Reflections

One of the topics on which we (and other Church of England parishes in the area) are reflecting at the moment is how patterns of ministry are developing: 'We should turn our thinking upside down and begin with Baptism. Instead of defining ministry as what ordained people do, and what is now shared with other authorised ministers, we should begin with what baptised people are called to do and shape our authorised and ordained ministries to service this. The growing sorts of ministry shouldn’t be seen as lay people helping out Vicars because there are fewer Vicars and thus gaps to be covered. It should be seen as Vicars helping the ministry of lay people. If we believe in fostering the priesthood of all believers then our Vicars will have to become more like bishops - exercising a ministry of oversight for the multiple ministries in their area.'
Canon Peter Mullins