I think I might be called to ordained ministry, what do I need to think about…
God may be calling you to ordained ministry in the Diocese of Leeds. Whether you're young or older, have children, live with a disability, hold doubts, or come from another denomination. You may speak English as a second language, be part of the LGBTQ+ community, a woman, or hold traditional theological views. You might be academic or not, from a global majority background or not. You may be unsure where you stand on certain theological issues. There is space for you. The Church of England embraces the diversity of God’s people, and our clergy reflect it. If you feel called, we invite you to explore that calling with us.
However, there are some things you need to consider if you think you may be called to ordained ministry:
Church leadership is a calling requiring high levels of personal responsibility. If you pose a risk to others, or have been involved in crime, then church leadership is not your calling.
Christians seek to respond to God’s will not our own. Where is your calling coming from? Is it just your own idea, or is it coming from somewhere else? Can other people who know you sense it too?
Everyone is called by God, first and foremost to be a disciple. If you are wondering about ordained ministry you must have been baptised and confirmed in the Church of England, with appropriate certification, or have been baptised/confirmed in another Christian denomination, and formally received into the Church of England.
Someone who is called to lead a church will already be involved in church life. If you aren’t you should seek to serve God first there, where you are, and support your local vicar and church community well before you offer yourself to ordained ministry.
You are never too young to respond to the call of Christ and to sense a calling to the Priesthood. The minimum age for ordination is 23 for deacons and 24 for priests, though you can begin formal exploration when you are younger
Training takes time and is funded by the Church, to ensure our training is a cost-effective use of charity resources there needs to be sufficient time for ministry before retirement. There is an official diocesan policy regarding the maximum age for ordination. This can be summed up as:
Under 55 at the point of starting training for stipendiary ministry / Under 57 at the point of starting training for Self-Supporting Ministry
You need to be a British citizen or have the right to work in the UK. We work with people within our diocese. If you do not live in the Leeds Diocesan area then you need to speak to the people in the diocese where you live.
If you have been married and divorced before, or your spouse has, then there is additional process to go through prior to training for ordination (Canon C4 process).
Whilst clergy earn enough to live off it is not a highly paid job that would enable you to pay off any 
significant debt. If you have debts beyond a mortgage, a car loan and/or a student loan, then ordained ministry is not for you right now.
We discern God’s calling together. If you have not been recommended for training by a Bishop’s Panel three times before, then ordained ministry is not your calling.
This is not an exhaustive list, and these guidelines do not represent a formal legal statement. The national Church of England web page with the canons (rules) regarding ordination is here.
Speak to your vicar or the Vocations team about what to do next if you think you might be called ordained ministry.