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Vocations Team

The vocations team within the diocese help those who want to explore the nature of God’s calling and what that might mean in terms of service.

The Vocations Team is concerned with identifying and encouraging the gifts of all and developing new routes to lay and ordained ministry.

They assess candidates for ordained ministry, Licensed lay ministry, pioneer ministry and support Ordinands as they progress, as well as manage and develop the young vocations initiative.

Revd Tim Goodbody

Revd Tim Goodbody

Diocesan Director of Ordinands (DDO)

The role of DDO is to listen to people who are sensing that God may be prompting them to explore a vocation as a priest. The DDO is attentive to the story of the individual’s life and faith as a whole.  

A process of discernment helps the DDO decide whether to recommend to the Bishop that the person should be sent to a Bishop's Advisory Panel, who test the candidate's calling within the framework set by the Church of England and then recommend to their Bishop if they should be trained for Ordained Ministry.

To contact Tim you can send him an email or telephone 01245 294422.

Revd Alexandra Podd

Revd Alexandra Podd

Assistant Diocesan Director of Ordiannds

The role of Assistant DDO (ADDO) is to work with the DDO to listen to people who are sensing that God may be prompting them to explore a vocation as a priest.

Alexandra is our ADDO and as part of this she has a particular responsibility for those who are underrepresented, particularly those who are young, among our ordinands.

To contact Alexandra you can send her an email.

Canon Caroline Harding

Canon Caroline Harding 

Warden of Readers and Lay Ministry Adviser

Caroline is the teams Lay Ministry Adviser and can be contacted by email or on 01245 294454.

Vocations Advisers

The Bishops have appointed a person in each Deanery who is available to people who would like to talk through their sense of vocation.

Vocation Advisers are not part of any formal selection process but are willing to offer advice.

They are also available to parishes and are willing to preach on vocations or speak at special events. 

Self-Supporting Ministry Vocations Advisers

Revd Robert Stone or  07726 719288

Revd Phillip Howlett or 01206 510732

Young Vocations Advisers

Please contact the Mustard Seed Team in the first instance or one of the Vocations Advisers from your area.

For more information or to report anything wrong with this page please contact Sarah Wilson

Related pages

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Exploring Ordained Ministry

Explore pathways to ordained and lay ministry

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Diocesan Discernment Process

Find out more about the Diocesan Discernment Process and becoming a minister in the Church of England.

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Vocations FAQs

Have a question on becoming a minster - get the answer here.