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A vision for the Future"Making Disciples of all Nations"Vision 2020 has the task of researching and formulating a vision for the future of the Diocese. The committee, made up of clerical and lay representatives from throughout the United Diocese, has been working very well together. We have had a very open and frank sharing of views and opinions, which have been of benefit to each member of committee and hopefully will be of wider benefit to our diocese. The report below, presented to Diocesan Synod 2002, examines the following:
All comments and ideas are welcome. Please e-mail the Webmaster with subject "Vision 2020" and he will pass them on. E-mail: webmaster@cashel.anglican.org The committee throughout it's deliberations have readily identified a number of shortcomings, problems, issues and faults which we feel we urgently need to address as a Diocese and as a Church if we are to minister and witness effectively in the future. We MUST embrace change and new models of ministry, what we cannot do is hope that things are going to return to the way they were. The world has moved on, we must move on too. We sometimes have unrealistic expectations and are too quick to draw attention to our own shortcomings, this has probably held us back in the past. To have a healthy future we need to affirm one another more readily, we must foster a self confidence and a belief that as a Diocese and a church we have much to offer that can contribute to the greater good of the communities of which we are part and to society as a whole.
3 What hinders ministry as presently practised?
Administration:this could mean everything from Building maintenance/fund-raising to typing of service sheets to sitting on school boards of management. Also keeping Parish records in order. Much of this could be just as competently dealt with by other people. Sunday Services: As noted many times, Sunday is a Marathon for many. It is not possible to devote enough time for quality worship if an eye is on the watch! Lay ministry needs to be developed further than simply a means of filling in the gaps. Adequate training needs to be given and resources supplied. Should there be a diocesan directive as to how many services any one person can reasonably be expected to conduct on a Sunday ? Guilt: There is an unfortunate feeling by many that the "rector is always busy" or that if they don't seem to be busy then they are not doing their job. This expectation makes many clergy feel guilty about taking time off to pursue their own interests. Obviously a feeling of guilt regarding ones ministry is very unhealthy. Congregations should be encouraged to care for their clergy and be concerned that they do get "quality" time off. The committee feel that those in the ordained ministry, especially those who are rectors of parishes are being swamped by an ever increasing administrative burden, meaning that they have less time for pastoral work, prayer, study, relaxation, personal spiritual development etc. . Reducing the number of Select Vestries. In a Group of Parishes quite often there are still too many vestries, matters are often duplicated and repeated, when it would be far more sensible and practical to have one Select vestry responsible for all the building, property etc. within a Group The Diocese should seek to establish a post of Diocesan Administration Officer with secretarial assistance as required and a fully equipped office. Clergy in parishes where there are national schools also face a considerable additional workload if they are the Chairperson of the Board of Management. The committee would question the need for any rector to automatically fill that role. Whilst remaining as a member of the Board, the post of chairperson could be more than adequately filled by others. This would help not only the rector but it would also encourage greater lay participation in one aspect of the life of our church. This was an area that has taken up a great deal of the committee's deliberations. It has been suggested that there is increasing insecurity amongst our clergy, quite often because they are not to sure what it is people expect of them. Increasingly they work in isolation. Clergy need to be affirmed and supported more on many levels. The committee would like to make the following suggestions which they feel could help. When vacancies arise, more accurate job specifications for that post should be drawn up. These will obviously vary in different situations throughout the diocese. The parish concerned should be encouraged to articulate what it is they expect from a rector and vice versa. In that way more suitable applicants may be "matched" with specific vacancies. People will know exactly from the outset where they stand, expectations will be more realistic, it could also help prevent misunderstandings, tensions and fractured relationships in future. Wider use of contracts: A contract is an agreement between two parties that they will both fulfil certain obligations. Clergy and parishioners both need to have a vision of what is expected of the other. Drawing up of a contact also means that a purpose must be defined, with aims to achieve it and means of evaluation. Note that a contact does not have to be time limited as in some cases parsons freehold is advantageous!! In service training and Spiritual Development: Clergy are professional Christians. It is their job to pray, be religious, be happy or sad as the situation dictates. This often has dire spiritual consequences as what was once done out of love becomes a drab act of duty. There is a need for a consistent programme of regular in service training for those in the ordained ministry. Sabbaticals should also be available after specified periods of service and there must be frequent refresher courses. This is an area we have largely neglected up until now. In service training is seen as vital, even compulsory, in many other professions and it should be no different for clergy. We continue to ignore this at our peril and the committee strongly recommend that the Diocese implement such programmes without further delay. Current parochial ministry encourages the assumption that after a certain amount of years of service a rector is sufficiently experienced to do everything on their own. For instance it is assumed that once ordained, a vocation remains static. With the number of people leaving ordained ministry to work in other vocations this does not seem to be the case. On going training such as refresher courses on preaching/pastoral care is very important. To over come any sense of isolation we recommend a number of support systems and encourage more regular clerical gatherings for fellowship giving clergy the opportunity to discuss issues of concern and to seek mutual support. Parishes should encourage clergy to go on retreat. Perhaps Sabbaticals need to be funded so that clergy can take time out to re fuel their creative, intellectual and spiritual batteries. 6 The role of the Bishop: pastoral care of clergy We would also suggest that clergy meet regularly with their Diocesan Bishop to discuss their ministry and any problems and concerns they may have. This would also be an opportunity to be affirmed, supported, encouraged, to seek advice and direction in areas of difficulty. At present many clergy probably only meet the bishop on such a one to one basis in the light of a specific crisis. As carers, clergy also need to be cared for. Some clergy may have a spiritual advisor, but probably more end up bottling everything up themselves or offloading it on their spouses. This is certainly not professional practice Clergy should be encouraged , together with their parishioners, to establish goals and aims for short specific time periods. These could be discussed at meetings with the Bishop. If these had subsequently been successful could that experience be offered to other parishes. If the goals have not been achieved, why not? What could be learned from any unfulfilled expectations.
