Explanation

The Episcopal Church takes discernment to Holy Orders seriously. However, there is no formal process in place for a person to test a sense of call to the episcopate that is similar to the work done in discerning for the diaconate or the priesthood. While the accepted process for the ultimate affirmation of the call is a public election (and we are making no call to change that), it is absent the prolonged, informed, prayerful process that we employ in the case of a call to the diaconate or priesthood. This resolution addresses that absence. The perception that articulating a possible call to the episcopate is a display of ambition is unfortunate. We believe this negative reaction is also why people are reluctant to ask questions about their own vocation except in a limited fashion. We propose a mechanism to change that perception, so that exploring a call to any form of service to the church would be seen as the faithfulness it is. The Task Force proposes the establishment of a voluntary process by which people may ask questions about a possible call to the episcopate before entering into dialogue with a particular diocese. A process of vocational discernment that takes place before ones name goes forward in an episcopal search process would permit more people throughout the church to safely and confidentially seek clarity for themselves. We believe that better access to information for all who are sensing a call could increase the diversity of people who are prepared to respond to God’s call in this way.