Called and Tested

Officially, the Church of England describes the discernment process as a "gentle, prayerful exploration of your calling." Unofficially? Anyone who has survived it will tell you it often feels a lot more like intensive therapy.

Whether you are just tentatively whispering to your vicar about a calling, or you are staring down the daunting paperwork of your Diocesan Director of Ordinands (DDO), Called and Tested is your essential field guide for the journey ahead. Written by Andy CK, who recently navigated the path to become an ordinand, this book helps you map the often confusing terrain of institutional discernment.

Crucially, this is the exact survival manual Andy wished he'd had in his rucksack at the start of his journey as someone with an ADHD and dyslexic profile. It provides a practical, step-by-step compass for the neurodivergent mind, showing you how to present your authentic, brilliant self without burning out from constant masking along the way.

Inside, you will discover how to:

• Master the Terrain: Understand the Church's "Six Qualities" so you know exactly what the Bishop's Advisors are looking for at every major landmark.
• Conquer the Paperwork Mountain: Use practical, ground-level strategies to overcome executive dysfunction when faced with safeguarding forms and dense DDO essays.
• Survive the Assessment Panels: Build a robust strategy for navigating the rapid-fire Stage 1 Carousels and the exhausting 48-hour Stage 2 Residential without losing your footing.
• Protect Your Basecamp: Set firm boundaries to manage the emotional toll on your family and help your partner navigate the Spousal Interview safely.
• Navigate the Parallel Tracks: Dismantle the panic around the unexpected detours of special psychological assessments (APW), Canon C4 Faculties, and occupational health checks.

You do not need to be a flawless theological scholar, and you do not need to perform as the "perfect" candidate. You just need a reliable map.

Drop the mask, take a breath, and let's navigate the path ahead.