Discerning Your Vocation
God calls us all in different ways. Here are some resources to help you discern where God might be calling you.
A vocation is a divine call (or strong desire) to spend your life doing a certain kind of work or lifestyle. While we tend to think of only clergy as having a vocation, all Christians can have a vocation. Your vocation may be the job you hold or the life you live as a family member or a passion you have to serve others. One of the places to begin your discernment is to talk with your priest, a spiritual director or someone with whom you share your spiritual journey.
In the Diocese of Rhode Island, those who are pursing a vocation in the ordained ministry are required to follow a path outlined by the Commission on Ministry. Contact your parish priest for more information.
Your Personal Vocation
- Courses offered by Bexley-Seabury Seminary: Pathways for Baptismal Living
- Richard Nelson Bolles, How to Find Your Mission in Life
- Suzanne Farnham, et al Listening Hearts: Discerning Call in Community
- Parker J. Palmer, Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation
- Sam Portaro, Transforming Vocation
- Religious Orders and Faith Communities
- Practicing Our Faith
Marriage and Family
- Linda Grenz and Delbert Glover, The Marriage Journey: Preparations and Provisions for Life Together
- Herbert Anderson and Susan Johnson, Regarding Children: A New Respect for Childhood and Families
- Helen Oppenheimer, Helping Children Find God: A Book for Parents, Teachers and Clergy
- Brett Webb – Mitchell, On Being a Gay Parent: Making a Future Together
- Roy G. Pollina, To Bless a Child
- Dwight Longenecker, Listen My Son: St. Benedict for Fathers
- Stanley Hauerwas, Go With God: An open letter to young Christians on their way to college
Spiritual Gifts Assessments
- Finding Your Spiritual Gifts Assessment (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America)
- Spiritual Gifts Test (United Methodist Church)