Making God Possible: The Task Of Ordained Ministry Present And Future

by Alan Billings

Overview

What are clergy for?

In this lively and provocative volume, Alan Billings argues that they serve the mission and ministry of the Church, which is to make God possible.

In each new era, how to carry out this mission effectively will vary, as the Church seeks to respond to changes in society and culture, but it is likely to involve clergy in a refocusing of their ministry.

Part 1 of Making God Possible looks at recent cultural shifts and the challenges they present to Christianity in the twenty-first century.

Part 2 explores some of the models of ministry which have been found in the Church in the past and which continue to exercise an influence: classical (the parson); evangelical (the minister); catholic (the priest), and utility (the social activist and personal therapist).

The author skilfully draws out those things of lasting importance and value in each model that might contribute towards the renewal of the ordained ministry today.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780281062287
Publisher:	SPCK (Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge)
Publication date:	04/15/2010
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	5.43(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

The Revd Canon Dr Alan Billings is a regular contributor to BBC Radio 4's 'Thought for the Day' and the author of Dying and Grieving, Secular Lives Sacred Hearts, and God and Community Cohesion, all published by SPCK.

Table of Contents

Part 1
PRESENT REALITIES
1 Understanding the context 13
A time of no religion 13
The challenge of the modern state 27
Conclusion 30
2 How the Church thinks about itself 32
Changes in the Church’s self-understanding 32
What is ministry? 47
Conclusion 50
Part 2
MODELS OF MINISTRY
3 Classical: the parson 55
Origins and evolution 55
The model 56
The model in practice 63
Strengths and weaknesses 71
Conclusion 75
4 Evangelical: the minister 77
Origins and evolution 77
The model 85
The model in practice 90
Strengths and weaknesses 93
Conclusion 97
5 Catholic: the priest 99
Origins and evolution 99
The model 102
The model in practice 110
Strengths and weaknesses 114
Conclusion 116
6 Utility: the social activist and personal therapist 118
Origins and evolution 118
The model: social activist 123
The model in practice 125
The model: personal therapist 129
The model in practice 131
Strengths and weaknesses 134
Conclusion 134
Part 3
FUTURE POSSIBILITIES
7 Making God possible in the twenty-first century 139
The encircling gloom 139
The rise of secular humanism 141
The resilience of the chaplaincy role 147
Establishment in a diverse society 150
The priorities for ordained ministry 156
And finally . . . 161
Notes 162
Index 177