Clergy Community
There are more than 100 active Clergy (priests and deacons) serving in the Diocese of New Westminster. with about half employed as the Priest-in-Charge of a parish (Rector, Vicar). Many are employed in various capacities in non-church but vocationally-related occupations including chaplains, teachers, therapists and counsellors, etc. Our deacons are engaged in a variety of non-stipendiary (volunteer) ministries.
The clergy of the diocese meet together regularly for education and support. Most deaneries have regularly scheduled Clericus meetings, and the bishop hosts quarterly 'Clergy Days' held at the Diocesan Centre, where different topics of interest are discussed and studied. Recent Clergy Days have featured guest speakers on a range of topics such as Stewardship, Islam, Gender Identity and Attachment Theory.
Clergy also enjoy an annual three-day Diocesan Clergy Conference, usually held in the spring. The conference includes time for study, relaxation and fellowship and features an inspiring speaker on a topic of interest. For the past few years, the conference has been held in the ski resort town of Whistler during the off-season to ensure a reasonable price for accomodations. The Diocese also offers clergy a silent retreat in the fall. Both events are subsidized by the Diocese to ensure affordability, and all active Clergy are encouraged, but not obligated, to attend.
Continuing education opportunities for clergy and lay leaders offered by the diocese include the Diocesan School for Parish Development, Stewardship Days, a bi-annual Mission Conference in non-Synod years, and ad hoc workshops and events. The Vancouver School of Theology offers summer continuing education programming, as does Sorrento Centre. The Diocese has a long affiliation with Education for Ministry with both in-person and on-line mentor groups. All active priests are automatically enrolled in the Continuing Education Program of the Anglican Church of Canada which provides financial support for further study. All active deacons are enrolled in a distinct diocesan program to support their continuing education.
Clergy are encouraged to attend their regular Deanery Clericus meetings for additional support, fellowship and information sharing. Regional Deans are given particular responsibility to be available for the pastoral support of the clergy in their deanery.
The Archdeacons are given particular responsibility to assist the Archbishop in her episcopal ministry of oversight. In addition to meeting monthly with the Dean and the Archbishop, the Archdeacons are responsible for managing the search committee process when a parish in their archdeaconry is searching for a new priest.
All active clergy are required to have a current Criminal Record Check and participate in the diocesan workshops on 'Dismantling Racism' and Sexual Misconduct Policy every five years. All active clergy agree to following the Clergy Commitment document. As a Diocese we are committed to being a 'Safe Church' and all clergy and certain lay leaders are required to undergo a program of safe-church training. More information regarding our Human Resources programs please visit our HR/Screening in Faith page of this website.
The Diaconate
For the past 25 years, the Diocese has had an active program of identifying individuals who have a vocation to diaconal ministry. As a result, there are currently over 40 deacons across the Diocese and several people in various stages of discernment and formation. About one-third of our parishes currently have a deacon as part of their clergy teams and there is a constant demand for more. Oversight and pastoral care for deacons is provided by the Archdeacon for Deacons.
In 2019, in conjunction with the Diocese, Vancouver School of Theology instituted a Diploma in Anglican Diaconal Studies, which the Diocese now uses as the primary formation for those seeking ordination as deacons.
The ministries of deacons in the Diocese are diverse. Central to diaconal ministry is ministry in secular workplaces or other organizations where the church does not usually reach. In addition, deacons exercise ministries which may include pastoral care, Christian education, hospital visitation, care of and advocacy for the homeless, street ministry, spiritual counselling and providing community meals. For a full description of the ministry of Deacons in the Diocese, please refer to the section of the website on Diaconal Ministry and Deacon's Handbook.
Discerning a Call to Ordained Ministry
The Discernment Process Guide is for those discerning a call to ordained ministry, either to the diaconate or the priesthood. It was developed by the Archbishop in consultation with the Bishops of our Province, the Director of Anglican Formation at the Vancouver School of Theology, the Archdeacons, the Dean and the Regional Deans of our Diocese. The Guide is designed for clergy leaders and others in the church who are assisting in the process of discernment. It lays out the principles and process to be used consistently throughout the Diocese so that we raise up faithful, disciplined, effective and inspirational leaders for our church.
The Guide outlines the 'Six Criteria for Ordained Leaders' which are central to our discernment process. These criteria describe the qualities of those people our Diocese is seeking to ordain as deacons and priests.
The process of discernment begins with an applicant and their priest, and when appropriate moves to deeper engagement in the life of the parish. An intentional discernment group works with the applicant around the criteria and provides a report to the Director of Ordinands and the Archbishop. The appropriate Examining Chaplains will interview the applicant who is continuing in the process and make recommendations for further work of formation and/or study.
You can find more information about our discernment process on our discernment page of this website.