Diocese of St Edmundsbury

DIOCESE OF ST EDMUNDSBURY

& IPSWICH

GROWING IN MINISTRY IN A

COLLABORATIVE CHURCH

towards a post of responsibility

TRAINING NEW MINISTERS FOR A POST OF RESPONSIBILITY

Section 4

Section 5

Appendices

CONTACT NAMES & ADDRESSES:

Diocesan Director of Ordinands & New Ministries

The Revd Tim Jones,

The Rectory, West Stow, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP28 6ET

Tel. 01284 729148

Email

Admin Assistant: Mrs Lesley Steed,

The Diocesan Office, St Nicholas Centre, 4 Cutler Street, Ipswich, IP1 1UQ

Tel. 01473 298510

Email

Director of Ministry, Education and Training and CMD Adviser

The Revd Dr John Parr

The Diocesan Office, St Nicholas Centre, 4 Cutler Street, Ipswich, IP1 1UQ

Tel. 01473 298553

Email

Financial support for one off courses or for larger courses of study may sometimes be available from the Continuing Ministerial Development (CMD) budget rather than the Initial Ministerial Education Phase 2 (IME2) budget. Please seek more information from Lesley Steed.

Diocesan Office

Diocesan Office, St Nicholas Centre, 4 Cutler St, Ipswich, IP1 1UQ

01473 298500 FAX 01473 298501

Diocesan Secretary: Mr Nicholas Edgell

Property: Ms Nicola Andrews and Mr Daniel Jones

Foreword

VOCATION AND MINISTRY IN CHRIST

Paul realised a long time ago that all ‘ministry’ is God’s initiative from start to finish. Ministry, broadly defined, is about ‘being in Christ – a new creation’ and therefore, in relationship with each other in a new way. There is much “wisdom in foolishness” in Paul’s writing. All that eccentric ‘boasting’, all the time wishing he didn’t have to; the passionate repetition of his vocational story at crises in his life: these provide the live biography for some profound insights into who we are, and who we are becoming, ‘in Christ’. The implications for the Body of Christ (another fertile Pauline metaphor) are immense, consequently for the development, formation and training of ministers.

We need ‘patient attentiveness’ to three passages from Paul. Together they say something important about God’s call and the ministry we share.

The first is Galatians 1..15-16: ‘ when God, who had set me apart before I was born, and called me through his grace, and was pleased to reveal his Son in me…(NRSV has ‘to me’ with the footnote, ‘Gk. in me’ , which I have adopted here. The Greek is en emoi, there is no doubt.) I owe this insight to Archbishop Rowan Williams’ stunning addresses at the Lambeth Conference Retreat in 2008. He said, “Everything starts here because every calling – every vocation in the Church of God – is a calling to be a place where God’s Son is revealed. And that is because there is more to be revealed of the Son of God than any one life, or any one book, or any one church can reveal.’ The phrase ‘in me’ resonates with the phrase ‘in Christ’ and the Johannine concept of the indwelling of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.’ Prepositions are bigger words than they look!

Then – Philippians 2 1-11. Read in the light of Galatians 1.16 this familiar text is newly illuminated. Paul talks of ‘encouragement ‘in Christ’, ‘sharing in the Spirit’. ‘Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus’. Then comes the Christological hymn par excellence of the New Testament. The pattern of Christ’s incarnation ‘from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary’ is self emptying, kenosis. This suggests the ‘self emptying’ of the minister that Christ may grow in us. We are called not to give up being ourselves (our identity), but to give up putting self first, that Christ may be revealed in us. This action of God in Christ, revealing Christ in us, makes a profound difference to the way we see each other and the way we treat each other. Hence, ‘Do nothing from selfish ambition…in humility regard others as better than yourselves. .look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.’ This is not shallow advice to be nice to people. It is an invitation to the consequences of being ‘in Christ’ - to imitate Christ in the way we exercise our ministry. In other words, as ministers (and of course all Christians) we are embodied beings in our doing, knowing and relating, and that is how we grow up in Christ, and how Christ is revealed in the world.

And finally, 2 Corinthians 3.1-6. In the context of the other two passages, and in the discussion about review, assessment and performance, speaks with stunning clarity to trainers and trainees alike.

