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1 HANDBOOK FOR CURATES AND TRAINING INCUMBENTS (PT 2): Learning and Assessment in Curacy 2018 – 2019 Training Officer (responsible for IME Phase 2 and CMD) Rev’d Tim Evans Mob: 0755 337 1165 Office: 0161 828 1452 [email protected] Director of Mission and Ministry Rev’d Canon Peter Reiss Office: 0161 828 1455 [email protected] June 2018

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Page 1: HANDBOOK FOR CURATES AND TRAINING INCUMBENTS (PT 2) · The disciples’ encounter with the risen Jesus on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35) is a story about God’s love: God’s

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HANDBOOK FOR CURATES AND

TRAINING INCUMBENTS (PT 2):

Learning and Assessment in Curacy

2018 – 2019

Training Officer (responsible for IME Phase 2 and CMD)

Rev’d Tim Evans Mob: 0755 337 1165

Office: 0161 828 1452 [email protected]

Director of Mission and Ministry

Rev’d Canon Peter Reiss Office: 0161 828 1455

[email protected] June 2018

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Contents

Introduction - on the road to Emmaus 3

The content and structure of IME 2 4

Intentional Learning Groups: Introduction 6

Intentional Learning Groups: Roles and Responsibilities 7

Intentional Learning Groups: General Resources 8

Intentional Learning Group Session Outlines 9

Intentional learning Groups: Sample Case Studies 29

Reflective Practice and Theological Reflection 35

Reflective Journal 38

Supervision 41

Formation and assessment 46

Ministry File and Curacy File 48

Appendix 1: National Formational Criteria for Curates 49

Appendix 2: ILG Case Study Feedback pro forma 57

Appendix 3: Sermon Feedback and Review pro forma 59

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Introduction: On the Road to Emmaus

Ordained Ministry

With all God's people, they are to tell the story of God's love. They are to baptize new

disciples in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and to walk

with them in the way of Christ, nurturing them in the faith. They are to unfold the

Scriptures, to preach the word in season and out of season, and to declare the mighty

acts of God. They are to preside at the Lord's table and lead his people in worship,

offering with them a spiritual sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.

The Ordination of Priests, Common Worship

The disciples’ encounter with the risen Jesus on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35) is

a story about God’s love: God’s love embodied in the birth, death and resurrection of

Jesus the Son of God; God’s love revealed in Jesus’ opening of the disciples’ eyes and the

burning of the disciples’ hearts within them; God’s love made known to each generation

in the bread which Jesus broke and shared with the disciples at supper that evening, just

as he had done the night before he died.

It is this story of God’s love that ordained ministers are called to be, do and know, in

order that those to whom and with whom they minister may be, do and know, it too. But,

because the story of God’s love can only be told and handed on through an encounter

with the risen Jesus, ordained ministers can only tell and hand it on through offering their

lives as a ‘spiritual sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving’; they can only tell and hand it on

through meeting with, and being sustained by, the risen Jesus in private prayer and

public worship as they minister in his name to those who are also journeying along the

road to Emmaus.

The road to Emmaus, the road that ordained ministers are called to walk in ‘praise and

thanksgiving’ amongst the people of their generation, is a road that is rough and smooth,

high and low, twisted and straight; it is a road of distances small and great, with

junctions and forks in unexpected places; it is a road of encounters, chosen and un-

chosen, ordinary and extra-ordinary; and it is a road weathered by the joy and pain of

life itself, the joy and pain which ordained ministers carry for themselves and for those to

whom and with whom they minister

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The road to Emmaus takes in a funeral, a school assembly, a community meeting, a

homeless person on the vicarage doorstep, a hospital visit, a church council meeting,

next Sunday’s sermon, and much more, in a ceaseless day. Because the road to Emmaus

travels via unexpected places, and takes in encounters with unexpected people, it is one

for which travellers, those telling and handing on the story of God’s love through

ordained ministry, need to develop reflective skills which enable them to navigate new

situations and encounters effectively rather than merely seeking to read a map which

was drawn up during pre- and post-ordination training.

Moreover, the road to Emmaus requires ordained ministers to combine the telling and

handing on of a love story with professionalism because, as Campbell rightly points out in

his book Rediscovering Pastoral Care (1981, p.26), ‘anyone who has entered into the

darkness of another’s pain, loss or bewilderment and who has done so without the

defences of a detached professionalism will know the feeling of wanting to escape, or

wishing that they had not become involved. Caring is costly’. Therefore in order that

ordained ministers can be, do and know the story of God’s love they need to be formed

as disciples and ministers, people and professionals, who can withstand the challenges of

exercising what is a public and representative role, ‘preach[ing] the word of God, in

season and out of season and … declar[ing] the mighty acts of God’.

The content and structure of IME 2

The content of both the central IME programme and the Intentional Learning Group

sessions is designed to assist curates and training incumbents together develop the

curate’s prayerfulness, skills, resilience and flexibility so that they are well prepared for

their future ministry. It recognises that the primary context of training is the

parish/benefice in which the curate serves and that IME 2 complements what is learned

there. The programme also seeks to enable curates to understand and respond faithfully

to the changing contexts and challenges of ministry in the Diocese today. Throughout

the emphasis is on learning together – curate, training incumbent, ILG and Training

Officer. The Central IME programme and Intentional Learning Group sessions are set out

below, and Intentional Learning Group session material follows in the next section of this

part of the diocesan handbook. As a part of our commitment to one another in ministry

stipendiary curates are required to attend all sessions; self-supporting curates are

required to attend evening and weekend sessions but not weekday sessions but are

warmly invited to do so if they are available. If you are unable to attend a session at

short notice (e.g. because of illness) please inform the IME 2 Officer.

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Outline of the IME Phase 2 Programme Central IME Programme Themes Intentional Learning Group

(usually in Church House) Themes

IME 4

Introduction to the Diocese Vocation: Transition, Role & Identity

Induction to Curacy (with Training Incumbents) Loving Service and Accountability

Reflecting Theologically in IME Phase 2 Preaching

Transition to ordained ministry Funerals and Bereavement

Professionalism and Accountability Baptism and Confirmation

Reviewing the Diaconal Year

Ministry in Context (2 days over a weekend)

Preparing for ordination as priest

IME 5

Awareness Training Worship

Marriage Ministry Mission of the Local Church

Reviewing IME 5 Community Partnerships

Church & Community Children & Young people

Understanding & Responding to Domestic Abuse Adult Faith Development & Nurture

Working with Schools

Supervising Others

Social Justice as Mission

Leadership (Residential weekend)

Future Calling - the next step in ministry

IME 6

Reviewing IME 6 Pastoral Relationships

Financial, Administrative & Legal Framework Leadership

Surviving & Thriving in Ministry (Residential weekend) Strategic Mission Development

Working with Conflict in Churches Interfaith Dialogue

Multi-parish Governance

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Intentional Learning Groups (ILG): Introduction

Intentional Learning Groups are a key part of the IME Phase 2 programme and

experience shows that they provide a rich opportunity to learn with and from others.

They offer a reflective, confidential and safe space outside of the primary parish or

ministerial setting which sits within the larger learning community which is formed by the

ordination cohort as a whole. Their purpose is to enable and enrich reflection on

ministerial experience in the context of peer learning and support. Intentional Learning

Groups meet 5 times a year in IME 4 and IME 5, (September, November, January, March

and May) and 4 times a year in IME 6 (September, November, January and March) for

two hours each session.

