The Discernment Process
If you’re anything like me, the moment you saw "Bishop’s Adviser Interview" on your calendar, your stomach did a bit of a somersault. For those of us navigating the Church of England’s discernment process with a "spiky" neurodivergent profile, this meeting feels like...
For many of us navigating discernment with ADHD or Dyslexia (or any other Neurodiversity), the traditional image of the "Quiet Time"—sitting silently, eyes closed, absorbing Scripture for 30 consecutive minutes—is a source of deep spiritual failure. It’s not that we...
The discernment process requires us to stand before two very different groups: the Diocese (for the formal structure of assessment) and our PCC/Congregation (to enable personal growth throughout discernment). For a neurodivergent candidate, disclosing conditions like...
Before formal training begins, the sheer volume and complexity of the paperwork can feel like a test of endurance designed to screen out anyone who isn't organised. While some forms are simple contact details and DBS checks, the forms for Stage Two are where the true...
God Doesn't Call the Equipped, He Equips the Called If you have Dyslexia, ADHD, or another neurodiversity, the question, "Can I truly be a priest if my brain is wired differently?" is not a doubt of faith, but a practical, crushing worry. Let me be direct: Yes, you...
For many of us with ADHD, intense passion for ministry often begins with a powerful surge of energy that looks exactly like a hyperfixation. The excitement is real, and the desire to study, serve, and write is overwhelming. But discernment is a process designed to...
What we are talking about: The hardest part of my vocational call wasn't the Church, it was the sheer volume of reading. The fear of not being accepted or supported within the CofE due to my neurodiversity was unfounded. You do not need to read every physical word to...
Waiting feels less like a hurdle and more like a built-in feature of the Anglican discernment process. There's the reflective waiting and listening before the formal process, and then there are the structured, anxious periods after each stage. It's crucial to...
The idea of "quiet time" is foundational to Christian discipleship, especially in the Anglican tradition with it's structured rhythm. But for those of us with ADHD, the phrase "sit still and be silent" is a recipe for internal chaos, not communion. Our minds race, our...