When God Calls: Listening, Hearing and Responding Dianne Sealy-Skerritt Published by MELROSE BOOKS An Imprint of Melrose Press Limited St Thomas Place, Ely Cambridgeshire CB7 4GG, UK www.melrosebooks.co.uk FIRST EDITION Copyright © Dianne Sealy-Skerritt 2018 The Author asserts her moral right to be identified as the author of this work Cover designed by Melrose Books ISBN 978-1-912333-49-3 Hardback 978-1-912333-50-9 Paperback 978-1-912333-51-6 epub 978-1-912333-52-3 mobi All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers. Scripture quotations are drawn from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. Printed and bound in Great Britain by: CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon, CR0 4YY About the Author Dianne Sealy-Skerritt is a retired Church of England officer and a contributing author to the Archbishop of York’s bestselling book, Hope Stories: 20 True Stories Changing Lives Today (Sentamu, John; 2014; Darton Longham Todd Ltd). She was Equality and Diversity Officer for the Church of England (Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham) from 2007 until early 2017. As part of this role, she led the Rainbow Project for racial diversity and social justice for asylum-seekers, refugees and other socially marginalised groups. Dianne also has a professional background in management development consultancy, staff development and training, social work, adoption and fostering. She was Nottinghamshire County Council’s first African-Caribbean senior social worker. In her freelance management consultancy role, her customers included Nottinghamshire Constabulary with whom she worked on issues arising from the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry. She has served on the board of a number of local and national organisations to promote equality and social justice. Dianne pioneered the Church of England’s relationship with the Gypsy Roma Traveller Communities and was instrumental in promoting its collaboration with Pentecostal Majority iii When God Calls Black-led Churches. She also represented the Diocese on the Changing Attitudes Group to promote the rights of Lesbians, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered and Intersexual people. iv Dedicated to two very special women: Ms Claudia Webbe, a daughter by love, who is living God’s call daily The late Dr Janet Hamilton – a beloved friend and colleague who fought tirelessly for racial equality and justice for women until the end of her life. CONTENTS Foreword: Reverend Christopher Harrison ........................ix Acknowledgements .........................................................xii Introduction .....................................................................xv Chapter One Making Sense of God, Purpose and Calling ..................................1 Chapter Two Made for a Calling .................................23 Chapter Three Who God Calls – Lessons From Biblical Call Stories ...........48 Chapter Four Who God Calls – Lessons From Modern Call Stories ..........77 Chapter Five Hearing God’s Call .............................. 113 Chapter Six Ten Barriers to Hearing God’s Voice ...... 141 Chapter Seven Calling and Resilience ......................... 171 Epilogue Don’t Run Away When God Calls ....... 202 References ......................................................................214 Foreword The word ‘vocation’ has traditionally been used by the Church to describe a calling to ordination or to the monastic life. In this book, however, Dianne Sealy-Skerritt shows how the sense of being called by God is fundamental to what it means to be human, and is not to be restricted to a privileged few. She demonstrates how the discovery of a person’s true calling can lead to a wonderful renewal of purpose, to a new confidence that life has meaning, and to the blessedness that results from being committed to following the ways of God. Dianne brings to her writing the fruits of several decades of working with people from a wide range of backgrounds to promote equality and social justice. Her profound belief in a God who loves and cares for each individual, whatever their origin or place in society, shines through the pages of this book. She shows how a calling from God can emerge from contexts that might seem surprising or unexpected, which indicates how dangerous it is to make hasty judgements regarding vocations that might at first sight seem unconventional. She also reminds us that calling is more than paid work. Our calling embraces our whole being and how ix When God Calls we use our gifts to respond to the needs of others. I first came to know Dianne through my role as vicar of the churches of All Saints, St Mary and St Peter, Nottingham. It so happens that the dedication of each of these churches helps us to understand something of what it means to be called by God. The Blessed Virgin