Groups are facilitated by experienced ministers who have skills in ministry, theological

reflection and group work. As the name suggests, all in the group, not just the facilitator

are expected to be intentional in their approach and to contribute to the learning of each

other through presenting case studies, listening, asking questions and sharing insights.

The facilitator is there to enable the group to be effective in its reflections on the case

studies not to lead and direct the discussion.

Group sessions are themed in relation to the formation criteria or learning outcomes and

are outlined below and at each session two case studies will be presented by members of

the group based on their own ministerial experience. Each session outline includes

guidance for a case study, (the preparation and presentation of which is explained

separately below,) key reflective questions to focus group work around ministerial

practice and theological engagement, and a bibliography. The bibliographies are split into

core reading and additional reading but no one is expected to do all of the reading; they

are meant to aid exploration and enable members to prepare well for the sessions and

have been designed to offer a range of reading at different levels, and from different

theological, personal and socio-cultural perspectives, in relation to the session theme.

Please use them selectively and purposefully in relation to the session theme, case study

reflection and general discussion. All members of the group are expected to do

some preparatory reading before the sessions to help them to contribute to the

discussion of the case study and time is allocated for this in the Ministry and Training

Agreement as a part of IME Phase 2.

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Intentional Learning Groups: Roles and Responsibilities

Role of Group Tutor

The role of the group tutor is to:

Convene meetings of the group

Facilitate meetings of the group, including overseeing the process of case study

presentations and groups discussion and ensuring that members follow the stages

of theological reflection

Ensure that the group maintains its focus on the case studies and the issues for

ministry and mission that they raise

Help to ensure that group members fulfil their responsibilities to the group and

develop positive relationships of mutual ministry and support within the group

Provide written feedback to curates on their case study presentation (which will be

retained by the curate in their curacy file)

Provide an annual assessment for each member of their involvement in the group

covering theological reflection, self-awareness, awareness of others, and group

interaction (which will be retained by the curate in their curacy file)

Encourage each group member to grow in her or his vocation and ministry

Ensure that the group agrees and maintains the boundaries of confidentiality

maintains respectful speaking. However, if pastoral difficulties arise in the group,

the group leader may discuss these with the Training Officer

Role of Group Members

The role of group members is to:

Take a full part in the group programme by preparing in advance for the meetings

(either preparing a case study and / or doing background reading)

Attend all sessions and contribute appropriately during discussion

Prepare and present two case studies each year, drawn from direct ministerial

experience, and send them to the Tutor a week before the group meets

Listen to and respect each other’s views

Speak respectfully to one another and about others

Support one another in the process of learning and growing in Christian ministry

Ensure that each member of the group has the opportunity to contribute (which

means not talking for too long oneself!)

Maintain boundaries of confidentiality

Use the feedback provided by the Tutor on their cases studies to reflect on their

own ministry and their involvement in the group

keep their case studies, the feedback on them and their end of year report in their

curacy file

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Intentional Learning Groups: Feedback

Tutors will provide written feedback in response to each case study presentation and

discussion. Tutors are asked to offer specific comment in the areas below and summarise

them on the pro forma which follows:

Knowledge and understanding

Skill and competence (where appropriate)

Theological reflection and engagement

Personal learning

Awareness of pastoral and human dynamics (in case study and discussion)

Areas of learning evidenced (in case study and discussion)

Intentional learning groups: general resources

The following are general resources which will be of use throughout the curacy. They are

a small selection from a huge range of material both recently published and from

historical sources which will assist in deepening your understanding of ministry and help

to lay good foundations for the future. The combination of shared experience, group

reflection and individual reading is a powerful form of transformational learning in which

habits of self-development are inculcated.

Billings, A., (2010). Making God Possible: The Task of Ordained Ministry. London: SPCK.

Billings, Alan, (2004). Secular Lives, Sacred Hearts. London: SPCK

Graham, E, Walton, H & Ward, F (2005) Theological Reflection: Methods London: SCM

Press.

Guidelines for the Professional Conduct of the Clergy. Revised Edn. 2015.London: CHP.

Guiver, G., Ed., (2002). Priests in a People’s Church. London: SPCK.

Harrison, J., & Innes, R., (2016). Clergy in a Complex Age. London: SPCK.

Jackson, Bob, (2015). What Makes Churches Grow? London: CHP.

Morisy, Ann, (2004) Journeying Out. London: Continuum.

Nash, S, Pimlott, J and Nash, P (2008) Skills for Collaborative Ministry. London: SPCK.

Nouwen, Henri, (1991.) Creative Ministry. New York: Image Books.

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Intentional Learning Groups: Session Outlines Making a presentation at an Intentional Learning Group

Each session contains brief guidelines for a themed case study

Select an event or encounter appropriate to the theme of the session which has

been a significant ministerial experience for you and that has changed your

perception of ministry and/or helped you to develop your practice as a minister

Write approximately 1000 words, following through the stages of theological

reflection. With such a small word limit it is important to keep your case studies

clearly focused on a single topic or incident. A small case study is much more

likely to lead to analysis in depth

You should send a copy of your case study to your group facilitator a week before

the session at which you are due to present it

Your presentation of the case study should last around 10 minutes

You may wish to use maps, photos, audio or visual material as supporting

evidence to help members of the group to gain a fuller understanding of the case

study which you are presenting and engage in broader and deeper discussion of

the theme and issues.

After the session make notes of the discussion which followed your case study,

reflecting on the learning which has resulted from the case study presentation,

and insightful comments made by others; place your notes in your curacy file with

the case study and the feedback from the group tutor

IME 4: ILG Session 1

Vocation: Transition, Role and Identity

Aim

The aim of the session is to explore early experience of ministry and to draw out from

that a sense of the practical and spiritual meaning of vocation and to relate that to role

and identity in the local church and wider community. It complements the IME 4 session

on Saturday 22nd September.

Learning Outcomes

Relates to: G Vocation and Ministry with the Church of England

And also to: D Personality and Character

Key Reflective Questions

In the practice of your ministry, do you find yourself doing what you expected you

would be doing before you were ordained? How does reality differ from

expectation, and is your sense of calling affected by that?

How do your expectations match those of the congregation and of your ministerial

colleagues?

How do you feel you are seen now that you are exercising public and

representative ministry? How important is your vocation to your sense of self? Has

you self-image or identity changed as a result of entering ordained ministry? In

what sense do you or should you ‘inhabit a role’? How has being ordained affected

other relationships e.g. with family, friends or colleagues at work? What

challenges and / or opportunities has that presented?

Of the biblical models or pictures of ministry, which do you feel best fits your

current practice of ministry? Is that one you feel most comfortable with, or is

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there another one to which you aspire? How appropriate would that be in your

present context, and how might you bring about that change?

Case Study Presentation

Write a 1000 word case study in which you describe, explore and reflect theologically on

an experience which has been significant for you in the early stages of ordained

ministry and which has raised questions for you around your role and identity.

Bibliography

Core Reading

Brown, R., (2005). Being a Deacon Today. Norwich: Canterbury Press.

Ling, T., & Bentley, L., (2012). Developing Faithful Ministers: A practical and Theological

Handbook. London: SCM Press.

Ross-McNairn, J., & Barron, S., (2014). Being a Curate. London: SPCK.

Wells, S., & Coakley, S., (2008). Praying for England: Priestly Presence in Contemporary

Culture. London: Continuum.

Additional Reading

Bowden, A., Francis, L., Jordan, E., & Oliver, S., Eds., (2011). Ordained Local Ministry in

the Church of England. London: Continuum.

