the beginning Make the process transparent Reduce bottlenecks Use group work and peer groups Portfolio of exercises Separate the role of ‘judge’ from that of ‘supporter’ Two meanings – don’t assume someone has the support of the incumbent (young women, sexuality), don’t assume someone has an incumbent supporting and guiding them through the process (geographical moves, church fluidity)

Thinking about vocational journeys Awareness Articulation Confidence Decision Prayer Experience Mentoring Information Gatekeepers Perception Prayer Experience Mentoring Discussion Detailed information Gatekeepers Misinformation Prayer Experience Preaching Role models Seed sowers Advertising Prayer Mentors Discussion Detailed information Testing Role confusion

Young Vocations - Research Young people’s attitudes to work/vocation Young Christians’ approach to thinking about their futures Young Christians’ attitudes to and perceptions of ordained ministry Specific obstacles that young women encounter

Strategy Discernment model Research State of play

Under-represented groups Young Vocations Actively manage geographical moves Increase breadth of experience Move quickly Provide a champion Young women Mobilise role models Provide open access outside parish Provide practical information early (online, focused events) Social Diversity Provide and certificate lots of small steps Offer context-based learning Grow indigenous ministry BAME Focus on BAME majority churches Hold BAME specific events

Statistics on Ordained Vocations

Total number of candidates 2010-2014

Proportional number of candidates 2010-2014

Ethnicity

Recommended Candidates

Recommended Candidates, Stipendiary/NSM

Gender

Average Age

Age and gender

Ethnicity (2010-2014) 3% 16% 6% 72% 84% 94% 24% 0%   Ethnicity of candidates in Diocese Ethnicity of the population in the diocese Ethnicity of Church of England congregations in the Diocese Black, Asian and Minority ethnic 3% 16% 6% White 72% 84% 94% Undeclared 24% 0%

Gender 2010-2014   Recommended candidates in the Diocese National average of recommended candidates Ratio of male to female candidates 59%, 41% 44:31 54%, 46% 7:6 Ratio of male to female candidates under 32 69%, 31% 20:9 75%, 25% 3:1

Other (2010-2014) In Diocese National average   In Diocese National average Percentage without a first degree 25% 26% Number of candidates as a proportion of Sunday attendance (Candidates per 10000 Church attenders) 25 Number of candidates as a proportion of Sunday attendance of 18-54 year olds (Candidates per 10000 Church attenders) 83 80 Percentage not recommended 23% 18% Percentage set aside 1% 3% Percentage recommended for incumbent ministry 81% 68%

Age (2010-2014) Percentage of recommended candidates in diocese under 32 National average of recommended candidates under 32 39% 26% Estimated percentage age 18-35 in Church of England congregations in diocese Estimated percentage age 18-35 in Church of England congregations nationally 5% 7%

10 quick ideas Develop and grow your vocations’ team Hold a training day for clergy on developing a culture of vocations Book onto the Growing Vocations’ Conference 25th and 26th January 2017 Kings’ Park, Northampton

10 quick ideas Think through proactive approaches to vocations Feed in good practice - including what you've discussed over the past 24 hours to www.churchsupporthub.org/vocations Throw a party for the clergy who’ve seen the most licensed and authorised vocations come through in the past 5 or 10 years. Ask ordinands to preach on vocations

10 quick ideas Talk to your bishops and diocesan secretaries about growing the curacy budget Keep in touch with national developments on vocations’ work – and get your team on our e-mailing list: Rachel.croft@churchofengland.org Get feedback from those who have been recently called to ordained or lay ministry. Order prayer postcards or leaflets through www.churchprinthub.org

A call to prayer Why an increase in vocations? Call to prayer – asking but also allowing God to move – not presupposing the vocations that might be needed or might appear. Twitter, printed prayer resources

Sharing good practice Vocations resources website Research on good practice in dioceses, parishes, Chaplains, etc Sharing knowledge between vocations advisers on discerning vocations to religious life, pioneer ministry, Church Army evangelists, missionaries, children’s and youth workers, and others. Consulting on good practice in discernment process