Is Christ calling you to a ministerial vocation?
• Have you ever considered serving Christ as a Priest or Deacon?
• Are you are a former cleric who left ministry because of celibacy, marriage or sexuality?
• Do you (still) wish to serve Christ in ordained Ministry?
If you are able to answer “Yes” to any of these questions, we may be able to help you discern God's will for your future.
The Ecumenical Christian Church UK is seeking candidates for ordained ministry – ministry with a difference, ministry where you can make the difference!
Male, female, married, divorced, single, celibate or not, we welcome enquiries from all. As Saint Paul said at Colossians 3:11 “Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.”
Our church is small but firm and growing in its commitment to service. We presently have parishes/Missions in several areas.
Our clergy are tent-makers” in the tradition of St. Paul. Like St. Paul, we continue to live and work in the world while, at the same time we seek to build up the Body of Christ on earth. Some of our clergy are married or partnered and some are not. Some choose celibacy and others marriage or partnership. All seek to reach out to the most marginalised people in society wherever they may be.
We do not offer wages or salaries to our clergy at this stage. However, we do offer a comprehensive training programme for ordinands. The Bishops will not ordain anyone until such time as they are fully prepared spiritually and in terms of knowledge and skills for hands-on ministry. The training programme is flexible and makes room for most academic abilities. This ensures that only the most seriously committed are put forward for Holy Orders and granted a License to Minister.
Some smaller jurisdictions will ordain people who are arguably ill-prepared to face what is a very different world when you are a deacon, priest or bishop. Because we have so much faith in God, in each other and in our church, we will not. There are those who seek ordination - even to the rank of bishop - for their own purposes and with no real calling to serve. We will not entertain such self-seeking elevation but instead try to help the individuals concerned to honestly seek and follow God's will for them. We will not leave any room for people to simply go out and present to the public in vestments, for indeed, no matter what ceremonial may have been undergone, such people must be considered not to be ordained due to their wrong intent. By their actions they harm those who genuinely seek to serve as Christian ministers within the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church but outside the greater jurisdictions' control.
Our bishops consider their primary role to be that of bringing God to people and people to God - as a major part of this they inspire and support the clergy in their efforts to the same end. they are always available with that 100% support, both to clergy and candidates for ministry at whatever level.
We are missionaries in the sense that we act on faith in trying to establish missions and parishes wherever we can gather the people. We see need and we try to address it, be it spiritual or physical. Like Christ, we seek to serve rather than to be served.
The people that seek to minister within our church should have the same spirit of mission and commitment that the first Apostles and disciples had.
• They should be desirous of changing the world for the better,
by showing people that Christ is for all – not just a select few.
• They should be willing to give of their time, talents and
treasure without expectation of financial recompense.
• They should be non-judgmental, open and accepting of
all people regardless of circumstance.
• They must be able to follow the greatest commandment of all,
that we love God and love one another as Christ loves us.
• They must feel a call to ordained Ministry and be prepared
to discern their vocation.
The call to ministry in a church such as the ECC UK is a call to a new vision of Church. It requires contemporary people who hold the historic faith. Is this you?
If you feel that you may be called to the ordained ministry, we invite you to contact us to discuss the matter. All contacts and information are kept strictly confidential.
No matter where you live in Britain we would love to hear from you. Do not let distance deter you. Do not let doubts deter you. Do not let past experiences with larger churches deter you. Do not let race, denomination, gender, sexuality or marital status deter you.
Let the Holy Spirit be your guide and follow your heart in seeking God's will for you
For more information,
please e-mail Bishop Terry Flynn