Burgess, N., (1998). Into Deep Water. Bury St Edmunds: Kevin Mayhew.

Cherry, S., (2012).Beyond Busyness: Time Wisdom for Ministry. Durham: Sacristy Press.

Croft, S., (1999). Ministry in Three Dimensions. London: DLT.

Guiver, G., Ed., (2002). Priests in a People’s Church. London: SPCK.

Harrison, J., & Innes, R., (2016). Clergy in a Complex Age. London: SPCK.

Percy, E., (2014). What Clergy Do: Especially When It Looks Like Nothing. London:

SPCK.

Smith, M., (2014). Steel Angels: The personal Qualities of a Priest. London: SPCK.

Witcombe, J., Ed., (2012). The Curate’s Guide: From Calling to First Parish. London: CHP.

Websites

Diaconal Association of the Church of England www.dace.org

IME 4: ILG Session 2

Loving Service and Accountability

Aim

The aim of the session is to explore pastoral ministry and working alongside other

ministers in order to understand how the transition to ordained ministry involves the

adoption of ‘a life of visible self-giving’ (The Ordination of Deacons)

Learning Outcomes

Relates to: G Vocation and Ministry with the Church of England

And also to: D Personality and Character

E Relationships

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Key Reflective Questions

How far have you been aware of being a public representative of the church? How

is this a part of ordained ministry for you?

What has it been like to be alongside and/or support people who are experiencing

the joys or sorrows of life? How has this been a dimension of loving service?

How has your ministry required you to develop loyalty towards lay and ordained

colleagues? How would you give account of your exercise of ministry in

collaboration with others?

How in your experience so far have you seen the ministry of Christ as ‘the pattern

of your calling and your commission’?

Case Study

Write a 1000 word case study in which you describe, explore and reflect on theologically

an experience from your pastoral ministry and the demands which were made of you

during this experience.

Bibliography

Core Reading

The Ordinal

Guidelines for the Professional Conduct of the Clergy. Revised Edn. 2015. London: CHP.

Additional Reading

Billings, Alan, (2004). Secular Lives, Sacred Hearts. London: SPCK

Campbell, A., (1985). Paid To Care? The Limits of Professionalism in Pastoral Care.

London: SPCK.

Guiver, G., Ed., (2002). Priests in a People’s Church. London: SPCK.

Harrison, J., & Innes, R., (2016). Clergy in a Complex Age. London: SPCK.

Percy, E., (2014). What Clergy Do: Especially When It Looks Like Nothing. London:

SPCK.

Pritchard, J., (2007). The Life and Work of a Priest. London: SPCK.

Websites

Diaconal Association of the Church of England www.dace.org

IME 4: ILG Session 3

Preaching

The aim of the session is to explore experience of preaching in the curacy parish, and to

reflect on the role of preaching in communicating the Gospel and draw out different ways

of communicating with different groups in a range of liturgical and social contexts.

Learning Outcomes

Relates to: C Spirituality and Worship

And also to: A Christian Tradition, Faith and Life

B Mission, Evangelism and Discipleship

E Relationships

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Key Reflective Questions

How do you take account of biblical material, liturgical and social context and the

needs of the hearers when preparing and preaching a sermon?

How do you speak the Gospel imperative in the social context in which you are

preaching?

How does your preaching differ in different contexts – for example, Holy

Communion, Service of the Word, adults, children, all-age, occasional offices,

church, local community?

To what extent is preaching part of the teaching and learning which are taking

place in your curacy parish?

How does preaching affect, and how is preaching affected by, pastoral

relationships?

Case Study

Write a 1000 word case study in which you describe, explore and reflect theologically on

an experience of preparing, delivering and reviewing a sermon. Include in your study

how the sermon related to the context in which it was preached, what you intended the

sermon to do and its theme, and the response to what you said.

Bibliography

Core Reading

Bruce, Kate, 92015.) Igniting the Heart. London: SCM Press.

Day, D., Astley, J, & Francis, L.J., (2005). A Reader on Preaching. Farnham: Ashgate.

Heywood, D., (2013). Transforming Preaching: The Sermon as a Channel for God’s Word.

London: SPCK.

Additional Reading

Craddock, F.B., (1985). Preaching. Nashville: Abingdon Press.

Sadgrove, Michael, (2015). Christ in a Choppie Box: Sermons from North East England.

Durham: Sacristy Press. A collection of sermons by a master wordsmith.

Killinger, J., (1996). Fundamentals of Preaching. Minneapolis: Fortress Press.

Taylor, Barbara Brown, (2013). The Preaching Life: Living Out Your Vocation. Norwich:

Canterbury Press.

Wright, S., (2010). Alive to the Word: A Practical Theology of Preaching for the Whole

Church. London: SCM

Resources

A sermon feedback sheet is available in Appendix 3 for use in giving developmental

feedback on preaching.

Websites

The College of Preachers www.collegeofpreachers.co.uk

Ian Paul’s blog, Psephizo, has regular articles on preaching and a useful article and check

list about what makes a good sermon:https://www.psephizo.com/preaching-2/what-

does-a-good-sermon-look-like/

Westminster Faith Debates www.faithdebates.org

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IME 4: ILG Session 4

Funeral and Bereavement Ministry

Aim

The aim of the session is to explore experience of ministering to the bereaved and

conducting funerals in order to take further our understanding of the personal and social

contexts of funeral and bereavement ministry, to learn from different psychological,

sociological and theological insights, and to explore the role and relationships of the

minister.

Learning Outcomes

Relates to: C Spirituality and Worship

And also to: A Christian Tradition, Faith and Life

Key Reflective Questions

What do people expect of you when you meet with them, and then prepare and

conduct a funeral for a member of their family? How do you respond to these

expectations?

How do you prepare the form of worship (including scripture and other readings)

which you will use in the funeral?

What do you say or do in the course of your pastoral encounter with the bereaved

family and in the funeral itself to witness to the Gospel?

What do you find are the most appropriate ways in which to minister to the

bereaved?

How do you handle grief which touches on your own experience of grief?

Case Study

Write a 1000 word case study in which you describe, explore and reflect on theologically

an experience of preparing and conducting a funeral, drawing out its liturgical, church

and community context and your role as minister. What theological meaning did you

seek to convey through the funeral?

Bibliography

Core Reading

Atwell, R., (2014). Peace at the Last: Leading Funerals well. Norwich: Canterbury Press.

Billings, A., (2002). Dying and Grieving. London: SPCK.

Carr, W., (1985). Brief Encounters: Pastoral Ministry through the Occasional Offices.

London: SPCK.

Additional Reading

Cassidy, S., (1995). The Loneliest Journey. London: DLT.

Cassidy, S., (1988). Sharing the Darkness. London: DLT.

Evans, S., & Cassidy, S., (2013). Care for the Dying: A practical Guide. Norwich:

Canterbury Press.

Hayton, A., (1998). Not Out of Mind: Prayer When A Baby Dies. Berkhamsted: Arthur

James Ltd.

James, H., (2004). A Fitting End: Making the Most of a Funeral. Norwich: Canterbury

Press.

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Jupp, P.C., & Rogers, T., (1997). Interpreting Death: Christian Theology and Pastoral

Practice. London: Cassell.