‘Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Surely we do not need, as some do letters of recommendation to you or from you, do we? You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all, and you show that you are a letter of Christ, prepared by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. Such is the confidence that we have through Christ towards God. Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life’. NRSV

Introduction

AIMS OF A CURACY

The experience of a curacy should help the new deacon and priest:

• To develop a spirituality and maturity which sustains the minister in the love and service of God and helps develop their vocational awareness

• To give a prolonged opportunity to share and help lead the ministry of the People of God in a particular benefice.

• Through supervision with the incumbent to reflect theologically, practically, pastorally and managerially on the demands ministry and mission make on leaders and people. Where there is a Ministry Team this is both an aid in this and the proper study of such supervision

• As a training post time is expected for diocesan training and for study in order to build on and test previous training in further reading and reflection on context and experience.

• To build on existing experience of work / life / ministry in the service of God

• To satisfactorily achieve the national learning outcomes necessary for moving into a post of responsibility (incumbency where appropriate)

• Be accountable in their present and future ministry

A number of influences are affecting the experience of the early years of ministry. The report entitled ‘Formation for Ministry within a Learning Church’ established regional co-operation and IME 1-7 expectations, and the years of in service training (IME2) are covered by the aims above.

Clergy terms and conditions of service stress that training [the initial, parish and diocesan elements] need to be completed to ensure ‘fitness to exercise ministry in a post of responsibility.’ The national learning outcomes are given in full under each section. The grid of knowledge, criteria, evidence and range which follows each one, are the guidelines as to how the learning outcomes might be met.

Originally these were organised according to the selection criteria for ordination training. Here these are re-arranged under headings of Being, Knowing and Doing suggested as a tool in the report ‘Formation for Ministry…’ To which has been added Relating as an area essential in any Trinitarian theology and any sense of a new minister working and leading God’s people.

BEING, KNOWING, DOING AND RELATING

As the diagram on the front cover suggests these are integral parts of ministry and belong together. Any way of trying to review and assess this will find areas of overlaps and this is true here. However by separating them out in this way we hope to be able to support and develop ministry and help those in training to enjoy and benefit from the experience.

New ministers are people in a role, called by God; they have their being in Christ and are gifted by the Spirit as well as being authorised by the Church through ordination or licensing.

Parts of the ordinal seem to point to the four areas as important ones and the following sections use them as a way into suggesting areas which are issues for supervision and how IME2, review, assignments and assessment, all prepare people for future ministry.

BEING - Includes the following areas.

• Living a vocational life - How is the new minister developing their vocation?
• Guided by prayer and the spirit - How is the life of prayer being shown and gifts being developed?
• Maturity - How is self awareness in ministry developing?

KNOWING - Includes the following areas.

• Personal patterns of study – building on IME 1-3 and creating patterns for study.
• Teaching and learning about faith and scripture; belief and practice.
• Understanding mission and evangelism.
• Legal, administrative and managerial – these are areas which need to be known for basic competence in ministry.

DOING – This will be the most frequent focus for supervision and includes the following areas.

• Worship.
• Parish, community and ecumenism.
• Mission and evangelism.
• Relationship with other faiths.
• Working with change and conflict.

RELATING - Includes the following areas.

• Forming appropriate relationships.
• Leading the People of God.

• Personal abilities & skills.
• Collaborative leadership.

DETAILS OF WORKING WITH ‘GROWING IN MINISTRY…’

1. ADDING TO THE PORTFOLIO - over three years

Training events – IME2 or other

cross reference against the learning outcomes if at all possible

Reflections – things which have struck you about a particular piece of ministry, or which happened to you in role, or which affected you emotionally.

Something which went well – why

Something which was difficult – why and how you coped

Something which failed – emotional response and learning, how would you act next time?

Essentially this is a journaling activity and will need to demonstrate how training needs have been met -

cross reference against the learning outcomes if at all possible

Supervision – some of these should involve a written reflection by the new minister and further comments after the supervision and from the Training Incumbent

cross reference against the learning outcomes if at all possible

‘Evidence’ – if people send notes / Emails these can be added

Preaching – reflection and feedback, perhaps using the sheets in appendix b of GIMICC pp 55-58

2. COMPLETING THE TASK LIST - over three years

In Appendix A is a useful check and tick list of the things an archdeacon would really want you to know before moving into a position of responsibility. Please keep it up to date.

