by James Jones resource sheet 2 what kind of people?

n the services for has St Paul writing to the factious, I urge you to imitate me and there are conceited and loveless Christians at Even though Paul knew he was far Iimportant passages from the Corinth: from perfect he would urge others Bible. Reading and re-reading them to model themselves on him – a and meditating on them provides ‘Even if you had ten thousand forgiven sinner. Throughout his invaluable spiritual exercises in the guardians in Christ, you do not have letters it is clear that he saw a line process of discerning God's call: many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I of succession – imitate him and Isaiah 6:1-8; Romans 12:1-12; Mark became your father through the you will be imitating Christ, imitate 10:35-45; Isaiah 61:1-3; Malachi 2:5-7; gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate Christ, the icon of God and you will 2 Corinthians 5:14-19; John 20:19-23. me. For this reason I have sent to you be imitating God himself. It may not Timothy, my son whom I love, who is be fashionable or politically correct Listening to the direction of God faithful in the Lord. He will remind you to draw attention to this, but my through the daily study of the of my way of life in Christ Jesus.’ own conviction, rooted in Scripture, Scriptures is singled out by the is that those aspiring to the ordained in the ordination charge. Therefore, I became your father through ministry of priesthood ought to bear it is appropriate to see whether or the gospel the hallmarks of Christ-likeness. not there is an appetite for this in a This is not a sexist or a gender potential ordinand. Those seeking statement for in 1 Thessalonians 2 There ought to be a desire, nurtured ordination do well to reflect on these Paul also wrote: 'as apostles of Christ by Word and sacraments, to become passages and to ask God to show we were gentle among you like a like Jesus. In old-fashioned language, how they relate to their own calling. mother caring for her little children.' it is a desire to be holy. Of course, we More than ever the Church needs walk and follow Christ with clay feet. The passage of Scripture that ministers with the desire and the gift But, unlike those who feel that public has most influenced my own to lead people to faith in Jesus Christ. and private life can be separated, we understanding of the apostolic call to Do you love Jesus Christ? Do you know that the whole of our life is be a or presbyter in the church enjoy people? Have you already had under scrutiny. That is why purity in is from one of the letters Paul wrote some experience of helping people our relationships and probity in our to the church at Corinth. The first come to, and grow in, faith? These are handling of money are important letter to the Corinthians (4:15-17) important indications of the call. criteria in those seeking ordination.

www.cpas.org.uk what kind of people?

For this reason I have sent Timothy followed in Paul's footsteps. The spiritual life is the source of the Timothy... who is faithful in His own life of word and deed were to strength. When the former dries up the Lord be a powerful reminder of Paul's ‘way so does the latter. It is important to Just as Paul sent Timothy, so the of life in Christ Jesus.’ Interestingly, hear, therefore, how a person has Church through ordination sends you the word ‘remind’ is the same one coped with conflict, disappointment, to join that line of succession that that Paul uses of the way the bread frustration and tragedy and to hear traces back to Christ himself. When and the wine remind us of Jesus. The how they have interpreted God's you visit the sick and comfort the life and the teaching of Timothy and presence and action in their lives at dying you will be doing so in the place Paul were to remind us of Christ. This such times. There is no definitively of Christ; when you preside at Holy is the pattern for all of us called to correct answer. But the way a person Communion you will stand at the Holy ordination. describes their journey may well be Table and repeat the words of Christ suggestive of the call of God. himself. You will be ordained not as a manager or communicator or even as an Ordained ministers will find enabler or as a counsellor themselves as both leaders and (although these gifts will managers. A manager lives by the The call must arise out of not go amiss). You will be art of getting things done through prayer and drive you to ordained by the bishop others willingly and well. But the prayer. People will have and to ‘grow up into Christ's church is fundamentally a voluntary likeness’ and to ‘be an organisation (the biggest in the live by different patterns example’. Your life and country) and managing volunteers but the ordinand must be a your teaching, your is like herding cats! The Church (to pastoral and sacramental mix the metaphors) runs on the oil prayerful person. ministry are all to point of goodwill. Managing volunteers is people to Christ. To this end very different from managing salaried the Church is looking for people people. Therefore, the priest needs with a desire to make Jesus known. to evidence the skills of motivating That desire must be latent in every people differently in a culture where The proper reaction to this in an intending ordinand. the principal motivation is financial. ordinand is a mixture of awe and anticipation. Ambition to do this The Church is not looking for The priest is also a leader and the without any sense of unworthiness humourless, pushy people but those essence of leadership is ‘followership’. suggests egotism; to be completely with winsome and open personalities People follow people with a vision. daunted and overawed to the point of who can laugh with those who laugh But in the Bible vision is not about feeling that this is impossible suggests and weep with those who weep, those strategies but exclusively ‘of God’. A that the call is not yet there. who can listen and enjoy listening to desire to know God and an appetite other people's stories and who can tell for are vital to apostolic and He will remind you of my way of a good story themselves. priestly ministry. life in Christ ‘He will remind you of my way of life Some of the most moving words in the Holy matrimony? in Christ which agrees with what I Ordinal are spoken by the bishop to Although it is widely recognised that teach everywhere in every church.’ the candidate: spouses will follow their own calling 1 Corinthians 4:17 (hence they are not invited to a 'You cannot bear the weight of this ’ Advisory Panel), there is no Everything that Paul taught was calling in your own strength, but only doubt that the vocation to priestly consonant with his life. The gift by the grace and power of God. Pray ministry has a major impact upon of being both pastor and teacher therefore that your heart may daily be the whole family. Public ministry is indispensable to ordination to enlarged and your understanding of brings its own blend of opportunities parochial ministry. Again, some the Scriptures enlightened.' and demands to the household of a evidence of being able to teach the minister, therefore the married partner Christian faith either in a house group The call must arise out of prayer and must be in sympathy with the calling. or with children and young people drive you to prayer. People will have If this support is not there, then the is an important indicator of this and live by different patterns but the marriage may experience greater stress particular call. ordinand must be a prayerful person. when the pressure is on. Furthermore,

