Ministerial Vocational Evaluations
Hello! I look forward to meeting you in person and learning more about your personal journey and your call to ministry. This page answers some common questions about the vocational evaluation process for seminary students and candidates pursuing ordination.
Why am I required to do this evaluation?
It’s been the standard in the field for some time for all ministerial candidates pursuing ordination to receive a psychological evaluation of some kind. This is one way that ministries try to make sure that the candidates they ordain are a good fit for the field and the work.
Although this is one reason that your seminary or ordaining body asks you to complete an evaluation, we have another purpose in our work together, and that is to support you in your healing and growth as a person and as a minister. My hope is that our process will provide an opportunity for a deep exploration of your strengths and challenges, as well as your calling, and that the recommendations that I offer will be helpful to you in your training and your career path following ordination.
How do I start the process?
Please call me at (510) 734-1693 or email me through the contact page on this website. I will get back to you within 48 hours to schedule your evaluation and answer any questions you may have.
When and for how long will we meet? How many meetings will we have?
We will meet twice – the first time for a four-hour session. After I complete your report, we will meet again for a 90-minute session to discuss your report.
Where will we meet?
At the current time, all meetings are virtual. Once the current COVID risks abate, meetings will occur at my office on Solano Avenue in Albany.
What does the evaluation include?
After we schedule your first session, I will send you some forms to fill out. These forms are rather lengthy, and will help me to understand who you are, your history, and what is important to you. Please be aware they can take several hours to fill out. I will ask you to return these forms to me before we meet.
When we meet for our first session, we will spend some time talking (I will have some questions after reading your forms), and I will give you several traditional psychological measures. Our session may span the lunch hour, so please bring food to eat, and reading glasses if you need them.
After this meeting, I will write a report that I will give to you at our follow-up session. During our follow-up session, we will go through the report together, and I will answer any questions that you have. I see this as a collaboration, and I welcome your input at every stage of the process.
How do I pay for my evaluation?
You will pay me directly for your evaluation. Please contact me to discuss fees.
It’s been the standard in the field for some time for all ministerial candidates pursuing ordination to receive a psychological evaluation of some kind. This is one way that ministries try to make sure that the candidates they ordain are a good fit for the field and the work.
Although this is one reason that your seminary or ordaining body asks you to complete an evaluation, we have another purpose in our work together, and that is to support you in your healing and growth as a person and as a minister. My hope is that our process will provide an opportunity for a deep exploration of your strengths and challenges, as well as your calling, and that the recommendations that I offer will be helpful to you in your training and your career path following ordination.
How do I start the process?
Please call me at (510) 734-1693 or email me through the contact page on this website. I will get back to you within 48 hours to schedule your evaluation and answer any questions you may have.
When and for how long will we meet? How many meetings will we have?
We will meet twice – the first time for a four-hour session. After I complete your report, we will meet again for a 90-minute session to discuss your report.
Where will we meet?
At the current time, all meetings are virtual. Once the current COVID risks abate, meetings will occur at my office on Solano Avenue in Albany.
What does the evaluation include?
After we schedule your first session, I will send you some forms to fill out. These forms are rather lengthy, and will help me to understand who you are, your history, and what is important to you. Please be aware they can take several hours to fill out. I will ask you to return these forms to me before we meet.
When we meet for our first session, we will spend some time talking (I will have some questions after reading your forms), and I will give you several traditional psychological measures. Our session may span the lunch hour, so please bring food to eat, and reading glasses if you need them.
After this meeting, I will write a report that I will give to you at our follow-up session. During our follow-up session, we will go through the report together, and I will answer any questions that you have. I see this as a collaboration, and I welcome your input at every stage of the process.
How do I pay for my evaluation?
You will pay me directly for your evaluation. Please contact me to discuss fees.