Selection and the nine qualities

Check out the Church of Englands Vocation pages for further details.

Nine Qualities for Selection
The Church of England currently seeks to discern an individual's call to the priesthood by assessing the candidate through the lens of nine 'qualities'. it is these qualities that potential ordinands are assessed against as they work with their Diocesan Director of Ordinands (DDO) and at a Bishop's Advisory Panel (BAP).
These nine qualities are further divided into five sub-categories: Priest, Christ, Church, World, and Self.

These Qualities are:

Love for God
The candidate…
- Is reliant on God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - and lives out an infectious, life-transforming faith
- Is rooted in Scripture, the worship of the Church and the living traditions of faith
- Whole-heartedly, generously and attractively engages with God’s world
- Is prayerful and studies the Bible

Call to Ministry
The candidate…
- Responds to the call of Christ to be a disciple
- Understands the distinctive nature of ordained priestly ministry
- Is committed to being a public and representative person
- Articulates an inner sense of call grounded in priestly service

Love for People
The candidate…
- Welcomes Christ in others, listens, values and respects; cares for those in poverty and the marginalised
- Builds relationships which are collaborative and enabling
- Shows God’s compassion for the world
- Has empathy and is aware of how others receive them

Wisdom
The candidate…
- Is inquisitive, curious and open to new learning
- Shows leadership that enables thriving and healthy churches, handles conflict, and can lead in mission
- Is robust and courageous and prepared to take risks
- Is a mature and integrated person of stability and integrity

Fruitfulness
The candidate…
- Embraces the different and enables others to be witnesses and servants
- Shows the capacity to exercise sacramental, liturgical and an effective and enabling teaching ministry
- Shares faith in Christ and can accompany others in their faith
- Has resilience and stamina

Potential
The candidate has potential to…
Grow in faith and be open to navigating the future in the company of Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit
Manage change, and see the big picture
See where God is working in the world and respond with missionary imagination
Be adaptable and agile
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