Discernment Stages and Characteristics

Developed by Rev. Jeannie Shero 

A person who is considering a ministerial calling will exhibit different characteristics and behaviors as they move through their discernment process. Tailor support to best match the person’s stage of discernment.

Emerging

Characteristics / Behaviors

• Feels or thinks that ministry is appealing or even awe-inspiring
• Often gravitates to religious events, trainings, classes, etc.

• Asks questions of clergy/students:

  • What is needed to lead and run a congregation?
  • How does a person become a minister?
  • Is it possible to stay in their current job and still do ministry?
  • May begin to talk about a desire or sense of calling to do ministry (could sound nebulous or like it might take place in living daily life)
  • Seeks more responsibility and leadership in the congregation

In Care Program Support Role

• Include the person in the participant information sheet

Home Congregation Support Role

• Provide opportunities to be a leader in the congregation
• Provide opportunities to explore theology, specifically Unitarian  Universalist (UU) theology
• Offer chances to be noticed and encouraged
• Offer good conversation partners
• Introduce person to resources and discernment support available from your In Care Program

Considering

Characteristics / Behaviors

• Uses the language of calling (often tentatively)
• Explores the barriers to the calling and asks questions about financial realities
• Explores theological schools or other higher level degrees
• Discusses with family and friends

• Explores the possibility of called ministry with their own or another minister

  • Questions the impacts on their relationship with their congregation/minister
  • Does reality checking to see if others can “see” a minister in them

  • Uses language such as:

    • “I’d love to be able to pursue this further, but…”
    • “Could I really pay for this and make it work?”
    • “Am I too old/_________ for this kind of change. Is there any other way?”
    • “Can I succeed in school?”
    • “Does this make any sense?”
    • Others see and name their potential for ministerial calling
    • Might apply for aspirant status with the MFC

In Care Program Support Role

• Include the person in the participant information sheet
• Strongly suggest that they contact the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Ministerial Credentialing Office to learn more about how to proceed

• Provide discernment conversation partner(s) who will

  • Foster exploration of blessings and challenges of ordained ministry including financial implications, scholarship sources, financial aid process, realities of job market including the potential need to relocate for ministry work
  • Describe other paths to religious vocation (see below)
  • Be open to their questions, fears, hopes
  • Be honest about their strengths and growth areas—even if it means discerning away from professional ordained ministry
  • Help them create authentic language to describe their calling
  • Offer resources and help locating more resources as needed

Home Congregation Support Role

• Provide opportunities to be a leader in the congregation
• Communicate with In Care Program leadership about the person’s emerging calling to some type of ministry
• Minister serves as a conversation partner similar to discernment conversation partner

Claiming

Characteristics / Behaviors

• Willing to pursue the calling, may still be somewhat wary
• Shares their calling with more people
• Plans to go to theological school, enrolls
• Feels overwhelmed with the requirements and process of ministerial formation
• Undergoes theological re-formation, deconstruction, reconstruction, etc., in school and congregational life
• Applies for aspirant status with the UUA Ministerial Credentialing Office
• Prepares for candidacy
• Completes career assessment

In Care Program Support Role

• Include the person in the participant information sheet
• Encourage active participation with peers
• Invite to student-minister gatherings
• Provide a vocational advisor
• Encourage work with a spiritual director, therapist or both

Home Congregation Support Role

• Minister serves as a conversation partner
• Offer support and show interest in person’s formation process

Invested and Pursuing

Characteristics/ Behaviors

• Attends theological school (if they do not already have an MDiv)
• Fulfills requirements and applies for Candidate status with the UUA Ministerial Credentialing Office
• Develops relationships with other students, ministers, and professional staff
• May experience a shift in calling from what they originally expected
• May experience setbacks or take a break
• Engages in ongoing discernment about ordination and ministry setting

In Care Program Support Role

• Unitarian Universalist connections and experiences
• Collegial connections and support

Home Congregation Support Role

• Offer support and show interest in person’s formation process
• Provide congregational leadership experiences, if possible

Affirming and Ritualizing

Characteristics / Behaviors

• Completes requirements of Ministerial Fellowship Committee process leading to preliminary fellowship
• Prepares for ordination and the first position

In Care Program Support Role

• Collegial connections and support
• Support during the search process

Home Congregation Support Role

• Offer ordination support and encouragement