Commission on Ministry (COM) Report

The Commission on Ministry (COM) serves as an advisory body to Bishop in discerning whether someone is called to ordained ministry. In this capacity, we help oversee the diocesan discernment process, offer recommendations to Bishop Austin at key moments, and assist with formation during the process.  Lay and ordained members serve on the COM and we strive to represent the diversity of persons that God has called to serve the Church in California. 

Each year in November we conduct a Vocations Conference for people who have been recommended by their local parish discernment committee to proceed in discernment toward Holy Orders of the diaconate or the priesthood. Following the Vocations Conference, the COM makes recommendations about whether a person should be made a postulant. This year we met at Bishop’s Ranch for the Vocations Conference. The COM then meets monthly, and sometimes twice per month, throughout the year via zoom. Our regular business includes tracking everyone made a postulant and touching base with them at various stages in the process in order to make recommendations about whether they are ready to move to the next stage. At this moment, there are 25 people admitted into the ordination process. This does not include people who are meeting with their clergy and local discernment committees. The large number of “people in process” has necessitated many extra meetings, and we often meet twice per month. In addition we have subcommittees to assess and recommend financial aid and clergy debt relief, nominating subcommittee, vocations orientation (late Oct) subcommittee and Vocations conference (early Nov) subcommittee.

Dr. Travis Stevens is the vocations officer for the Diocese and assists the COM. The COM and people in the discernment process greatly enjoy working with him. Canon Amy Cook has helped make the steps in the process clearer and streamlined online resources. 

It is inspiring to serve on this committee because there is so much hope when listening to the future leaders of the church!