Development of ministry and leadership
within the All Hallows Church community (2005)
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This leaflet has been written by members of the Parish Church Council (PCC) to broaden the process of prayer, reflection and discernment about the future leadership and ministry at All Hallows. It is to inform you about the process so far, and to explain what is to happen in the next few weeks and how you can be involved. We hope it will answer any questions you may have at this stage.
It is most important for the life of our community, and for all of us, that we all take as full a part as possible in this process. Please read this leaflet, and do contact any member of the PCC if there are still areas that you want to ask about or discuss.
You will find a list of the members of the PCC, with their contact details, here.
Why are leadership and ministry important just now?
There are two main reasons:
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The character of All Hallows means that it is always growing and changing. The most important kind of growth for Christians is growth in love and radical discipleship, amongst ourselves and in the wider world. Also, although we are not seeking numerical growth for its own sake, as we do grow in numbers it is important to have in place structures and a culture that facilitate growth.
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For nearly 20 years, All Hallows has had a Local Ministry Team (LMT), a group that worked with parish clergy in developing a vision for the church and in encouraging and supporting the ministry and gifts of every member of the church. Largely, the LMT was a success, as a glance at our liturgy bears out. However, for various reasons, it came to the end of its life. The PCC have therefore decided that this is now the time to consider afresh the questions of leadership and ministry and to choose a way forward that is rooted in the idea of a leadership that is shared, visible and accountable.
Why do we need a team?
The PCC believes that ministry and leadership are the responsibility of us all, in our different ways, not just of the parish priest. To have a recognised ministerial leadership team, in which members of the church work in a team alongside the priest in developing the church’s ministry and discipleship, is important for developing the life of the church and encouraging discipleship.
What would this be like in practice?
The team would look at worship, teaching, education, spiritual counselling, prayer, pastoral care and general congregational development. It would be involved in discussing and developing ideas and in ensuring ideas are put into action. This would involve meeting regularly, probably twice a month.
How does this link in with discipleship?
At the ‘Eat and Meet’ in October 2004 this was discussed at a deep level, inspired by the following passage from Ephesians (Eph. 4.11–13,15–16), which we have sought to follow in our discussions so far:
The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the Body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ … speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body joined and knitted together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.
What sort of leadership role would the team have?
Drawing upon the Ephesians passage, the team would seek to:
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enable and encourage the discipleship of all the church members and the development of gifts (‘to equip the saints for the work of ministry’)
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hold the vision of the church community and facilitate its being brought to life (‘building up the Body of Christ’)
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model a supportive, challenging and accountable Christian fellowship (‘Speaking the truth in love’)
The PCC have also discussed the need for leadership also to be rooted in the Gospel model of servant leadership as outlined in Mark’s Gospel (Mark 10.42–45):
So Jesus called them and said to them, ‘You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognise as their leaders lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be the slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’
What would happen to the PCC?
There would be no change – the PCC would still be the legal governing body of the church, and the new team would be responsible to it.
What will the process of discernment be? How will the team be chosen?
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The process will last for five Sundays from the First Sunday of Epiphany (9 Jan) to Ash Wednesday (9 Feb). On the First Sunday of Epiphany Ray will use the sermon to talk about the process, and then each Sunday alongside the normal intercessions there will be a period of meditation and reflection. This process is different from an election: people are requested not to put themselves forward, and we are all asked to consider whom we feel God is calling to ministerial leadership in our community.
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Names should be put in a box, which will be the responsibility of the advisory group (a small group of people appointed by PCC to oversee the process, whose names and contact details are given here). Alternatively, names may be e-mailed to members of the advisory group.
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After the five weeks the advisory group will meet to consider the names received and will report back to the PCC, which will take the final decision.
What if I am asked to be part of the team?
No one should feel that they have to take on a role as part of the team if they do not want to do so. However, if the community has felt that certain people should be put forward, they should allow themselves to be challenged and should give the matter deep consideration, preferably with the help and support of others. This is an issue of vocation and calling, and as such is both an immense privilege and a significant responsibility.
How long will each person remain part of the team?
Initially we will be asking people to consider undertaking a three-year commitment. It is important to understand that the team is not supposed to undertake everything itself but to have responsibility for the development of ministry in the church. Part of its role may be to call together sub-groups of people for short periods of time to look at specific aspects of our church life – to organise an event, or to take on a particular pastoral responsibility, for example – therefore encouraging participation in the ministry of the church.
What happens next?
The period of discernment will take place prayerfully, initially in the context of worship on the First Sunday of Epiphany. Meanwhile, the PCC will continue to discuss points that are still to be finalised about the process. Please feel free to give your comments and reflections to any of us at any time during the process.
Members of the advisory group (in alphabetical order of surname):
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Ray Gaston |
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Rachel Parkes |
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Laura Smith |