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.
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.
The Shared Discernment Process helps the DDO decide whether to recommend to the Bishop that the person should be sent to a Discernment Panel, which tests 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

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 Hilary Le Seve
Assistant DDO
Revd Hilary Le Sève is our Assistant Diocesan Director of Ordinands (ADDO). She works with Revd Tim Goodbody overseeing the process of discernment for candidates offering for ordiained ministry in the church.
She can be contacted by email or on 01621 892867.

Caroline Harding
Lay Development Adviser
Caroline is the teams Lay Development advisor 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.
-
Barking Episcopal Area
Barking Area Vocations lead
The Revd Katie Miller
Barking and Dagenham Deanery
Revd Ray Descombes
020 8592 4691Havering Deanery
Revd Susannah Brasier
01708 220174Epping Forest & Ongar Deanery
Revd John Fry
01992 812744Revd Lydia Petitt
07769 694907Harlow Deanery
Mrs Lis Scott
01279 442039
-
Bradwell Episcopal Area
Bradwell Area Vocations lead
Brentwood Deanery
Revd Jane Bradbury
01277 212054Basildon Deanery
Revd Simon Law
01268 556874Chelmsford
Revd Carolyn Tibbott
01245 440318Revd Miranda Seaman
01277 841921Maldon & Dengie Deanery
Revd Julie Wilmot
07413 416226Hadleigh Deanery (and Bradwell Area Adviser)
Revd Marion Walford
01268 698991Rochford Deanery
Revd Kim Lepley
01702 216725Southend Deanery
Revd Phyllis Owen
01702 353049Thurrock Deanery
Revd David Rollins
01375 673074
-
Colchester Episcopal Area
Colchester Area Vocations lead
Braintree Deanery
Rev Alex Shannon Tel: 01371 810309 (From January 2023)
Dunmow and Stansted Deaneries
Catherine Elliot Tel: 01371 829766
Hinckford Deanery
Rev Beverley Vincent Tel: 07944 200132
Saffron Walden Deanery
Revd Margaret Davis Tel: 01799 550703
Colchester Deanery
Mrs Phyll Wood Tel: 01206 562343
Rev Sarah Hayward Tel:07828 046193
Harwich Deanery
Revd Laura Garnham Tel: 01255 886210
St Osyth Deanery
Rev Caroline Beckett 01206 308726
Witham Deanery
Revd Tracey Caswell Tel: 01621 335471
Self-Supporting Ministry Advisers
Revd Robert Stone or 07726 719288
Revd Claire Scargill or 01206 395417
Young Vocations Advisers
West Ham Archdeaconry
David Britton 020 8279 7738
Chelmsford Archdeaconry
Revd Jackie-Dee Thornton 07879 805210
Colchester Area
Charley Day 01245 294400