One of the interesting things about an ISM vocation is that people often simultaneously discern a vocation and also pick a community or jurisdiction to exercise their vocation.  My own experience is foreign to this idea as I was ordained a priest in the Roman Catholic Church.  The best advice I can provide is to spend time reviewing a number of jurisdictions; read their literature and understand their beliefs.  Read thoroughly as you want to understand what matters to the jurisdiction.  What is their church law?  Do their practices and disciplines align with your own?  Look at the ministries they are involved in.  Once you have a list of a few jurisdictions that you like, start informally contacting them. 

 

Don’t only speak with the presiding bishop or the vocations director but contact priests and deacons in the jurisdiction.  Find out how the jurisdiction supports (or hinders) their ministry.  Learn the history of the jurisdiction – both official and the unofficial.  Remember, you are interviewing them as they are interviewing you.  Be honest with yourself and them through the process. 

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Do not simply find a jurisdiction that is the easiest or the fastest to be ordained.  You need a good ISM community to support you as you begin and continue your ministry.  Formation is not simply a hoop to jump through but is to help you become a better bishop, priest, or deacon.  Often, the best ISM programs have stricter requirements for admissions along with rigorous programs for spiritual, intellectual, and psychological growth and development.  While ordination is a one-time event, living out the vocation is the true test.  Anyone can get a title of bishop, priest, pastor, deacon, but truly being one of these to people is something else entirely.