Post on 23-Sep-2020
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ThefutureofReaderministryDioceseofLiverpoolReaders’Conference
MartynSnowBishopofLeicester
ChairofCentralReaders’Council
1. Theology&‘wherearewenow?’Coffee
2. ConversationaboutmissionLunch
3. Conversationaboutteachingthefaith,coachingandmentoring.
Eucharist
ThefutureofReaderministry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlfKdbWwruYDancing– wherethehellisMatt2008
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Whenyouareprayingalone,andyourspiritisdejected,andyouareweariedandoppressedbyyourloneliness,rememberthen,asalways,thatGodtheTrinitylooksuponyouwitheyesbrighterthanthesun. JohnofKronstadt
DrawnintotherelationshipoftheTrinitybysteppingintothestreamofdivinelife,clutchingontoChristandbeingheldtherebytheSpirit.
RowanWilliams
“BytheindwellinggraceoftheHolySpirit,thechurchiscreatedtobeanimageofthelifeincommunionoftheTriuneGod.”TheChurchoftheTriuneGodInternationalCommissionforAnglicanOrthodoxDialogue2006
Atheologyofpartnership
1. PartnershipisessentialtotheverynatureofGod.
2. PartnershipspeaksofGod’srelationshipwithhumanity.
3. Partnershipindicatesthetruerelationshipbetweenhumanbeings.
PartnershipisessentialtotheverynatureofGod.
Thebondoflove
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Atheologyofpartnership
1. PartnershipisessentialtotheverynatureofGod.
2. PartnershipspeaksofGod’srelationshipwithhumanity.
3. Partnershipindicatesthetruerelationshipbetweenhumanbeings.
Atheologyofpartnership
2Corinthians6:1AsGod’sfellowworkersweurgeyounottoreceiveGod’sgraceinvain. Forhesays,‘Inthetimeofmyfavour Iheardyou, andinthedayofsalvationIhelpedyou.’
Galatians3:13‘Christredeemedusfromthecurseofthelawbybecomingacurseforus—foritiswritten,“Cursediseveryonewhohangsonatree”’
Atheologyofpartnership
2Corinthains 8:9‘ForyouknowthegenerousactofourLordJesusChrist,thatthoughhewasrich,yetforyoursakeshebecamepoor,sothatbyhispovertyyoumightbecomerich.’
Atheologyofinterchange
“TheWordofGod,ourLordJesusChrist,whodid,throughhistranscendentlove,becomewhatweare,thathemightbringustobeevenwhatheishimself”
Irenaeus
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Atheologyofpartnership
1. PartnershipisessentialtotheverynatureofGod.
2. PartnershipspeaksofGod’srelationshipwithhumanity.
3. Partnershipindicatesthetruerelationshipbetweenhumanbeings.
MEVicar&otherclergy
Children’sministryleaders
Lunchclubleaders
Schoolheadteacher /REcoordinator
Coffeeshop
Evangelists
Youthministryleaders
Choir/Musicgroup
OtherReaders
PastoralAssistants
DeaneryministersBishop&
diocesanministers
Aninvitationtoreflectonyourpartnerships.Drawyourwebofconnections(ministrypartners)… whodoyoushareminstry with…?
Interchangeandgiftexchange
“Ihavebecomeallthingstoallpeople,thatImightbyallmeanssavesome.”
1Corinthians9:19-22
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LewisHydeUnlikecommodityexchange(e.g.handingovercashatacheckout),giftscreatea‘feelingbond’betweenpeople(e.g.theneighbourbringingroundamealforthemotherofanewbaby).Theseconnections(bothbonding:peoplelikeus;andbridging:peopleunlikeus)deepencommunityasgiftsflowandcirculate.)
Foa’s modelofresourceclasses Readers workinginpartnershiptoservethebodyofChrist
1. Whatgiftscanyouexchangewithotherministers?
2. Howmightanunderstandingofourpartnership/interchangewithGodinformourpartnership/giftexchangewithothers?
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“Setting God’s People Free”
• Report commissioned by the Archbishops’ Council• Working Group chaired by Matthew Frost, former
CEO of Tearfund• Report presented to General Synod in February
2017
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“Setting God’s People Free”
This report calls for two shifts in culture and practice that are critical to the flourishing of the Church and the evangelisation of the nation. 1. Until, together, ordained and lay, we form and equip lay
people to follow Jesus confidently in every sphere of life in ways that demonstrate the Gospel we will never set God’s people free to evangelise the nation.
