Here I am. Send me.

Discerning God's Call: Exploring Formation Paths

Have you heard the call?  Is God moving you to say “Here Am I. Send Me.”?

At Council 2025, the Rt. Rev. Dr. David G. Read, Bishop of West Texas, announced the creation of several programs to help people pray, discern, and explore where God is calling them in ministry.

Discovery Weekends

The Diocese of West Texas will hold a series of discernment or discovery weekends.  The first of these will be in November 2025.  These weekends are open to anyone who is exploring how the Holy Spirit is calling and equipping you for ministry.  These weekends will explore lay and ordained vocations; the permanent diaconate; the bi-vocational priesthood; church planting; parish ministries; and the path to ordination.

Click here to to learn more about our first Discovery Weekend and click here to register.

IONA Collaborative

The Diocese of West Texas is partnering with the Seminary of the Southwest’s Iona Collaborative to significantly expand the Iona School in West Texas. Currently, our Iona School is geared toward persons studying for the bi-vocational priesthood.  There are nine priests serving in West Texas who are graduates of this program and serving well in mostly small and rural congregations.  With the expansion of the Iona school in West Texas, we will create a three-track model:

• Lay Track:  Open to anyone who wants to learn more and have a greater theological and biblical foundation for their lay ministry (This track will also include training for lay preachers who will be licensed to serve in congregations where there is not a priest every Sunday.  
• Diaconate Track: This will be a two-year program meeting monthly to give deacons the foundation they need to do the servant ministry to which they have been called.
• Ordination to the Priesthood:  A program to raise up and form clergy to serve in the 60 counties of West Texas. Download “The Path to Ordination” for a summary guide of the process for discernment on the road to becoming an Episcopal priest.

Lay Ministry

There are many ways for the laity to serve their church and community.  Contact your rector to learn more about how you can serve in your church.

Interested in serving on a diocesan ministry or committee? Read more to learn about the various ministries and how you can become involved.

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