Exploring a call to ordained ministry is a deeply personal experience, yet the process is not undertaken alone. In these pages you can learn about the discernment process followed by the Diocese of Chicago and its parishes in developing candidates for ministry as a deacon or priest.
The process begins with a nomination to the bishop from your faith community and, assuming all of the necessary approvals, proceeds through periods of postulancy and candidacy.
It is important to understand that the process takes time, a minimum of 18 months, and as much as five or six years from discernment to ordination in the case of priests, most of whom are required to earn a master’s degree in divinity or a certificate in Anglican studies from an accredited seminary.