3. DIACONAL MINISTRY ASSIGNMENT – end of March of first year

Reflect on your vocation and ministry as a deacon within the church in the light of the ordinal and other reading

1200 – 1300 words by end of March

Useful reading includes:

Rosalind BrownBeing a deacon Today: Exploring a distinctive Ministry

in the Church and world. Norwich Canterbury Press (2005)

Steven Croft Ministry in Three Dimensions: Ordination and

Leadership in the Local Church. London DLT (1999)

General Synod For such a time as this – a renewed diaconate in the

Church of England: a report to General Synod

London CHP (2001)

J. PaiceHow might there be a Biblical Diaconate in the C/E?

Churchman 115 (2001)

Consider the liturgical, pastoral, ambassadorial, servanthood and leadership roles in the light of the ordinal, other reading and your own experience of being a deacon. None of these elements should be missed out

- file under ‘being’ and cross reference to other learning outcomes

YEAR 2

Both of the following need to be done, one needs to be for supervision and portfolio and one as a written assignment showing evidence of study, theological reflection and consideration of others comments and feedback

Both need to be completed by end of March of the 2nd year

4. Priesthood of the ordained

Reflection on priesthood of the ordained in relation to the whole church and how it is reflected in leadership.

This is a different task to that with diaconal ministry. It needs to be a piece of reflection which could include:

• How with the incumbent and others you have prepared for ordination – including some possible joint reading
• Has there been any attempt to help the People of God reflect on their priestliness?
• Consideration of presiding, blessing, pronouncing absolution…
• Linking and contrasting priesthood and leadership
• How is your personal sense of call related to this?

Michael Ramsey The Christian Priest Today (SPCK, rev. ed. 2005)

John Pritchard Life and Work of a Priest (SPCK, 2007)

C Cocksworth & R Brown Being a Priest today: exploring priestly identity

(Canterbury Press Norwich, 2006)

1. Reflection on an act of worship

Reflections on an act of worship, its purpose, preparation, the use of Scripture within the service, how it was received. There needs to be feedback from others and reflection on this. If done as an assignment this needs to do demonstrate continuing theological study and reflection.

YEAR 3

Both of the following need to be done, one needs to be for supervision and portfolio and one as a written assignment showing evidence of study, theological reflection and consideration of others comments and feedback

Both need to be completed by end of SEPTEMBER of the 3nd year – AND SO MAY WELL HAVE BEEN STARTED EARLIER AND BUILT ON. They can also build on work which may have been done as part of the Year Group work with peers and convenor

Written assignment –

Reflection on an aspect of the new minister’s leadership of ministry or mission in the benefice

Whichever is done as the assignment will need to show evidence of theological study, action and experience and reflection on comments from incumbent and other people.

The other will need similar elements noted for portfolio but not be written up.

D.J. BoschTransforming Mission (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 1991)

S BevansModels for Contextual theology (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 2002)

M Booker & M IrelandEvangelism – which way now? (London: CHP, 2003)

S CroftThe Future of the Parish System (London CHP, 2006)

B JacksonHope for the Church (London CHP, 2002)

The Road to Growth (London CHP, 2005)

J. Andrew KirkWhat is mission? Theological explorations (London: DLT, 1999)

A MorisyJourneying Out (London: Continuum, 2004)

Mission & PublicMission Shaped Church (London CHP, 2004)

AffairsEvangelism in a Spiritual Age (London CHP, 2005)

C. A. SchwarzNatural Church Development Handbook (BCGA, 1998)

P. Ward Liquid Church (Carlisle, Paternoster, 2002)

PORTFOLIO, ASSIGNMENT, REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT TIMETABLE

1st year:

1. Regular supervision – some prepared for and commented on and put in portfolio – from doing, knowing, relating areas.
2. Use portfolio[s] as ongoing record of reflection and training in parish, IME2, other events…
3. Completion of task list of legal and admin tasks in doing.

2nd year:

1. Reflection on priesthood of the ordained in relation to the whole church and how it is reflected in leadership. Notes and reflection into portfolio.

3rd Year:

A. BEING

From the Ordinal

Deacons are ordained so that the people of God may be better equipped to make Christ known. Theirs is a life of visible self-giving. Christ is the pattern of their calling and their commission; as he washed the feet of his disciples, so they must wash the feet of others.

They are to be faithful in prayer, expectant and watchful for the signs of God’s presence, as he reveals his kingdom among us.

Will you endeavour to fashion your own life and that of your household according to the way of Christ, that you may be a pattern and example to Christ’s people?