Wolterstorff, N., (1987). Lament For A Son. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

Websites

Child Bereavement UK www.childbereavement.org.uk

Church of England www.churchofengland.org/weddings-baptisms-funerals.aspx

Cruse Bereavement Care www.cruse.org/uk

Sands (Stillbirth And Neonatal Death Charity) www.uk-sands.org

TAMBA (Twins and Multiple Birth Association) www.tamba.org.uk/bsg

IME 4: ILG Session 5

Baptism and Confirmation

Aim

The aim of the session is to explore practices of baptism preparation and confirmation

preparation, and reflect on their implications for bringing people to faith within the

church community and their relationship to baptism and confirmation policies.

Learning Outcomes

Relates to: C Spirituality and Worship

And also to: A Christian Tradition, Faith and Life

Key Reflective Questions

As someone who baptises, a ‘baptiser’, how does this new role shape your own

thinking on baptism?

How do we respond appropriately to the understanding and expectations which

families bring with their request for infant baptism?

How is it possible to sustain a meaningful level of contact with baptism families,

and with adults who request baptism, and what resources do we have in the local

church to facilitate this?

How do we help children, young people and adults, to come to faith and develop

their faith as part of the Body of Christ?

How do we draw church members into a ministry of welcome, support and

preparation for baptism and confirmation?

Case Study

Write a 1000 word case study in which you describe, explore and reflect on theologically

an experience of being involved either in an infant baptism, or of preparing candidates

for confirmation.

Bibliography

Core Reading

Brind, J., & Wilkinson, T., (2010). Creative Ideas for Pastoral Liturgy: Baptism,

Confirmation and Liturgies for the Journey. Norwich: Canterbury Press.

Lake, S., (2006). Let the Children Come to Communion. London: SPCK.

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Maidment, P., Mapledoram, S., & Lake, S., (2011). Reconnecting with Confirmation.

London: CHP.

Additional Reading

On the Way: Towards an Integrated Approach to Christian Initiation. London: CHP.

Avis, P., & Davie, M., (2011). The Journey of Christian Initiation: theological and pastoral

perspectives. London: CHP.

Carr, W., (1985). Brief Encounters: Pastoral Ministry Through The Occasional Offices.

London: SPCK.

Dalby, M., (1989). Open Baptism. London: SPCK.

Earey, M., Lloyd, T., & Tarrant, I., (2007). Connecting With Baptism: a practical guide to

Christian initiation today. London: CHP.

Radcliffe, T., (2012). Take the Plunge: Living Baptism and Confirmation. London:

Bloomsbury.

Reiss, P., (2015). Infants and Children, Baptism and Communion. Cambridge: Grove

Booklets.

Resources

Burge, R., Fuller, P., Hawes, M., (2014). Getting Ready for Baptism: A practical course

for preparing children for baptism (Course Book). Abingdon: The Bible Reading

Fellowship.

Burge, R., Fuller, P., Hawes, M., (2014). My Baptism Journey (Activity Book). Abingdon:

The Bible Reading Fellowship.

Websites

Church of England https://www.churchofengland.org/life-events/christenings

IME 5: ILG Session 1

Worship

Aim

The aim of this session is to explore the experience of preparing and leading a range of

worship, including Eucharistic worship and alternative liturgies in church and community

settings, and to deepen our theological, liturgical, ecclesiastical and socio-cultural

understanding of worship.

Learning Outcomes:

Relates to: C Spirituality and Worship

And also to: G Vocation and Ministry within the Church of England

A Christian Tradition, Faith and Life

Key Reflective Questions

How does worship bring together the divine story and the human story,

connecting faith and life in the experience of worshippers?

How do the ecclesiastical setting and the socio-cultural context interact with

worship and influence its shape (Eucharistic, Service of the Word, traditional,

fresh expression, adult, children, all age, pastoral office, church or community)?

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How do we ‘hold the ring’ when we lead worship?

In what way are we representative as we lead worship?

How does absolution remind you of your calling to lead people to penitence and to

the experience of forgiveness, both in liturgy and in the practice of pastoral care?

How does blessing remind you of your vocation to bless people’s lives and help

enable and resource the ministry of the whole people of God?

Case Study

Write a 1000 word case study in which you describe, explore and reflect on theologically,

an experience of preparing, leading and reviewing worship, drawing out how you

understood the setting and significance of the worship and your role in leading it.

Bibliography

Core Reading

Burns, S., (2006). SCM Studyguide Liturgy. London: SCM Press.

Earey, M., (2002). Liturgical Worship: A Fresh Look, How it Works, Why It Matters.

London: CHP.

Gooder, P., & Perham, M., (2013). Echoing the Word: The Bible in the Eucharist.

London: SPCK.

Leach, J., & Leach, C., (2008). How to Plan and Lead All-Age Worship. Cambridge: Grove

Books Ltd.

Additional Reading

Bradshaw, P. & Moger, P., Eds., (2008). Worship Changes Lives: How it Works, Why it

Matters. London: CHP.

Earey, M., (2012). Worship That Cares: An Introduction to Pastoral liturgy . London: SCM

Press.

Macquarrie, J., (1997). A Guide to the Sacraments. London: SCM Press.

Millar, S., (2012). Worship Together: Creating All-Age Services That Work. London:

SPCK.

Thompson, R., (2006). SCM Studyguide The Sacraments. London: SCM Press.

Vorgrimler, H., (1992). Sacramental Theology. Minnesota: The Liturgical Press.

Resources

Muir, J., & Pedley, B., (2001). Come and Join the Celebration: A Resource Book to Help

Adults and Children Experience Holy Communion Together. London: CHP.

The Archbishops’ Council, (2006). Times and Seasons. London: CHP.

Thompson, K., (2004). The Liturgy of the Word with Children. Stowmarket: Kevin

Mayhew Ltd.

Thompson, K., (1995). The Complete Children’s Liturgy Book. Stowmarket: Kevin

Mayhew Ltd.

Withers, M., (2006). Welcome to the Lord’s Table: A Practical Course for Preparing

Children to Receive Holy Communion. Oxford: BRF.

Websites

Fresh Expressions www.freshexpressions.org.uk

New Patterns for Worship

www.churchofengland.org/prayer-worship/worship/texts/newpatterns.aspx

Praxis www.praxisworship.org.uk

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worship4today website www.chpublishing.co.uk/features/worship-4-today

IME 5: ILG Session 2

The Mission of the Local Church

Aim

The aim of this session is to explore the self-understanding, ministry and mission of the

local church in relation to the people and needs of the community in which it is set.

Learning Outcomes:

Relates to: B Mission, Evangelism and Discipleship

And also to: F Leadership, Collaboration and Community

G Vocation and Ministry within the Church of England

Key Reflective Questions

How is the local church related to the community in which it’s set?

How does the local church offer people opportunities to learn about Christian faith,

worship and discipleship?

What are the realities of the local community and how can the local church seek

to respond to them?

How can church members be encouraged and enabled to participate in the

church’s response to the material and spiritual needs of the local community?

What about church that doesn’t want to engage with the local community in which

it is set?

Case Study

Write a 1000 word case study in which you describe, explore and reflect on theologically,

your experience of engaging with the mission of the church in relation to the parish/local

community and its people.

Bibliography

Core Reading

Impey, R., (2010). How to Develop Your Local Church: Working With the Wisdom of the

Congregation. London: SPCK

Leach, K., (2006). Doing Theology in Altab Ali Park. London: DLT.

Morisy, A., (2004). Journeying Out. London: Continnum.

Additional Reading

Ballard, P.H., & Husselbee, L., (2007). Community and Ministry: An Introduction to

Community Work in a Christian Context. London: SPCK.

Cameron, H., (2015). Just Mission: Practical Politics for Local Churches. London: SCM

Press.

