Contact:
For more information on Vocational Discernment in the Diocese of the Rio Grande please contact Mary Jewell in the Bishop's Office at (505-881-0636) or mjewell@dioceserg.org
Discernment Portfolio & Discernment Weekend
Thursday-Sunday, February 1-4 2024
St. John’s Cathedral, Albuquerque
The work discerners have done in the Lenten Vocations Course and Discernment Groups culminates in the creation of a Discernment Portfolio in preparation for a individual conversations with the Rev Dr. Jeanine Driscoll and Bishop Hunn to help each discerner determine their “next steps” on their vocational journey.
To schedule an appointment with Bishop Hunn, please contact Mary Jewell in the Bishop's Office at (505-881-0636) or mjewell@dioceserg.org in early October
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Driscoll, please use the link provided (Discerners will receive this link via email sometime in October.)
The Discernment Portfolio includes a variety of written materials (see below) and must be submitted NO LATER THAN NOVEMBER 1st, in preparation for each discerner’s meeting with Dr. Driscoll and Bishop Hunn. Discerners who do not submit their completed discernment portfolios by November 1st (or make alternate arrangements in advance with the Bishop’s Office and COMB chair) will forfeit their meetings with Dr. Driscoll and the Bishop.
After reviewing each discerner’s Discernment Portfolio and meeting with each Discerner individually to discuss next steps, the Bishop may invite Discerners to participate in a Discernment Weekend. The Discernment Weekend serves as an opportunity for members of the DRG Vocations Team (including Dr. Driscoll, Bishop Hunn, members of the COMB (The Commission on the Ministry of the Baptized) the Standing Committee, and others) to meet with each discerner in person, to become better acquainted with the unique vocational journey of each participant, in order to more adequately support the development of each participant’s vocation as it continues to unfold, and to offer recommendations regarding the preparedness and ongoing formation needs of participants, especially (but not only) those called to ordained ministries. It also offers Discerners opportunities to spend several days devoted to discernment with the DRG Vocations Team, Spiritual Directors, and one another.
The Discernment Weekend is an “in person” event. It typically begins on Thursday afternoon and concludes early Sunday afternoon. Programming is held at St. John’s Cathedral in Albuquerque and includes individual meetings with the Bishop and members of COMB and the Standing Committee, optional Spiritual Direction Sessions, Workshops, Worship, Meals, and Free Time.
To get an idea of “what to expect”, please refer to the Discerner’s Guide for the 2023 Vocations Retreat-Discernment Weekend.
The actual cost of the Discernment Weekend (excluding travel and lodging expenses) is ~$500/person. Diocesan funds and donations from Diocesan Groups & Ministries help offset these costs, making it possible for participants to pay on a sliding scale, from $150-$500. Congregations are encouraged to support Discerners, as needed, by contributing to the cost of participation (travel, lodging, and/or registration fees) in the Discernment Weekend.
DISCERNMENT PORTFOLIO & Application for DISCERNMENT WEEKEND
Deadline for submitting DISCERNMENT PORTFOLIO & application for discernment weekend is november 1st.
Everyone who has been active in this year's Diocesan Discernment Group (and/or who has received a direct invitation from the Bishop to apply) is encouraged to prepare a discernment portfolio and apply to participate in the Discernment Weekend. Most of the written elements of your discernment portfolio/application will be submitted via a google form. When it comes to preparing the lengthier written responses (Your Spiritual Autobiography and Summary of Discernment), we suggest that you begin by writing, editing, and saving your responses using a word processing program, then "cut and paste" your answers into the google form when you are ready to submit them. Your written responses should be thorough, but concise.
Your complete portfolio/application will include the following 6 elements:
Online Application Form
Clergy Letter
All applicants for the DRG Vocations retreat are required to submit a letter from their parish priest or other clergy representative of the faith community (parish, mission, campus ministry, chaplaincy) with which the applicant is actively involved.
Link to Clergy Letter Form
Local Congregation/Community Representative Letter
All applicants for the DRG Vocations retreat are required to submit a letter from a "Community Representative"--an active member of the faith community (parish, mission, campus ministry, chaplaincy) or other ministry context in which the applicant is actively involved. The "Community Representative" should be someone who is familiar with the applicant's ongoing vocational journey as well as their present ministry. The Community Representative might be the Sr. Warden or another lay leader of the applicant's parish, a member or chairperson of the applicant's local discernment team (if applicable), or a colleague, supervisor, or participant in the applicant's faith community, workplace, or other relevant ministry context.
Link to Community Rep. Letter Form
Spiritual Autobiography (<3 pages; <1500 words)
Your Spiritual autobiography should be a thorough but concise summary of your present response to the following three questions, as they pertain to your life of faith, ministry, and vocation:
Where have you been?
Where are you now?
Where do you sense God is calling you?
Summary of Discernment (<5 pages; <2500 words)
Your Summary of Discernment should be a thorough but concise summary of your discernment and development in each of five areas (all of which we explored in our Diocesan Discernment Groups.) The 3 questions you used in framing your Spiritual Autobiography (Where have you been? Where are you know? Where do you sense God calling you next?) might be helpful in framing your Summary of Discernment, as well. Describe the role of each of the five following areas in your process of vocational discernment:
Role of Community (faith community, mentors, clergy, family, friends, colleagues)
Role of Prayer, Spiritual Practice, and Spiritual Direction
Role of Learning (reading, study, coursework, workshops, apprenticeship, etc.)
Role of Leadership & Participation in Ministry (including both Action & Reflection)
Role of a Rule/Rhythm of Life
Personal Resume & Email to the Bishop’s Office
As soon as you have completed and submitted items 1-5 (No later than November 1st) please send an email to the Bishop’s Office to confirm that your application is complete, and attach a copy of of your personal/professional resume to be added to your file. Email: mjewell@dioceserg.org CC: sylvia.miller.mutia@gmail.com Memo: Discernment Weekend Application Complete
Next Steps (Late February/Early March)
Phone Call from Bishop Hunn
During the week following the Discernment Weekend/Vocations Retreat, Bishop Hunn will initiate a follow up call with each discerner to discuss possible next steps in ministry and formation.
For those who may be discerning a call to Holy Orders: It is at this point that the Bishop may affirm a discerner’s potential calling to ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church and invite that discerner to begin the formal process of applying to become a Postulant for Holy Orders and prepare for enrollment with the Bishop’s approval in an appropriate course of study (such as residential seminary, a low-residency seminary program, or the Bishop’s School for Ministry).
Invitations to Apply for Postulancy
Those participants who are pursuing a call to ordained ministry and have been invited by the Bishop to apply for Postulancy will be instructed to begin the formal Application for Postulancy to the Diaconate or Application for Postulancy to the Priesthood at this time.
Quarterly Check-Ins with your cohort and COMB
Following the Vocations Retreat-Discernment Weekend, each participant will be invited to join other members of their discernment cohort and COMB for a quarterly Zoom Meeting, to share updates and conversation regarding the continued unfolding of their vocational journeys.