Do you feel a calling to some sort of ministry? Do you need help in discerning what that is? 

If you believe that God may be calling you to ordained or lay ministry, please contact the Director of Vocations Revd Canon Rachel Watts. Rachel works with a dedicated Vocations Team which helps with the discernment, selection, and training of ordained and licensed lay ministers.

Others may feel called to explore a different vocation, whether that be to support local projects, help at a night shelter, or a youth project in the community.

Training

Lay Ministry Courses

Foundations for Ministry is an exciting and vibrant course open to anyone active in church life who feels some sense of vocation or calling to Christian Ministry but needs some time and space to unpack what that might mean and look like. FFM is a part-time lay training course run by our diocese which is suitable for anyone who wants to serve God in the church and in the world. People may go on Foundations for Ministry to explore many different kinds of Christian ministry, which include but are not limited to:

• serving God where they are at work, in the family, in the community
• specific roles within the church
• ordained ministry
• licensed lay ministry (Readers, Church Army)

For more information, please contact: Jamie Mackenzie.

Stories

	Vocations Day 2025 On Saturday 8th February, people gathered at St Bride's, Old Trafford to explore a variety of lay and ordained ministries at the annual Vocations Day.
	A Return to Faith We caught up with Angela Pratt, a member of St Mary the Virgin, Leigh and participant in the Foundations for Ministry course to find out about her story of returning to faith and the impact this has had on her life.

Events

Vocation Support Group meetings

Is God calling you?

Not quite sure which way to go?

Want to explore with like-minded people in a safe environment?

Why not join us for the Vocation Support Group?

The purpose of the Vocation Support Group is to meet with others in the diocese who are currently exploring vocations and to share our experience of the journey.

Anyone can attend these meetings which run from 7- 9pm and are very informal. The aim is to offer an opportunity to meet with others, some of whom are currently exploring or exercising some form of ministry, and some who are just embarking on this journey of discovery and discernment.

If you would like any further information or have any questions, please do not hesitate to email Bishop’s Chaplain, Revd Canon Anne Edwards at bishopschaplain@manchester.anglican.org

Upcoming dates:

Resources

Mentors

The Church of England can put you in touch with a mentor who you may find helpful if for are at any stage on the journey towards ordained vocations. A mentor is a knowledgeable friend to accompany you along the way. All the Mentors are volunteers who are passionate about supporting future clergy. Your Mentor will not be making decisions on your process or be your advocate. 

For more details and to apply for a mentor, visit the CofE website.

Spiritual Companions

Christian ministry is founded upon a life of prayer. God is ever doing new things, and without an openness to the Spirit, his purposes and blessings are in danger of passing us by. Not only that, Christian ministry is a weighty calling which may only be maintained in God’s strength and with the gifts of his refreshment. No doubt any Christian knows this; but in the midst of busy ministries, it is all too easy to focus upon the next deadline, pressurising time available for prayer. This is where many find a Spiritual Companion (or Spiritual Director) helpful. A Companion asks the questions, “How is your prayer life, and how might God be speaking to you today?” Through regular conversation, we discern what modes of prayer are most fruitful for us, and return to prayer with renewed expectation.

The details of any relationship with a Spiritual Companion are a matter of negotiation, such as the frequency and length of meetings. However, any minister is encouraged to have a Spiritual Companion, as spiritual wellbeing lies at the heart of all else. In our diocese, we are fortunate to have a number of Spiritual Companions willing to volunteer their services. Licensed ministers wanting further information about these should contact the Bishop of Manchester’s Chaplain in the first instance at BishopsChaplain@manchester.anglican.org