The paperwork is filed, your Diocesan Director of Ordinands has submitted their report, and your focus now shifts to Stage 2 of the national discernment process. Approaching this milestone usually brings a mixture of excitement and a fair bit of quiet dread. Rather than seeing it as a test designed to trip you up, it helps to understand Stage 2 as a collaborative space. The national selectors are simply looking for evidence of how you meet the qualities for ordained ministry in person.

Replacing the old Bishops’ Advisory Panel, the process typically takes the form of a 48-hour residential stay at a retreat centre. You join a small group of fellow candidates alongside a team of advisors drawn from both the clergy and laypeople. The schedule is certainly full, but it is deliberately structured to give you time to breathe between the different sessions.

The Interviews

A significant portion of the assessment comes down to just two formal interviews, which last between 45 minutes and an hour each.

Rather than firing quick questions at you, the advisors want a genuine, extended conversation. They will explore your calling, your pastoral instincts, and how you connect your theology to everyday life. Because there are only two of these sessions, they are in-depth, giving you the space to unpack your thoughts properly without feeling rushed.

It’s worth noting here that many candidates find this the most stressful part of the 48 hours. This is totally understandable, and it is important to recognise that you won’t be the only person feeling this, and if you aren’t feeling this – that is fine too. This is where having a space to decompress (your bedroom) and being open when talking to other candidates can be truly helpful – this is a shared experience and you will see these faces again.

Finally, for the interviews, it is important to recognise that anything you say or do during your off-time (outside of worship) can be talked about in these interviews. This flows both ways, and if an advisor chats to you over lunch about their experience, you may use it as an example of what is being asked, or if you talk about a big societal issue with an advisor, you are free to rerun this and expand if appropriate.

The Group Exercise

Ministry is deeply collaborative, which makes the group exercise a vital part of the stage 2 process.

You are usually given 15 to 20 minutes independently to read through a ministry-related scenario and get to grips with the overview. After that, you spend 45 minutes as a group discussing the brief and working together to find solutions. With 15 minutes to go you are given a curveball – and how you as a group deal with this is important too. It is not important that you all agree, but that you work well as a team is.

The panel pays close attention to how you make space for quieter voices, how you work with people who think differently to you, and how you hold your own ground without taking over the room. If you want a deeper look at how to tackle this specific task, take a look at this article about The Stage 2 Group Exercise which breaks down exactly how to navigate group dynamics and process the brief effectively.

Following the group discussion, there is a short written reflection (around 500 words) which you can either handwrite or type up. This is a reflection on your input during the process, what you thought and what you may improve moving forward. It is not a commentary on the events in the room (the advisors were there and know what happened), it is not about what others did or didn’t do in detail, its about you, your reaction and showing you are self-aware.

Communal Life

Throughout the residential, morning and evening prayer anchor the schedule, and everyone shares meals. While you aren’t formally assessed over your dinner, these shared moments build a sense of community, break the ice, and help everyone settle into a natural rhythm.

Navigating a couple of days packed with constant social interaction and complex problem-solving is a genuine executive function marathon. If you are dyslexic, ADHD, autistic, or otherwise neurodivergent, you are fully entitled to reasonable adjustments to help manage that load. This might look like getting extra time for the written reflection or having the interview topics printed on paper so you can process them visually as they are asked. It could also mean being guaranteed a quiet space to decompress when the sensory environment gets too much.

The key is to avoid waiting until you arrive to mention these requirements. Work closely with your DDO months in advance to ensure your needs are formally logged and the venue is prepared.

Once you pack your bags and head home, the waiting begins. The advisors compile a comprehensive report based on the evidence they gathered and make a recommendation to your sponsoring Bishop, who ultimately makes the final decision. You will usually hear back through your DDO within a couple of weeks.

The Stage 2 panel marks a major life transition, but many candidates come away finding it surprisingly affirming. You get to spend a weekend talking about the things you care most deeply about with people who genuinely want to see you flourish. Pace yourself, advocate for the support you need, and remember to just breathe.