How Might the Theory and Practice of Ignatian Spirituality Inform Vocational Discernment in the Church of Scotland?

Abstract

This article addresses the difficulty of discerning whether someone is called by God, as distinct from being qualified for a role. It establishes this difficulty empirically in the experiences of those assessing vocation in the Church of Scotland, by interviewing a purposive sample of National Assessors for qualitative analysis. It proceeds to explore how the insights of Ignatian Spirituality might inform this difficulty by comparing their responses with those of a further similar sample of Ignatian Spiritual Directors. The theological and systemic differences between the two are briefly explored, as a necessary prerequisite to making an informed comparison. The study concludes by assessing the benefits and limitations of Ignatian Spirituality for the Church of Scotland's context, and by making recommendations for implementation.