Cameron, H., (2010). Resourcing Mission: Practical Theology for Changing Churches.

London: SCM Press.

Croft, S., Ed., (2006). The Future of the Parish System. London: CHP.

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Goddard, G., (2008). Space for Grace: creating inclusive churches. Norwich: Canterbury

Press.

Hanley, L., (2007). Estates: An Intimate History. London: Granta.

Heywood, D., (2011). Reimagining Ministry. London: SCM Press.

Mission and Public Affairs, (2005). A Place of Refuge: A positive Approach to Asylum

Seekers and Refugees in the UK. London: CHP.

Moynagh, M., with Harrold, P., (2012). Church for Every Context: An introduction to

theology and practice. London: SCM.

Shier-Jones, A., (2009). Pioneer Ministry and Fresh Expression of Church. London: SPCK.

Snyder, S., (2012). Asylum-Seeking, Migration and Church. Farnham: Ashgate

Websites

British Religion in Numbers www.brin.ac.uk

Christian Against Poverty www.capuk.org

Church Urban Fund www.cuf.org.uk

Neighbourhood Statistics www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk

The Datashine website is a very valuable source of local information drawn from the

2011 census

IME 5: ILG Session 3

Community Partnerships

Aim

The aim of this session is to explore working as a local church with other groups and

agencies which are in community, in order to identify good practice and to draw out the

significance of such collaboration for Christian witness and mission.

Learning Outcomes:

Relates to: B Mission, Evangelism and Discipleship

And also to: G Vocation and Ministry within the Church of England

F Leadership, Collaboration and Community

Key Reflective Questions

How do you understand the relationship between community partnerships and the

kingdom of God?

How do we decide where clergy and the local church should direct their efforts,

alongside other people and organisations, in response to local the local

community?

What problems do you encounter as result of being identified as a clergyperson

and member of the Church?

What benefits and problems are there for lay church members in involving

themselves in community action?

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Case Study

Write a 1000 word case study in which you describe, explore and reflect on theologically,

your experience of working with another group or agency, its staff and/or volunteers, in a

project or on-going work in the local community. Draw out the significance for the church

and the community of such collaboration.

Bibliography

Core Reading

Ballard, P.H., & Husselbee, L., (2007). Community and Ministry: An Introduction to

Community Work in a Christian Context. London: SPCK.

Additional Reading

Greenwood, R., (2000). The Ministry Team Handbook: Local Ministry as Partnership.

London: SPCK.

Haynes, P., Skinner, D., Earl, J., (2011). The Story of REinspired: developing creative

partnerships between churches and schools. Barnabas for Children.

Ledwith, M., (2005). Community Development: a critical approach. Bristol: The Policy

Press.

Pohlman, D., (2013). School Chaplaincy: An Introduction. Eugene: Wipf and Stock

Publisher.

Swift., C., (2014). Hospital Chaplaincy in the Twenty First Century. Farnham: Ashgate.

Threlfall-Holmes, M., & Newitt, M., (2011). Being a Chaplain. London: SPCK.

Tregale, D., (2011). Fresh Experiences of School Chaplaincy. Cambridge: Grove Booklets.

Websites

The Children’s Society www.childrenssociety.org.uk

Christians Against Poverty www.capuk.org

IME 5: ILG Session 4

Working with Children and Young People

Aim

The aim of this session is to explore the significance and place of children and young

people in the life of the local and wider church, and to reflect on what it is that makes us

effective in organising and leading ministry among children and young people.

Learning Outcomes:

Relates to: B Mission, Evangelism and Discipleship

And also to: G Vocation and Ministry within the Church of England

E Relationships

Key Reflective Questions

How does an awareness of children’s and young people’s cultural context and their

developmental needs have an impact on our ministry with them and on our way

of being the church for them?

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How are current understandings of children’s and young people’s spirituality,

spiritual styles, and models of faith development reflected in the materials and

approaches used to nurture their Christian faith in your context?

How would you identify which approaches to select from amongst the range of

possibilities for working with children and young people in schools and the wider

community within a parish?

To what extent do you and the congregation recognise the children’s and young

people’s work leaders as sharing in the ministry of the church, and how do you

appoint, train and support them in their role?

Case Study

Write a 1000 word case study in which you describe, explore and reflect on theologically

your experience of observing, organising or leading ministry amongst children and/or

young people, drawing out the importance of contextual factors.

Bibliography

Core Reading

Carter, M., (2007). All God’s Children: An Introduction to pastoral work with children.

London: SPCK.

Nye, R., (2009). Children’s Spirituality: What it is and why it matters. London: CHP.

Collins-Mayo, S., Mayo, B., Nash, S., & Cocksworth, C., (2010). The Faith of Generation

Y. London: CHP.

Additional Reading

Berryman, J., W., (2009). Children and the Theologians: Clearing the way for Grace.

Harrisburg: Morehouse Publishing.

Csinos, D.M., (2011). Children’s Ministry that Fits: Beyond one-size-fits-all approaches to

nurturing children’s spirituality. Eugene: Wipf and Stock.

Hay, D., & Nye, R., (2006). The Spirit of the Child (revised edition). London: Jessica

Kingsley Publications.

Moore, L., (2006). Messy Church: Fresh Ideas for a Christ-centred Community.

Abingdon: BRF.

Westerhoff III, J., H., (2012). Will Our Children Have Faith? (3rd revised edition).

Harrisburg: Morehouse Publishing.

Richards, A., & Privett, P. (eds), (2009). Through the Eyes of a Child. London: CHP.

White, K., J., (2008). The Growth of Love: Understanding five essential elements of child

development. Abingdon: BRF.

Withers, M., (2010). Local Church, Local School: Practical and creative ways for churches

to serve local primary schools. Abingdon: BRF.

Resources

Archbishops’ Council, (2010). Going for Growth: Transformation for children, young

people and the Church. London: Archbishops’ Council / National Society.

Archbishops’ Council, (2010). Protecting All God’s Children: The Policy for Safeguarding

Children in the Church of England (4th edition). London: CHP.

Berryman, J., W., (2009). Teaching Godly Play: How to mentor the spiritual development

of children. Denver: Morehosue Educational Resources.

Godfrey, P., & Sheppard, N., (2008). Employing Youth and Children’s Workers: A Guide

for Churches. London: CHP.

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Moore, L., & Leadbetter, J., (2012). Starting Your Messy Church: A Beginners Guide for

Churches. Abingdon: BRF.

Websites

Church of England website www.going4growth.org.uk

Diocese of Manchester website www.manchester.anglican.org/education/children

Messy Church website www.messychurch.org.uk

Godly Play website www.godlyplay.org.uk

CURBS (Children in Urban Situations) www.curbsproject.org.uk

Open the Book (presenting bible stories in schools) www.openthebook.net

The Children’s Society www.childrenssociety.org.uk

IME 5: ILG Session 5

Adult Faith Development and Nurture

Aim

The aim of this session is to explore how adults come to, and can be nurtured in, faith in

a society where we have increasing numbers of adults who have little or no knowledge of

Christian Scripture and faith or experience of Christian worship and discipleship.

Learning Outcomes:

Relates to: B Mission, Evangelism and Discipleship

And also to: A Christian Tradition, Faith and Life

C Spirituality and Worship

F Leadership, Collaboration and Community

Key Reflective Questions

How do we recognise and respond to the questions (relating to belief, discipleship

and worship) which are raised by those who are setting out on their journey of

faith?

