Exploring Ordained Ministry

Most often people are ordained first as Deacon and then a year later as Priest – but there is growing interest in the ‘distinctive diaconate’ (see CofE Network for Distinctive Deacons for more information).

A deacon is a publicly acknowledged figure who is given authority to represent Christ and his Church in a particular way. The ministry of a deacon is to be a servant, both within the Church and in the community. Deacons have a particular role during worship, especially at the Eucharist, where they perform certain liturgical tasks, e.g. reading the Gospel, dismissing the congregation at the end of the service.

Most deacons are later ordained priests, usually after one year, but some feel called to be life-long distinctive deacons. In the Ordination Service, the Bishop says these words which express the heart of the ministry of a deacon:

‘Deacons are called to work with the bishop and the priests with whom they serve as heralds of Christ’s kingdom. They are to proclaim the gospel in word and deed, as agents of God’s purposes of love’.

Most often people are ordained first as Deacon and then a year later as Priest – but there is growing interest in the ‘distinctive diaconate’ (see CofE Network for Distinctive Deacons for more information).

A priest (also known as presbyter) represents Christ and his Church in a particular way, through a ministry of teaching, preaching, celebration of the sacraments and pastoral care. It is a ministry of leadership and mission, enabling all Christian people to share the Good News in their everyday lives.

But priesthood is not just about doing, but about being. Through the lives they lead, priests point to Jesus and encourage people to show love and compassion and to build the Kingdom of God. As they do this, priests share in people’s joys and sorrows as they walk with them on their journey through life.

In the Ordination Service, the Bishop says these words which express the heart of the ministry of a priest:

‘Priests are called to be servants and shepherds among the people to whom they are sent. With their Bishop and fellow ministers, they are to proclaim the word of the Lord and to watch for the signs of God’s new creation’.

The Church Army trains evangelists to share the Christian faith through words and actions and to transform people’s lives.

Their focus is on the 7 out of 10 people who have little or no meaningful contact with church. They work in Anglican churches, projects and teams throughout the UK in the following areas: evangelism; children and young people; church planting; homeless people; older people.

This is one of the Church of England’s accredited ministries. Evangelists are lay ministers who work full-time and are paid. It is a pioneering ministry which is particularly attractive to people who have a passion to be at the margins and tell others about their faith.

For further information visit the Church Army website. 

Some men and women are called to live what is known as the ‘Religious Life’, as a monk, a friar or a nun. 

There are lots of different ways of following a religious life - as a layperson or as someone who is ordained, in communities that are active or enclosed. Each community has a particular way of serving God - through ministries of teaching, hospitality, nursing, community work, spiritual direction etc. 

There is a renewed interest in the religious life for people in their everyday lives. 

Many ordinary people live as Associates, Oblates, Companions or members of Third Orders - linked to religious communities through prayer and a rule of life. 

There are also lots of expressions of ‘new monasticism’ emerging throughout the country - see  www.freshexpressions.org.uk. 

Further information and detail can be found on the CofE website. 

CofE Birmingham is enriched by the ministry of Self-Supporting Ministers (SSMs) based in Parishes, Chaplaincies and Work-Place settings.  The Bishop of Birmingham encourages vocations to this form of ministry, supported by the Sponsoring Bishop, DDO and Vocations Team, and is committed to the imaginative deployment of SSMs so as to best use their gifts and thereby grow God’s Kingdom.

SSM is ministry rich, diverse and distinctive.  As Ministers without stipend, SSMs often exercise a ministry which is flexible and integrates with another professional vocation or substantial personal responsibilities.

Examples of SSM Ordained Ministers include:

• Offering pastoral ministry to Colleagues and Clients in Work-Place settings, ministering in an appropriate way alongside another professional role such as Teacher and Educator, Engineer, Legal Executive, Administrator, Social-Care Worker or Health-Professional.  Often work-place SSMs are linked to a Parish in addition.

The term 'Minister in Secular Employment' (MSE) is sometimes used for this expression of SSM ministry.

• Leading Parishes in a variety of contexts as Incumbent, either full-time or part-time. There are also SSMs who lead smaller Churches as Assistant Priests under the oversight of an Incumbent.
• Serving as Associate Ministers in a Parish setting alongside an Incumbent, as part of a Ministry Team.
• Serving as a Chaplain in an institutional or corporate setting such as healthcare or prison.  

These Guidelines offer some insights into the selection, training and deployment of SSMs in CofE Birmingham.

For further information please contact:

Director of Ordinands

Director of Ministry