Welcome to Salisbury Calling – the website for exploring God’s call to Christian ministry.
Discovering how our gifts & talents meet the needs of the world around us as we walk with God, is called finding our Vocation – our special calling in life.
Your Vocation might be as a nurse or a teacher; an engineer or a hairdresser; a designer or a taxi driver – or even a lay minister, chaplain or vicar!
Who’s that knocking on my door? I’m not expecting anyone, but there they are, not expected and not invited, at my front door. I can’t ignore them,… Read more “Unexpected Guests”
I wonder how much of life I have missed simply because I have been dashing on, from one thing to another and have not, for a moment, … Read more “Stop, look and listen!”
This coming Saturday, the 2nd February the Christian Church celebrates Candlemas, the feast that recalls the Presentation of Christ in the temple and the delicate and graceful… Read more “Candlemas”
Ministry in Salisbury Diocese
There are five authorised ministries in the Diocese of Salisbury.
Lay Pastoral Assistants are commissioned to engage in pastoral ministry on behalf of the local church, working as part of a team of clergy and lay people. Download our Lay Pastoral Assistant leaflet here
Licenced Lay Ministers (also known as Readers) are licensed by the Bishop for a preaching and teaching ministry in the parishes where they live or work. Download our Licenced Lay Ministry leaflet here
Ordained Ministry – priests and deacons are ordained by the Church to lead local churches and share responsibility in pastoral care for everyone living in the parishes where they serve. Download our Ordination leaflet here
Commissioned Lay Pioneers – are trained and authorised to gather people into new expressions of Christian Community. They have a sense of calling to mission outside the regular church structures Download our Commissioned Lay Pioneer leaflet here
If you think God may be calling you to one of these ministries, come along to a Vocation Enquiry Day – information about our next one is on the Events Page
Our scheme offers two options, one based in the Lyme Bay Deanery on the Dorset coast, centred round the bustling town of Bridport, and the other based in and around Devizes, a lively market town in Wiltshire. Each location provides an opportunity for those aged 18-30 to become actively involved in the Children’s and Young People’s work of the local Community Hub, whilst exploring Christian ministry in local parishes and community placements.
Both options offer time in the surrounding rural parishes, living with local families and getting involved in local church activities. There will be regular opportunities to meet up with your fellow MES Explorers to reflect on your experiences.
In addition, there will be opportunities to spend time living in community, with short-term placements available at Hilfield Friary and the Pilsdon Community. These will allow you to develop your reflective and pastoral skills.
You will receive theological training with Sarum College in Salisbury and the opportunity of working with a theological mentor. You will be supported by a personal mentor who will work with you as you reflect on and deepen your journey of faith.
We offer a small subsidence allowance, but all your living costs and expenses will be paid.
Saturday 19th March @ 10.00am – 11.45am – Via Zoom
How is God calling you?
‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine’ (Isaiah 43:1)
God calls each of us by name (Isaiah 43.1), and the heart of responding to our vocation is to be the unique person God calls us to be.
It is the calling of all Christians to represent Christ in and to the world. Our response to God’s call involves our reflecting the love of God to others in our own contexts and situations. We all have gifts and skills and often these can be used in our churches or in our communities to share God’s love with those around us. This is a calling for every Christian. It is often other people who suggest to us that perhaps God is calling us into some form of leadership in the church. There are many different routes and pathways. ‘Come and Explore’ will explore some of the possibilities and help us to think about the ways in which God might be calling us.
It is an opportunity to meet with some of the Diocesan Vocations Team, as well as with other enquirers who think God might be calling them too, to explore the next steps of your journey in faith.