As Episcopalians, we speak often about the ministry of all the baptized. Those words can become so familiar that we stop hearing their invitation. In the Baptismal Covenant, found on pages 304-305 of the Book of Common Prayer (BCP), we commit ourselves, with God’s help, to continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ, to seek and serve Christ in all persons, and to strive for justice and peace among all people. These promises are more than beautiful words; they provide a foundation for the lived ministry, also called vocation, of every baptized Christian.
In the Catechism or Outline of the Faith, found beginning on page 845 of the BCP we learn that “The ministers of the Church are lay persons, bishops, priests, and deacons.” Each one of us has a vocation in the Church and that vocation, best understood, is our very life.
Living into our vocation requires more than good intentions. It requires discernment. We may think of discernment as something reserved for major decisions— a significant life change, a new position, or a call to ordained ministry, but Scripture invites us to see it as the daily practice of attending to God’s presence and allowing our lives to be shaped by God’s grace.
Paul says, in Romans 12:1–2, “present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God,” and then adds, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God.” Notice two things — that what we offer to God is our very selves and that discernment is not presented as a technique for making better decisions. We are the gift God is seeking, and discernment grows out of lives that are continually being transformed by the presence of God.
That transformation happens most faithfully in community with others. It happens as we gather to worship, hear the Scriptures, and receive the Eucharist. It is in our communal prayer and praise to God. And we take it with us as we go out into the world to serve our neighbors. This kind of sacramental life gradually shapes our hearts and minds so that we begin to see the world differently. We become more attentive to where Christ is already at work and more willing to join in as Christ’s hands and feet in the world.
Discernment, then, is less about asking, “What do I want to do?” and more about asking, “How is God inviting me to participate in what God is already doing?” It is an act of listening before acting, of praying before deciding, and of trusting that the Holy Spirit continues to guide the Church. It is the community gathered in the act of faithful listening.
In her foundational work Listening Hearts, Susan Farnham describes the work of discernment this way: Discernment involves listening. We must listen with open hearts and open minds, especially to what we do not want to hear. Discernment, according to Farnham, comes to us as a gift from God that depends on our intentional listening.
As a diocesan family, we are constantly discerning together. Congregations seek God’s direction for ministry in their communities. Vestries prayerfully make decisions about resources and mission. Lay leaders and clergy listen together for the movement of the Spirit.
The ministry of all the baptized and the practice of discernment belong together. Our baptism gives us our calling and discernment helps us find the clarity to live that calling faithfully. As we continue our common life together, may we be open to the renewing work of the Holy Spirit, trusting that God is shaping us, individually and collectively, into the people we are called to become.
The Rev. Canon Anne Meredith Kyle serves the diocese as the Canon for Vocations. Canon Anne also serves the rector of Calvary Episcopal Church, and as the pastor of Christ & Trinity ELCA Lutheran Church, both in Sedalia.
