The future of Reader ministry Diocese of Liverpool Readers Conference Martyn Snow Bishop of Leicester Chair of Central Readers Council The future of Reader ministry 1. Theology & where are we now? Coffee 2. Conversation about mission Lunch 3. Conversation about teaching the faith, coaching and mentoring. Eucharist Dancing where the hell is Matt 2008 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlfkdbwwruy 1
When you are praying alone, and your spirit is dejected, and you are wearied and oppressed by your loneliness, remember then, as always, that God the Trinity looks upon you with eyes brighter than the sun. John of Kronstadt Drawn into the relationship of the Trinity by stepping into the stream of divine life, clutching on to Christ and being held there by the Spirit. Rowan Williams By the indwelling grace of the Holy Spirit, the church is created to be an image of the life in communion of the Triune God. The Church of the Triune God International Commission for Anglican Orthodox Dialogue 2006 A theology of partnership 1. Partnership is essential to the very nature of God. 2. Partnership speaks of God s relationship with humanity. 3. Partnership indicates the true relationship between human beings. Partnership is essential to the very nature of God. The bond of love 2
A theology of partnership 1. Partnership is essential to the very nature of God. 2. Partnership speaks of God s relationship with humanity. 3. Partnership indicates the true relationship between human beings. A theology of partnership 2 Corinthians 6:1 As God s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God s grace in vain. For he says, In the time of my favour I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. A theology of partnership Galatians 3: 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us for it is written, Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree 2 Corinthains 8:9 For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. A theology of interchange The Word of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, who did, through his transcendent love, become what we are, that he might bring us to be even what he is himself Irenaeus 3
A theology of partnership 1. Partnership is essential to the very nature of God. 2. Partnership speaks of God s relationship with humanity. 3. Partnership indicates the true relationship between human beings. Vicar & other clergy Deanery ministers Other Readers Pastoral Assistants Evangelists Bishop & diocesan ministers Choir / Music group ME School headteacher / RE coordinator Children s ministry leaders Youth ministry leaders Lunch club leaders Coffee shop An invitation to reflect on your partnerships. Draw your web of connections (ministry partners) who do you share minstry with? Interchange and gift exchange I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. 1 Corinthians 9:19-22 4
Lewis Hyde Unlike commodity exchange (e.g. handing over cash at a checkout), gifts create a feeling bond between people (e.g. the neighbour bringing round a meal for the mother of a new baby). These connections (both bonding: people like us; and bridging: people unlike us) deepen community as gifts flow and circulate.) Foa s model of resource classes Readers working in partnership to serve the body of Christ 1. What gifts can you exchange with other ministers? 2. How might an understanding of our partnership / interchange with God inform our partnership / gift exchange with others? 5
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 6
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. 7
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? The future of Reader ministry 1. Theology & where are we now? Coffee 2. Conversation about mission Lunch 3. Conversation about teaching the faith, coaching and mentoring. Eucharist 8
Luke 9 Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. 3 He said to them, Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money not even an extra tunic. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there, and leave from there. 5 Wherever they do not welcome you, as you are leaving that town shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them. 6 They departed and went through the villages, bringing the good news and curing diseases everywhere. 10 On their return the apostles told Jesus [c] all they had done. He took them with him and withdrew privately to a city called Bethsaida. 11 When the crowds found out about it, they followed him; and he welcomed them, and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed to be cured. 12 The day was drawing to a close, and the twelve came to him and said, Send the crowd away, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside, to lodge and get provisions; for we are here in a deserted place. 13 But he said to them, You give them something to eat. They said, We have no more than five loaves and two fish unless we are to go and buy food for all these people. 14 For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each. 15 They did so and made them all sit down. 16 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 17 And all ate and were filled. What was left over was gathered up, twelve baskets of broken pieces. 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 multiplication 4. Feeding of 5000 = acted parable 1. Jesus gives them an impossible task 2. They offer what they have 3. Jesus takes it, gives thanks for it, breaks it and gives it back so they can distribute it 9
Questions: What resonates for you from this passage? Only God can multiply but what is our part in the process? 10
The established Church of England has experienced a fall of 19% in eight years in the number of funerals its clergy conduct, from 232,550 in 2000 to 188,100 in 2008. Expressed in terms of total deaths, the 2008 figure translated into a 39% market share. The Dad s Army response 1. Private Frazer: We re all doomed! 2. Corporal Jones: Don t panic don t panic! 3. Captain Mainwaring: You stupid boy! 11
Our understanding and structures of ministry in the Church of England have evolved for hundreds of years with an emphasis on pastoral ministry: sustaining communities of Christian people in a stable context Now the Church of England is being called to rediscover what it means to be a movement of people in mission. The Mission has a Church In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1 12
The five marks of mission 1. To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom 2. To teach, baptise and nurture new believers 3. To respond to human need by loving service 4. To seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation 5. To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth The missing mark of mission 0. Prayerful discernment of what God is doing. But what about the rest of life? The Church Sunday 10am and 6pm 13
The Church An introduction to LICC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=symmfyy3fde Monday to Saturday Questions 1. Where is your frontline? 2. How can we develop a vision for whole-of-life discipleship? 3. How can the church become a learning community of practitioners? 14
The future of Reader ministry 1. Theology & where are we now? Coffee 2. Conversation about mission Lunch 3. Conversation about teaching the faith, coaching and mentoring. Eucharist 2 Timothy 4 4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: 2 proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favourable or unfavourable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. 5 As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully. 6 As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 2 Timothy 4 1. Time is short i. Jesus will come ii. Time to teach is limited ( favourable or unfavourable ) iii. People have itching ears / will suit their own desires 2. proclaim the message / preach the word / be persistent / convince, rebuke, encourage 3. be sober, endure suffering 15
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 21 st 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 16
Seasonal Catechesis Steven Croft Bishop of Oxford Seasonal Catechesis Steven Croft Bishop 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? Moses Joshua Naomi Ruth Elijah Elisha Paul Timothy Peter - Mark Mentoring 1. Provides an example 2. Teaches 3. Prays 4. Encourages 5. Trains 17
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? Do you want to learn to dance? 18
Dancing where the hell is Matt 2012 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwe-pa6tazk 19