How do we support members of the congregation in exploring and deepening their

Christian faith and its expression in their daily lives?

How do we respond to, and work creatively with, the diversity of faith and life

experience and educational and social backgrounds amongst those whom we

serve?

What is the role of members of the congregation in encouraging and nurturing

those who are new to the faith, life and worship of the church? And how do we

help them to understand this and equip them to carry it out?

Case Study

Write a 1000 word case study in which you describe, explore and reflect on theologically

your experience of adult faith nurture and development in your current church context,

identifying what does and doesn’t work and why.

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Bibliography

Core Reading

Astley, J., (2002). Ordinary Theology: Looking, Listening and Learning in Theology.

Farnham: Ashgate.

Morisy, A., (2004). Journeying Out. London: Continnum.

Additional Reading

Cray, G., Mobsby, I., & Kennedy, A., (2013). New Monasticism as Fresh Expression of

Church. Norwich: Canterbury Press.

Croft, S., Frost, R., Ireland, M., Richards, A., Richmond, Y., Spencer, N., (2005).

Evangelism In A Spiritual Age. London: CHP.

Fowler, J.W., (2000). Becoming Adult Becoming Christian. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Hudson, N., (2012). Imagine Church: Releasing Whole-Life Disciples. Nottingham: IVP.

Hull, J., (1985). What Prevents Christian Adults From Learning? London: SCM Press.

Slee, N., Porter, F., & Phillips, A., (2013). The Faith Lives of Women and Girls. Farnham:

Ashgate.

Slee, N., (2004). Women’s Faith Development: Patterns and Processes. Farnham:

Ashgate.

Williams, R., (2014). Being Christian. London: SPCK.

Websites

Alpha www.alpha.org

Christianity Explored www.christianityexplored.org

Emmaus www.chpublishing.co.uk

Ignation Spirituality www.ignatianspirituality.com

Lectio Divina www.lectio-divina.org

Lee Abbey Movement www.leeabbey.org.uk

London Institute for Contemporary Christianity www.licc.org.uk

Pilgrim www.pilgrimcourse.org

Scargill Movement www.scargillmovement.org

Start! www.startcourse.org.uk

St Beuno’s Ignatian Spirituality Centre www.beunos.com

The Society of Saint Francis www.franciscans.org.uk

IME 6: ILG Session 1

Pastoral Relationships

Aim

The aim of the session is to explore the nature and dynamics of pastoral relationships in

a variety of church and community settings, and to develop awareness of self and others,

including the use and abuse of power and issues around safeguarding.

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Learning Outcomes:

Relates to: E Relationships

And also to: C Spirituality and Worship

D Personality and Character

Key Reflective Questions

What is pastoral care? How does it relate to the worship and mission of the

church?

What are the possibilities and the limits of the pastoral care that we can offer as

individuals and churches?

How do we establish and maintain professional boundaries in pastoral

relationships?

How do we exercise responsibility towards those who are vulnerable?

How do we care for ourselves, our families and colleagues in the context of

pastoral ministry and its demands?

Case Study

Write a 1000 word case study in which you describe and reflect on a pastoral encounter

or relationship which you have experienced during the course of your ministry and which

has raised significant questions for you and opened up new insights and learning.

Bibliography

Core Reading

Litchfield, K., (2006). Tend My Flock: Sustaining Good Pastoral Care. Norwich:

Canterbury Press.

Savage, S., & Boyd-MacMillan, E., (2011). The Human Face of Church: A Social

Psychology and Pastoral Theology Resource for Pioneer and Traditional Ministry. Norwich:

Canterbury Press.

Savage, S., & Boyd-Macmillan, E., (2010). Conflict in Relationships: Understand It,

Overcome It. Oxford: Lion Hudson.

Additional Reading

Campbell, A., (1981). Rediscovering Pastoral Care. London: DLT.

Carr, W., (1997). Handbook of Pastoral Studies. London: SPCK.

Graham, E., (2009). Words Made Flesh: Writings in Pastoral and Practical Theology.

London: SCM Press.

Kelly, E., (2012). Personhood and Presence. Edinburgh: T &T Clark.

Lyall, D., (2001). The Integrity of Pastoral Care. London: SPCK.

Nash, J., Pimlott, J., & Nash, P., (2008). Skills for Collaborative Ministry. London: SPCK.

O’Donvan, O., (2009). A Conversation Waiting to Begin: The Churches and the Gay

Controversy. London: SCM Press.

Phelps-Jones, T., ed.,(20130. Making Church Accessible to All: Including Disabled People

In Church Life. Abingdon: BRF.

Temple, G., with Ball, L., (2012). Enabling Church: A Bible Based Resource Towards The

Full Inclusion Of Disabled People. London: SPCK.

Woodward, J., (2010). Between Remembering and Forgetting: The Spiritual Dimensions

of Dementia. London: Mowbray.

Woodward, J., (2008). Valuing Age: Pastoral Ministry with Older People. London: SPCK.

Woodward, J., & Pattison, S., Eds., (2000). The Blackwell Reader in Pastoral and Practical

Theology. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers.

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Websites

BIAPT – The British and Irish Association for Practical Theology www.biapt.org.uk

IME 6: ILG Session 2

Leadership

Aim

The aim of this session is to explore role, task, style, and theology of leadership in a

changing church and society, to reflect on the challenges and opportunities of

collaborative leadership, and to develop awareness of one’s own strengths and

weaknesses as a ministerial leader.

Learning Outcomes:

Relates to: F Leadership, Collaboration and Community

And also to: B Mission, Evangelism and Discipleship

D Personality and Character

Key Reflective Questions

What are the roles, tasks, styles, and theologies of leadership in your curacy

parish?

How do church members and lay leaders respond to different ways of leading?

How are you exercising ministerial leadership? How does ministerial leadership

differ from leadership that you have exercised or exercise in other areas of work

or professional life?

How do you discern role, task and style in context? How is this informed

theologically?

What are you discovering about your strengths and weaknesses as a leader in

ministry?

How do you collaborate in leadership with lay and ordained colleague?

How are you overseeing and nurturing others in their leadership?

Case Study

Write a 1000 word case study in which you describe and reflect theologically on an

experience of ministerial leadership, drawing out your own awareness of, and learning

about, yourself as a leader. How has this experience shaped your own understanding of

the role of the ordained minister as leader?

Bibliography

Core Reading

Cottrell, S., (2008). Hit The Ground Kneeling: Seeing Leadership Differently. London:

CHP.

Edmondson, C. (2010). Leaders Learning to Listen. London: DLT.

Lamdin, K., (2012). Finding Your Leadership Style. London: SPCK.

Matthews, R., (2013). Healthy Leaders and Healthy Churches. Cambridge: Grove Books

Ltd.

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Additional Reading

Adair, J., (2009). Not Bosses But Leaders. London: Kogan Page.

Higginson, R., 1996. Transforming Leadership. London: SPCK.

Hybels, B., (2009). Courageous Leadership. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Lawrence, J., (2004). Growing Leaders: Reflections on Leadership, Life and Jesus.

Abingdon: BRF.

Nash, J., Pimlott, J., & Nash, P., (2008). Skills for Collaborative Ministry. London: SPCK.

Nelson, J., (2008). How to Become a Creative Church Leader. Norwich: Canterbury,

Nouwen, H., (1989). In The Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership. London:

DLT.

Pattison, S., (1997). The Faith of the Mangers. London: Cassell.

Pickard, S., (2009). Theological Foundations for Collaborative Ministry. Farnham:

Ashgate.