Mary, a teenage girl chosen to bear God’s Son, is one of the key examples in the Bible of humility and obedience to the will of God. St Peter was called by Jesus to lead the early Church in spite of all his weaknesses and failings, showing us also the renewing power of God’s forgiveness and patience. It is when the Church commemorates All Saints’ Day, however, that we are reminded of the millions of people through the centuries who have been called to lives of holiness and devotion to God, most of whom have now been largely forgotten by the world. A deep awareness that God’s kingdom of love, justice and peace will result from the lives of the millions of God’s saints, not just of the few, is evident throughout this book. This contributes powerfully to the message of hope that Dianne offers to us all, which is especially important at a time in world history that seems increasingly perilous. Perhaps you have given up hope of finding meaning or purpose in life. Maybe you have lost the ability to believe in yourself and your desires; or you have become convinced, from what others have told you, that you are no value to anyone. If so, this book will be a source of encouragement and practical guidance to you. But it will also be an inspiration x Foreword to all who are seeking to go beyond what is merely safe and comfortable, and who are willing to venture into new and unpredictable territory, guided by the unfailing love of God. Rev Christopher Harrison Rector of St Peter and All Saints, Nottingham xi Acknowledgements This book is the result of a divine assignment. I resisted putting fingers to keyboard for a long time as I had no prior experience of writing and publishing books. After much prayer and meditation, I had an unexpected meeting with a stranger (Dr Courtney Smith, author of the very inspirational book, The Wonderful You: Find Your Purpose and Live the Life of Your Dreams Now) at a meeting normally reserved for women. He generously offered to guide me through the whole publishing process and provide me with research, editorial and technical support. I owe Dr Smith a huge debt of gratitude as this book would not have been possible at this point in time without the benefit of his expertise and constant encouragement. I am also grateful to Rachel Hutchinson and the rest of the team at Melrose Publishers for their belief in the book and for working with me in partnership and with great professionalism to turn my vision into reality. I would also like to convey heartfelt thanks to Reverend Christopher Harrison for writing the foreword and for reviewing sample chapters from the book. The book has been much improved as a result of his very helpful and insightful feedback and support. In addition, throughout my call, he has been a constant source of support and encouragement. My xii Acknowledgements debt to those who responded to my research questionnaire and allowed me to share their call stories is enormous. I would like to say a huge thank you to Reverend Sonia Barron, Mrs Deloris Hall, Dr Claire Jenkins, Mr Freddie Kofi and Dr Garrick Wilson. Chapter four would not have been possible without their contributions. Although not helping directly with the production of the book, my family and friends offered a great deal of moral support and kept me going. My love and thanks go to my children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, godchildren and their loved ones. Thanks a million to Yemisi Adegun, Veronica Bell, Nina Branch, Lilleth Clarke, Elisabeth Crouch, Kristina Farnum, Margo Fenty-Moore, Louis Francis, Faith Gakanje-Ajala, Dr Elizabeth Henry, Caroline Jarvis, Stefan Hall, Carl Matthews, Leith Rayside, Phyllis Richardson, Deborah Simon, Claudia Webbe, Elaine White and Juanita Wood. I would also like to acknowledge the many organisations, groups and people whom I have worked with as part of my call. Many of them have enabled my call and were particularly supportive during periods of professional and personal setbacks. Understandably, they are too numerous to mention individually, and I hope no one will be offended if their name is omitted. I am particularly grateful to the members of The Women of Faith Nottingham and the staff at the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham who have supported me during my tenure at the Diocese. The following individuals have made a positive and lasting impact on my call journey and I would like to extend xiii When God Calls my deepest thanks to them: Archbishop John Sentamu, Dr Bishop Joe Aldred, Bishop Paul Butler, Bishop George Cassidy, Bishop Ruth Worsley, Reverend Graham Burton, The Very Reverend John Guille, Reverend Alan Payne, Reverend Karen Rooms, Reverend Arlington Trotman, Sharon Bravo, Eleanor Dunleavy, Catriona Gundlach, Amdani Juma, Celia Kellett, Frazer McNish, Sara Palacios Arapiles, Julian Singh, Dorothy Tatem, Paddy Tipping and Jane Wyles.