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The Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador recognizes a diversity of vocations that include both professional lay ministries and ordained ministries. The starting point for anyone wishing to discuss a vocation in our diocese is normally their parish priest. It will be expected that anyone contemplating entering any form of lay or ordained ministry will have already been engaged in some form of Christian ministry in their parish and be well known to the members of that parish. If their worshipping community and priest affirm their gifts for ministry the next step is quite often a conversation with the Bishop.
In the case of those contemplating ordination to the priesthood the Bishop alone will decide if the person should continue with a process of discernment after meeting with the individual. Normally that discernment process will entail an interview with the Diocesan Postulants Committee followed by an interview with the Advisory Committee on Postulant's Ordination (A.C.P.O.). All prospective candidates are advised that this process can easily take two or more years before the person receives any Episcopal endorsement for studies leading to the priesthood. Assuming a person has an undergraduate degree, those studies will then take a minimum of three years to complete at an accredited theological college.
At various times and places the diocese has employed professional lay ministers in both full and part-time capacities, usually within parishes. In the future, those wishing to offer themselves for such lay ministries will be encouraged to receive professional designation at the certificate or diploma level equipping them for these specialized roles.
Our diocese recognizes two types of deacons, Permanent (normally called The Diaconate), and Transitional. The Permanent Diaconate is composed of those persons who have been affirmed as having the qualities and gifts for a servant ministry within our church and who have received the necessary training to permit them to be ordained into the ministry of a deacon. Deacons will normally serve within parishes under the direct supervision of their Rector and Bishop. All such deacons will not be ordained to the priesthood and belong to what is known as the College of Deacons. The Transitional Diaconate is composed of those who have received the necessary training for ordination to the priesthood and who are serving as deacons prior to becoming priests. During this period as a deacon the individual will be expected to meet with the Examining Chaplain of the diocese to explore more fully the role of a priest within our church. Although most priests serve as Rectors of parishes or associates within parishes, others serve as hospital chaplains, educators, and administrators.