Potter, P., (2009). The Challenge of Change. Abingdon: BRF.

Runcorn, D., (2011). Fear and Trust: God-Centred Leadership. London: SPCK.

Volland, M., (2015). The Minister as Entrepreneur: Leading and Growing the Church in an

Age of Rapid Change. London: SPCK.

Websites

Telos Partners www.telospartners.com

Willow Creek Community Church website www.willowcreek.org

IME 6: ILG Session 3

Strategic Mission Development

Aim

This aim of this session is to reflect on developing healthy churches and supporting those

churches in intentional and transformative engagement with mission and ministry in their

local communities and their wider social setting.

Learning Outcomes:

Relates to: B Mission, Evangelism and Discipleship

And also to: F Leadership, Collaboration and Community

E Relationships

D Personality and Character

Key Reflective Questions

How does your curacy parish nurture its vision and identity, and express its

values?

How are church members encouraged and equipped to live out their faith as

disciples?

How is collaborative ministry being directed towards mission?

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How is planning strategic and effective? Are tools such as healthy church audit

and Mission Action Planning part of this?

What opportunities are there for partnership working with other churches and

agencies?

Case Study

Write a 1000 word case study in which you describe, and reflect theologically on an

aspect of your experience of engaging with strategic mission development in your own

context.

Bibliography

Core Reading

Elford, K., (2013). Creating the Future of the Church: a practical guide to addressing

whole-system change. London: SPCK.

Impey, R., (2010). How to Develop Your Local Church: Working With the Wisdom of the

Congregation. London: SPCK

Additional Reading

Cameron, H., & Duce, C., (2013). Ministry and Mission: A Companion. London: SCM

Press.

Cameron, H., (2010). Practical Theology for Changing Churches. London: SCM Press.

Cameron, H., Bhatti, D., Duce, C., Sweeney, J & Watkins, C., (2010). Talking About God

in Practice. London: SCM Press.

Chew, M., & Ireland, M., (2009). How To Do Mission Action Planning: A Vision Centred

Approach. London: SPCK.

Potter, P., (2009). The Challenge of Change. Abingdon: BRF.

Snow, M., (2013). Mission Partnerships: Parishes Working Together in Mission.

Cambridge: Grove Booklets.

Volland, M., (2015). The Minister as Entrepreneur: Leading and Growing the Church in an

Age of Rapid Change. London: SPCK.

Widdicombe, C., (2000). Meetings That Work: A Practical Guide to Teamworking in

Groups. Cambridge: The Lutterworth Press.

Resources

The Archbishops’ Council (2013). PCC Accountability: The Charities Act 2011 and the

PCC. London: CHP.

The Archbishops’ Council (2010). Church Representation Rules 2011. London: CHP.

Impey, R., (2009). A Workbook for Developing the Local Church. 4M Pulications.

Websites

CPAS www.cpas.org

Open Space Technology www.openspaceworld.org

Telos Partners www.telospartners.com

Westminster Faith Debates www.faithdebates.org

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IME 6: ILG Session 4

Inter-Faith Engagement and Dialogue

Aim

The aim of the session is to explore interfaith engagement and dialogue in order to better

understand and respond to the challenges and opportunities which arise in a local context

against a wider national and global backdrop.

Learning Outcomes:

Relates to: G Vocation and Ministry within the Church of England

And also to: B Mission, Evangelism and Discipleship

Key Reflective Questions

What is our view of other faiths? Is there salvation outside of Christ and how does

your response to this question shape your engagement with those of other faiths?

How should Christians be seeking people of others faith to come to Christ?

What role does the local church play in developing Community Cohesion?

How do we handle conversion agendas?

How can the local church be encouraged to engage with members of other faith

communities in mission?

Case Study

Write a 1000 word case study in which you describe, explore and reflect on theologically

an experience, or group of experiences, of interfaith engagement and/or dialogue and

the opportunities and challenges which this raised for you in your context. How has this

experience helped to shape your own theological views?

Bibliography

Core Reading

Blackden, C., (2010). Friendship and Exchange with People of Other Faiths: A Context for

Witness and Dialogue. Cambridge: Grove.

Rawlings, P.J. (2014). Engaging with Muslims. Cambridge: Grove

Wingate, A., (2005). Celebrating Difference, Staying Faithful – How to Live in a Multi

Faith World. London: DLT.

Additional Reading

Armstrong, K., (2004). The Battle for God: Fundamentalism in Judaism, Christianity and

Islam. London: Harper Collins.

Armstrong, K., (1991). Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet. London: Phoenix.

Aslan, R., (2006). No God But God: The Origins, Evolution and Future of Islam. London:

Arrow Books.

Bowen, I., (2014). Medina in Birmingham, Najaf in Brent: Inside British Islam. London:

Hurst and Co.

Chapman, C,. (2007). Cross and Crescent. Nottingham: IVP

Husain, E., (2007). The Islamist. London: Penguin.

Lewis, P., (2007). Young, British and Muslim. London: Continuum.

Queshi, N., (2014). Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters

Christianity. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Sacks, J., (2007). The Home We Build Together: Recreating Society. London: Continuum.

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Sacks, J., (2002). The Dignity of Difference: How to avoid the clash of civilizations.

London: Continuum.

Schindler, C., (2007). What Do Zionists Believe? London: Granta.

Sudworth, R,. (2007). Distinctly Welcoming. Milton Keynes: Scripture Union

Resources

Apologetics- A Christian-Muslim Dialogue and Apologetic www.answering-

islam.org

Calendar of Festivals www.bbc.co.uk/religion/tools/calendar

Friendship First www.friendshipfirst.org

Jewish Telegraph newspaper www.jewishtelegraph.com

Manchester Buddhist Centre www.manchesterbuddhistcentre.org.uk

.

Mosques www.mosquedirectory.co.uk

Muslim Prayer Times for Manchester www.salahtimes.com/uk/manchester

Websites

Church of England (Presence and Engagement) www.presenceandengagement.org.uk

Churches Together in Britain and Ireland www.ctbi.org.uk/16

Churches Together in England

www.churches-together.net/Groups/43001/Home/Resources/Inter_Faith_faith.aspx

Methodist Church – Inter Faith Relations www.methodist.org.uk/mission/inter-faith-

relations

Inter Faith Network for the UK www.interfaith.org.uk

Mahabba (Loving all Muslims) www.mahabbanetwork.com

Cohen, Robert, Michah’s Paradigm Shift. www

Network for Inter Faith Concerns across the Anglican Communion NIFCON

http://nifcon.anglicancommunion.org/index.cfm

Society for Buddhist Christian Studies www.society-buddhist-christian-studies.org

Society for Hindu-Christian Studies www.hcstudies.org/about.html

The Awareness Foundation – http://www.awareness-foundation.com/

The Christian-Muslim Forum - http://www.christianmuslimforum.org/

The Quilliam Foundation - http://www.quilliamfoundation.org/

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Sample Case Studies

Case Study Example 1 - IME 5 Session 1: Worship

Experience

My training incumbent asked me to conduct a baptism listed on the rota as All Age Holy

Communion. Normally baptisms take place in a non-Eucharistic service, but there were

pastoral reasons for holding the baptism on that date.

On meeting the family and the godparents it became apparent that they were not

churchgoers, although the godparents had been baptised. They were adamant they

wanted a baptism and not a dedication or naming service

Putting the service together, I foresaw various difficulties ahead:

Keeping the service to an appropriate length of time.

