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Discerning a call to ordained ministry

Every Christian has a vocation rooted in baptism, a call to follow Jesus and to take part in God’s work in the world. For some, this calling grows into a desire to serve as a deacon or a priest. If you are sensing such a call, prayerful discernment with others can help you understand where God may be leading.

The Anglican Church of Canada ordains people to serve in the diaconate and the priesthood, ministries shaped through prayer, community life and formation within a diocese.

The diaconate

Deacons help the Church see and respond to the needs, concerns and hopes of the world. Their ministry often includes community presence, accompaniment, outreach, pastoral care or advocacy. In worship, deacons proclaim the Gospel, lead intercessions, prepare the table and send the community into Christ’s mission.

Most deacons in the Anglican Church of Canada are vocational deacons who remain in this order permanently. Others are ordained deacon on the way to priesthood, often called transitional deacons. The Church affirms the distinct calling and formation pathway of the vocational diaconate, reflected in national work such as the Iona Report: The Diaconate in the Anglican Church of Canada.

Those considering this ministry may wish to learn more through Anglican Deacons Canada.

The priesthood

Priests serve communities by preaching and teaching, offering pastoral care and presiding at the sacraments. Their ministry helps form Christian communities and supports the gifts and calling of all the baptized.

The Anglican Church of Canada’s Competencies for Ordination to the Priesthood outline the qualities and capacities the Church looks for in those preparing for priestly ministry.

Read the Competencies for Ordination to the Priesthood (PDF)

People exploring a call to ordained ministry often begin with prayer, reflection and conversation within their parish community. Discernment and formation for ordained ministry take place in the diocese, which can guide you through its own process.

Find your diocese and contact information

Acknowledging the land and God’s creation

This acknowledgement is crafted in light of the Principles of Reconciliation by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, as we seek to live faithfully in Christ and in right relationship with all. 

We give thanks to the Creator for this land, its waters, forests and all living beings, and for the abiding presence of Christ among us. From coast to coast to coast, these have been cared for and nurtured by First Nations, Inuit and Métis through countless generations. 

We honour the enduring relationship Indigenous Peoples have cultivated with these lands and waters, and the treaties and agreements that reflect these sacred bonds. We acknowledge the harms caused by colonial expansion, through frameworks like the Doctrine of Discovery and structures like the residential school system. We recognize our past failures as a Church, including disruption of connections to the land and suppression of Indigenous spiritualities. 

Guided by the gospel of Jesus Christ, we confess our need for healing. We commit ourselves to seeking truth, pursuing reconciliation and nurturing harmony with all creation. We place our trust in Christ, through whom all things are reconciled to God. 

May God strengthen us to live faithfully as stewards of the Earth. Let us walk in love, justice and reconciliation, joining in God’s work to restore all creation.