“Setting God’s People Free”
2. Until laity and clergy are convinced, based on their baptismal mutuality, that they are equal in worth and status, complementary in gifting and vocation, mutually accountable in discipleship, and equal partners in mission, we will never form Christian communities that can evangelise the nation.
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“Setting God’s People Free”
Action plan now being implemented…
“Serving Together” (Lay Ministries Working Group)
• More reflection on current practice of lay ministry –there is huge variety across dioceses
• Change of culture – collegiate and corporate• Shift from focus on role & identity to acts of service
Central Readers’ Council• In the light of the huge increase in recognised and
authorised lay ministries, what now is the role of the Reader?
• How can CRC better support Readers to be confident in their calling?
• How can CRC ‘add value’ to what dioceses are already doing?
1. Theology&‘wherearewenow?’Coffee
2. ConversationaboutmissionLunch
3. Conversationaboutteachingthefaith,coachingandmentoring.
Eucharist
ThefutureofReaderministry
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Luke 9
ThenJesus calledthetwelvetogetherandgavethempowerandauthorityoveralldemonsandtocurediseases, 2andhesentthemouttoproclaimthekingdomofGodandtoheal. 3Hesaidtothem,“Takenothingforyourjourney,nostaff,norbag,norbread,normoney—notevenanextratunic. 4Whateverhouseyouenter,staythere,andleavefromthere. 5Wherevertheydonotwelcomeyou,asyouareleavingthattownshakethedustoffyourfeetasatestimonyagainstthem.” 6Theydepartedandwentthroughthevillages,bringingthegoodnewsandcuringdiseaseseverywhere.
10OntheirreturntheapostlestoldJesus[c] alltheyhaddone.HetookthemwithhimandwithdrewprivatelytoacitycalledBethsaida. 11Whenthecrowdsfoundoutaboutit,theyfollowedhim;andhewelcomedthem,andspoketothemaboutthekingdomofGod,andhealedthosewhoneededtobecured.12Thedaywasdrawingtoaclose,andthetwelvecametohimandsaid,“Sendthecrowdaway,sothattheymaygointothesurroundingvillagesandcountryside,tolodgeandgetprovisions;forwearehereinadesertedplace.” 13Buthesaidtothem,“Yougivethemsomethingtoeat.”
Theysaid,“Wehavenomorethanfiveloavesandtwofish—unlesswearetogoandbuyfoodforallthesepeople.” 14 Fortherewereaboutfivethousandmen.Andhesaidtohisdisciples,“Makethemsitdowningroupsofaboutfiftyeach.” 15Theydidsoandmadethemallsitdown. 16Andtakingthefiveloavesandthetwofish,helookeduptoheaven,andblessedandbrokethem,andgavethemtothedisciplestosetbeforethecrowd. 17Andallateandwerefilled.Whatwasleftoverwasgatheredup,twelvebasketsofbrokenpieces.
Luke 9
1. The rhythm of mission – called to be with Jesus and sent out
2. Travelling light - “Take nothing for your journey”3. Luke 10 – sending of 72 – multiplication4. Feeding of 5000 = acted parable
1. Jesus gives them an impossible task2. They offer what they have3. Jesus takes it, gives thanks for it, breaks it and gives
it back so they can distribute it
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Questions: What resonates for you from this passage?
Only God can ‘multiply’ – but what is our part in the
process?
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TheestablishedChurchofEnglandhasexperiencedafallof19%ineightyearsinthenumberoffuneralsitsclergyconduct,from232,550in2000to188,100in2008.Expressedintermsoftotaldeaths,the2008figuretranslatedintoa39%marketshare.
1. PrivateFrazer:‘We’realldoomed!’
2. CorporalJones:’Don’tpanic… don’tpanic!’
3. CaptainMainwaring:‘Youstupidboy!’
TheDad’sArmyresponse…
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OurunderstandingandstructuresofministryintheChurchofEnglandhaveevolvedforhundredsofyearswithanemphasisonpastoralministry:sustainingcommunitiesofChristianpeopleinastablecontext…Now theChurchofEnglandisbeingcalledtorediscoverwhatitmeanstobeamovementofpeopleinmission.
TheMissionhasaChurch
Inmyformerbook,Theophilus,IwroteaboutallthatJesusbegantodoandtoteachuntilthedayhewastakenupto
heaven,aftergivinginstructionsthroughtheHolySpirittotheapostleshehad
chosen……youwillreceivepowerwhentheHolySpiritcomesonyou;andyouwillbemy
witnessesinJerusalem,andinallJudeaandSamaria,andtotheendsoftheearth.