2 ©CPAS it is clear from the New Testament or the Newspaper, In the Name of Jesus, that the example to be shown by the which are available from newsagents. Henry Nouwen, (DLT). minister extends to how he/she is This is a good way of keeping up A thought-provoking look at Christian within the relationships centred on the to date with issues on professional leadership and ministry. home. This inevitably has implications ministry and current debates on other for the home and the family. It is a subjects. Ministry in Three Dimensions, facet that needs to be borne in mind , (DLT). by the increasing number of older Vocation candidates who have a partner and The Life and Work of a Priest, older children who have been used to Called or Collared, , (SPCK). a very different life-style. Francis Dewar, (SPCK). An exploration of the meaning of The Fire and the Clay, the Priest in Ministry and Vocation – a short calling as a whole without restricting Today's Church, book list the idea to ordination. George Guiver, (SPCK).

The Ministry Division of the Your Spiritual Gifts Can Help your The Christian Priest Today, Archbishops’ Council publishes a Church Grow, C Peter Wagner, Michael Ramsay, (SPCK). booklet called Ministry in the Church (Regal Books). An excellent series of ordination of England. This is also downloadable A unique book on finding and addresses and other talks, written from the website. releasing the gifts for church growth. from a thoughtful Anglo-Catholic Helpful biblical and practical advice on perspective. Its particular focus is on For those being considered as identifying and using gifts, valued by what a priest is rather than what he or candidates for a Bishops' Advisory those on both sides of the charismatic she does. Panel then familiarisation with the debate. Criteria for Selection for Ministry in the Church of England highlights Fit for the Purpose, the main areas for consideration Ian Aveyard, (St John’s by the selectors: ministry within Extension Studies). ...in the Bible vision is the Church of England, vocation, A workbook on Christian not about strategies but faith, spirituality, personality and vocation and how to character, relationships, leadership and respond when God calls. exclusively ‘of God’. A desire to collaboration, mission and evangelism know God and an appetite for and quality of mind. These are outlined Ministry and explored in the ministry booklet. theology are vital to apostolic An Introduction to and priestly ministry. Ministry Division, Christian Ministry, Church House, Gordon Kuhrt, (CHP). Great Smith Street, A highly readable introduction to LONDON SW1P 3NZ. ministry in the Church of England. Transforming Priesthood, T 020 7898 1412 (General office). Robin Greenwood, (SPCK). Being a Priest Today, In addition to the brief book list Christopher Cocksworth and Rosalind Practising Community, printed below it is well worth studying Brown, (Canterbury Press). Robin Greenwood, (SPCK). the official reports of the Church of A comprehensive exploration of England on specific issues, especially priesthood. The Future of Ministry, Gavin ministry and ordination. For example, Wakefield (editor), (Grove Books). The Priesthood of the Ordained Jesus-driven Ministry, Four leaders look ahead and reflect Ministry (Church House Publishing), Ajuth Kernando, (IVP). on what ministry may look like in 25 Formation for Ministry with a An exploration of ministry using years. Learning Church (CHP), and various Mark’s Gospel, chapter one. other Synod Reports. Anyone seriously considering ministry in the Church of England is well advised to read the church newspapers, the Church Times

Find more leadership resources at www.cpas.org.uk ©CPAS 3 what kind of people?

Freed to Serve, Michael Green, Being Anglican, Alastair Redfern, (Hodder & Stoughton). (Darton, Longman and Todd). Out of print but available second- An introduction to the history and hand. Considered by many as the best breadth of the Anglican Church. book on this subject. It is written from a biblical perspective and with an Pre-training Reading, , understanding of Anglican patterns of retired bishop, former principal of ministry. Very helpful on the nature of Trinity College, Bristol, (CPAS). ordained ministry. This is the title of CPAS Resource Sheet no 15. It provides a brief select list of The Anglican Church useful introductions to biblical studies, doctrine, Church history, worship, Something in Common, spirituality, mission and religion, and Adrian Chatfield, pastoral theology. (St John’s Extensions Studies). An accessible introduction to the The Right Rev James Jones is principles and practices of worldwide Bishop of Liverpool. .

resource sheets Download sheets free of charge from www.cpas.org.uk/vocationresources or buy a complete set of printed sheets at www.cpas.org.uk/shop. For bulk copies of individual sheets, phone 01926 458461 or email [email protected].

1 Guidance 7 On being not recommended for training 13 Infant baptism 2 What kind of people? 8 Non-stipendiary ministry/OLM 14 Theological training 3 Women and ministry 9 Ministers in secular employment 15 Pre-training reading 4 Calling for all? 10 Church Army: pioneering evangelists 16 Grants for training 5 Able and willing 11 Readers in the Church of England 17 Fostering vocation 6 What do Bishops’ Advisers look for? 12 Church of England: obstacle or 18 Situations vacant opportunity? 19 Ordained pioneer ministry

CPAS resource sheets ©CPAS. Not to reproduced by any means (including photocopying) without written permission from CPAS. You may not post electronic versions of this document on any website, but instead may post a link to www.cpas.org.uk/vocationresources.

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