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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