At once “travel guide” and vision for the future, the Transformation series is good news for the Episcopal Church at a time of fast and furious demographic and social change. Series contributors - recognized experts in their fields - analyze our present plight, point to the seeds of change already at work transforming the church, and outline a positive new way forward. What kinds of churches are most ready for transformation? What are the essential tools? What will give us strength, direction, and purpose to the journey? Each volume of the series will: Explain why a changed vision is essential - Give robust theological and biblical foundations - Offer a guide to best practices and positive trends in churches large and small. - Describe the necessary tools for change - Imagine how transformation will look In the Episcopal Church, it seems the only real purpose and end of Christian discernment is professional ordination, either to the priesthood or to the vocational diaconate. This book deals with such questions as, How can both communities and individuals discern a call from God within the vocations and tasks in which they find themselves? How can the Church deal creatively with its confusion about the differing roles and authority of ordained and lay ministers? Sam Portaro, formerly Episcopal Chaplain to the University of Chicago and Director of Brent House, has had a long and rich career in campus ministry mentoring students and young adults. He lives near Chicago, Illinois. James Lemler is priest-in-charge of historic Christ Episcopal Church in Greenwich, Connecticut and the former Director of Mission for the Episcopal Church. He has also served the church as a leading pastor and preacher, former dean of Seabury-Western Theological Seminary and a consultant in the area of philanthropy, stewardship, and congregational development. He resides in Greenwich, Connecticut. Transforming Vocation By SAM PORTARO Church Publishing Incorporated Copyright © 2008 Sam Portaro All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-0-89869-586-1 Contents Series Preface.............................................................viiAcknowledgments............................................................ix1. Why Am I Here?..........................................................12. How Did We Get Here?....................................................233. God's Gift to the World.................................................504. Why Are We Here?........................................................805. The Whole Church........................................................112A Guide for Discussion.....................................................135Resources..................................................................141Notes and Sources..........................................................147 CHAPTER 1 Why Am I Here? WANTED: Persons for a vocation that leads God'speople in bearing witness to God's new creationrevealed in Jesus Christ by the power of the HolySpirit. Work schedule is shaped by relationships,focusing on what is important in people's lives, anddepends on regular rhythms of work, rest and play.Compensation is shaped by a mutual discernment ofwhat is necessary in order for the persons (and,where appropriate, their families) to have an appropriatelywell-lived life. The vocation involves cultivatingholy dispositions, preaching and teaching,nurturing rigorous study and shaping practices offaithful living in church and world. Lifelong educationand formation is expected in order to enableothers also to grow throughout their lives. Thesuccessful candidate will collaborate with otherstoward the same ends. The person with thisvocation reports to God. — Gregory Jones, "Job Description," in The Christian Century (10 January 2006) Vocational discernment has in some circles becomenearly as lively an interest, and as nebulous a subject,as spirituality. And like spirituality, considerations of vocationaldiscernment have tended toward a rather narrowtreatment, suggesting that vocational discernment islimited to an elite or specialized few, and that those whoundertake it are, or ought to be, set apart. Little considerationis given to vocational discernment outside the realmof ordained ministry in the church. This book aims to encourage a renewed commitmentto the ageless Christian discipline of vocational discernmentas the foundation of all ministry, a discipline andresponsibility of all the baptized, individually and collectively.With few exceptions, I have drawn most heavilyupon the most reliable source I know, which is my ownexperience of more than thirty years in active ministry.Nearly all of those years were devoted to a campusministry, a context aptly described by one former divinityschool student as "a little laboratory" within which one cantry things much more difficult to attempt in a parish.Those years also include a stint in a small mission congregation,its transition to self-