Team Ministry: It seems inevitable that if clergy numbers continue to fall this will come in one way or the other. Ideally, it would incorporate a team, clergy and lay who specialise in different aspects of ministry. I.e. Youth, retired, prayer etc. Coupled with a strong and active lay ministry that gave people real value this would both relieve the stress of "One person ministry" and lead to more effective programs. The committee have discussed team ministry at length. There may be a case for establishing teams ministries in certain central areas. Such teams would consist of both ordained and lay ministers who would have been trained in the various disciplines needed to minister most effectively in that area, e.g. youth, hospital chaplaincies, tea change in schools both national and secondary etc. Maybe also incorporating more specialist ministries to meet specific needs such as refugees, asylum seekers, young offenders, drugs etc. What has caught the imagination of our committee is the whole area of collaborative ministry. The "priesthood of all believers", the role of all those baptised. Many people within our church already carry out many forms of ministry but they do not see this as ministry or as a consequence of being a member of a church community. We need a change in mind set, All forms of ministry, ordained or lay need to be affirmed and validated. One form of ministry is not in any way inferior to another. Our problem has often been that auxiliaries or lay ministries are only offered as a last resort and only because an ordained full time person is not available. We have got to banish this thinking from the minds of our people if we are going to minister effectively in future. We envisage a need to develop the auxiliary ministry in future. It would seem that fewer feel called to the full time ordained ministry so more will stay in paid employment in other fields but they should also be permitted to be rectors or priests in charge of parishes. This may require a change in the constitution. (The constitution as it stands could be a hindrance to many new initiatives, it must not be allowed to stifle change). On going development of the ministry of lay readers, they need to be encouraged and affirmed more. Regular on going training and fellowship must be a priority. Establishment of local ministries where a person from a local parish community is recognised, trained and affirmed to carry on specific ministries such as leading Sunday worship. This could keep many church buildings open if that is what parishes really want and it would also allow services to take place at a time suited to the community itself. Too many services presently take place at a time that suits the rector and his/her Sunday dash. We need a new model of ministry and our structures must give expression to collaborative ministry. The Old Model was probably based on the clergy doing ministry on behalf of the people. Yet we need to recall that our Lord himself was ministered to after his wilderness experience. Any new model must be based on the concept of clergy and laity working together. With 1 Corinthians 15 in mind we need to acknowledge different forms of giftedness, that the Holy Spirit works through everybody for the benefit of all. We need to acknowledge and affirm ministry in everyday life, which we then celebrate and ritualise on a Sunday at worship. Establish a small sub group in every parish distinct from the select vestry, a pastoral council, core group, shared ministry group, people prepared to look to the future with openness, a group prepared to plan and explore. Such a group should be encouraged to establish goals, both long and short term by asking itself such questions as Where is the parish going to be in five years time? What is our parish for anyway? Can we identify specific needs in our area which we could help address? The Church of Ireland is relatively small, theoretically therefore it should be easier to connect with people and to work with each other. It follows that if we are not connecting with a lot of people at present, something must be amiss. We have to recognise that many are happy with the church the way it is. Reform must begin from within. We need "in reach" in order to establish "out reach" (Harrington) We need training as to how to identify potential talent and gifts and how to encourage their use in parish life. We see Education as a priority in the life of the diocese in future this should be everyone's responsibility and must be promoted and encouraged with enthusiasm and energy. We are not good at planning. We often react to a crisis and exercise a fire brigade ministry in most instances. We need to plan for the future and try and anticipate needs. If we are going to have a diocesan forum to discuss the future of our United Diocese, preparations would probably have to begin at local parish level. There can be no Overall Blueprint for the future that can be applied throughout the United Diocese, every situation is different. A vision must be established in every parish situation, it must be formulated, be owned and be implemented by those in that specific situation. A "grand plan" cannot be handed "down" that will somehow radically change everything and makes things instantly better.
A Prayer for the Renewal of the Church Guide and direct, O Lord, the minds of all who work for the reshaping of the Church in our time. Restore our faith and vision. Renew our energies and love. Revive your people to new life and power. So may we live and speak for Christ before the world he came to save, and ever advance his kingdom, for his honour and glory. Amen (Timothy Dudley-Smith) All comments and ideas are welcome. Please e-mail the Webmaster with subject "Vision 2020" and he will pass them on. E-mail: webmaster@cashel.anglican.org
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