Acts1
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Thefivemarksofmission1. ToproclaimtheGoodNewsoftheKingdom2. Toteach,baptise andnurturenewbelievers3. Torespondtohumanneedbylovingservice4. Toseektotransformunjuststructuresofsociety,tochallengeviolenceofeverykindandtopursuepeaceandreconciliation
5. Tostrivetosafeguardtheintegrityofcreationandsustainandrenewthelifeoftheearth
Themissing markofmission
0.PrayerfuldiscernmentofwhatGodisdoing.
Butwhatabouttherestoflife…?
TheChurch
Sunday10amand6pm
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TheChurch
MondaytoSaturday
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyMMfyy3FDEAnintroductiontoLICC
Questions…
1.Whereisyour‘frontline’?2.Howcanwedevelopavisionforwhole-of-lifediscipleship?
3.Howcanthechurchbecomealearningcommunityofpractitioners?
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1. Theology&‘wherearewenow?’Coffee
2. ConversationaboutmissionLunch
3. Conversationaboutteachingthefaith,coachingandmentoring.
Eucharist
ThefutureofReaderministry2 Timothy 4
4 InthepresenceofGodandofChristJesus,whoistojudgethelivingandthedead,andinviewofhisappearingandhiskingdom,Isolemnlyurgeyou: 2proclaimthemessage;bepersistentwhetherthetimeisfavourableorunfavourable;convince,rebuke,andencourage,withtheutmostpatienceinteaching. 3 Forthetimeiscomingwhenpeoplewillnotputupwithsounddoctrine,buthavingitchingears,theywillaccumulateforthemselvesteacherstosuittheirowndesires, 4andwillturnawayfromlisteningtothetruthandwanderawaytomyths.
5Asforyou,alwaysbesober,enduresuffering,dotheworkofanevangelist,carryoutyourministryfully.
6Asforme,Iamalreadybeingpouredoutasalibation,andthetimeofmydeparturehascome. 7 Ihavefoughtthegoodfight,Ihavefinishedtherace,Ihavekeptthefaith. 8 Fromnowonthereisreservedformethecrownofrighteousness,whichtheLord,therighteousjudge,willgivetomeonthatday,andnotonlytomebutalsotoallwhohavelongedforhisappearing.
2 Timothy 4
1. Time is shorti. Jesus will comeii. Time to teach is limited (“favourable or
unfavourable”)iii. People have itching ears / will suit their own
desires2. “proclaim the message” / “preach the word” / “be
persistent” / “convince, rebuke, encourage”3. “besober,enduresuffering”
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“Catechesis”
• “instruction by word of mouth”• Historically 3 levels
• Basic - for those completely new• Intermediate – for those going deeper
• Advanced – theological texts and exposition
“Catechesis”
• Careful structure• Doctrine taught through the Apostles Creed• Prayer taught through the Lord’s prayer
• Conduct and behaviour taught through the ten commandments
• Participation in the life of the church taught through the sacraments
“Catechesis”
All this in addition to regular Sunday sermons…
21st Century Catechesis
• “Be prepared in season out of season”• Season of sowing the seed of the gospel• Season of nurturing those new to faith• Season of going deeper in discipleship
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Seasonal Catechesis
Steven CroftBishop of Oxford
Seasonal Catechesis
Steven CroftBishop of Oxford
Catechesis is unspectacular, unglamorous work, but it is right at the heart of what it means to be a lay minister…It is also one of the most rewarding of disciplines according to every survey and the single factor most likely to make a difference to the growth of the church.
Questions: What more could you be doing to teach the faith?
Do you feel well equipped for this – and if not, how
might you be equipped?
Who else could you help to train as a “Catechist”?
“Mentoring”
Moses – JoshuaNaomi – RuthElijah – ElishaPaul – TimothyPeter - Mark
1. Provides an example2. Teaches3. Prays 4. Encourages5. Trains
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“The Apprenticeship model”
1. I do, you watch.2. I do, you help.
3. You do, I help. We talk.4. You do, I watch. We talk.
5. You do. Someone else watches
My mentors…
• Ray – led our youth group• Auntie Dorothy – prayed for me
• Richard – taught me about evangelism
• Huw – taught me about leadership
Questions: Who have been your mentors in the Christian faith?
Who are you mentoring?
Doyouwanttolearntodance?
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pwe-pA6TaZkDancing– wherethehellisMatt2012