Managing the attention span of our guests who may be unused to silence or

sitting in one place for a significant length of time.

How could I feed and teach all the different members of the congregation?

How could I preside in such a way as to make blessing & Eucharist truly accessible

and relevant to all?

I prayed and planned the service carefully, and felt sure that, with sufficient planning

time, I could “hold the ring” in leading worship.

The service went smoothly, if somewhat noisily and it took all my skills as a mnister to

give positive direction which kept our visitors engaged and respectful but also allowed

the usual church family to worship and be fed: I moved the sermon earlier in the service

so that the preacher had the visitors’ attention early on, I explained the notion of

sacraments and introduced word, baptism and Eucharist as we approached each part of

the service.

The service went smoothly, if noisily, and finished within an hour and ten minutes. I

received many compliments, being congratulated by some for skilful managing of a

difficult service. However, the Churchwarden received a written complaint from one of

our Licensed Readers alleging she had been robbed of her communion experience. This

complaint found some support. They were resigned to (if not exactly thrilled about)

approximately 70 unchurched people having a baptism as part of the main Sunday

service, but were strongly against them being able to do so in a Holy Communion

service.

This led me to question: Is our worship missional and what does that mean in this

context? Should it be?

Exploration

Ecclesiastical Context

Discussing the complaint at the PCC Sub-Committee, underlying dissatisfaction about the

behaviour of the baptism family’s guests emerged:

arrived up to twenty minutes late

used their mobile phones to message each other and check emails during the

service

talking during the administration of Holy Communion

allowing small children to run around the church in the service

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I studied the layout of the building to see what it could tell me of the shared

understanding of Holy Communion:

The President presides at a communion table, not an altar

The holy table is situated at a focal point but was overshadowed by the music

group behind it and the projection screen to the right of it.

There is no altar rail.

The table housed a computer monitor and it doubled as a lectern. It was rarely

free from clutter

The elements are placed on a side table at the start of the service, and the

President prepares the table without aid from lay assistants

I explored the shape of previous Holy Communion Services and how the liturgy was

used in worship:

The order and structure of the service are significantly altered: The Gathering, Collect,

Confession, Absolution, Peace and Communion take place before the children leave to

join their respective groups. The Ministry of the Word came after communion.

The congregation enthusiastically stated the creeds during the Holy Communion service

“We believe in One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church”. But what did they understand

catholic to mean? Maclaren cites two models of catholicity –“a colonial model: unity and

universality are maintained by submission to one dominating will.” The other is “the

humble or charitable model: unity and universality are maintained by a generous spirit of

inclusion” (Maclaren in Croft and Mosby, 2009, p. 22)

This puzzled me as the layout and treatment of the communion table suggested a “low”

theology of Holy Communion, but the response to sharing the service with the

unchurched suggested a much higher importance in the hearts and minds of the

complainants

Socio-cultural context

Our parish has distinct areas of housing and the baptism family come from the area

which was originally a Local Authority estate. Although most of the properties there are

now privately owned it is still known as the ‘Woodbridge Estate’ and it has the reputation,

in some people’s eyes, of being a rough place to live with significant levels of petty

crime. House prices there are far lower than in the area around the church and very few

people from that area attend church regularly.

One former Churchwarden commented on the disruption to their usual service: “it’s not

right, not when it’s at your own church”; and a current Churchwarden explained her own

objection: “they have no understanding of the cross, and until they have a sense of their

own sin and have asked Jesus’s forgiveness, they can’t understand the Holy Communion

Service, and therefore it’s not an appropriate service for non-believers”.

Our retired SSM, however, debating the complaint at PCC sub-Committee, mused: “We

have been trying to get the local community into this church for the past thirty years and

now it’s happening. And if anyone doesn’t like it, it’s just tough!”

The family, however, didn’t see themselves as non-believers – they saw themselves as

non-churchgoers. When asked in preparation if they could honestly say they wanted to

make the promises and believed in them, they were adamant that they did so, even

when offered an alternative service. The parents were not married, but clearly devoted to

their one year old daughter. They invited 5 Godparents, and about 70 guests. Clearly

this was a significant event in their lives.

Commitment to Mission

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The congregation gives sacrificially to support mission partners abroad and to the work of

our own charitable trust at the Drop-in; this suggests a serious commitment to mission

both at individual and corporate levels.

Reflection

The layout of the building, use and siting of the communion table, order and use of

liturgy and frequency of the Holy Communion services gave the impression of a fairly

“low” theology of Holy Communion. However this was apparently at odds with the

perception that in some way, which they could not define, Holy Communion service was

special, and not “appropriate to any believers”. This did not merely preclude non-

believers from receiving the sacrament – they wished to preclude them from the entire

service: Word, Sacrament, Blessing and all! Two particular books helped me sharpen my

focus: Pete Ward’s “Mass Culture” and Croft & Mosby’ “Ancient Faith, Future Mission”

Some of the other questions which occurred to me were:

Who then, is invited to the Communion Table (Baker, in Ward, 1999, p. 53) and who is

excluded?

How can any church which takes mission seriously justify wanting to exclude unbelievers

from the Eucharist?

Even when Eucharist is restricted to confirmed members of the Church of England,

should the word also be restricted only to believers?

In Holy Communion itself, we are fed by both word and sacrament (Bradshaw & Moger,

2008, p. 30). In the last meal of the Passover, even Judas the betrayer was not excluded

from the table with Jesus. (Ward, 1999, p. 129)

During the re-ordering of the church 25 years ago the congregation at St Swithin’s chose

not to have an altar rail, and I concur. As Ward goes on to say “It seems bizarre that a

symbol of Jesus’s grace and acceptance should have restricted access”. They clearly

could not see that their own attitudes were every much a barrier as a physical rail.

I wondered whether there was a case for a Fresh Expression style Baptism and Eucharist

but firmly believe that seeker services are not worship. Worship should be authentic and

heartfelt, not aimed at a target group (Ward, 1999, p. 125) Furthermore, if worship for

non-believers is limited to Fresh Expressions of Church what does this then say about the

biblical models of the Body of Christ? Surely the celebration of Holy Communion is in

danger of becoming an exclusive event for club members only if our churches are not

truly accessible to unbelievers? As Riddell states “the Communion….whilst nominally

accessible to all, in effect is relatively inaccessible. Few outsiders would feel welcome at

the stylized table or altar that forms the centrepiece of Christian celebrations. (Riddell

quoted in Ward, 1999, p. 130)

Response

Returning to the original question “Is our worship missional?” I have to conclude that in

its current form at Saint Swithin’s, the answer is, ‘no’.

The congregation at St Swithin’s are committed to mission. But many seem to view

mission as something they pay other people to do, an activity restricted to professionals:

Clergy, Mission Partners, Mission Agencies, and Charitable Trusts. They participate in

mission by participating in the corporate life of the Church, and expect worship to sustain

and equip the churches corporate mission, but do not seem to have a personal sense of

responsibility towards non-attenders/non-believers. Indeed, the view seems to be that

their worship is “a temporary retreat from the mission Jesus gives us, rather than a part

our engagement in God’s mission to the world.” (Bradshaw & Moger, 2008, p. 46)

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The church family has compassion and empathy for the economically poor and through

prayer, volunteering and sacrificial giving are generous in their loving service to others

through the Saint Swithin’s Drop-in. However, a different attitude seems to prevail to

those who are spiritually poor. When asked to worship with those who may not yet know

Christ, there is a distinct sense of their otherness as outsiders.

However, Between 10 and 15 (about a fifth) of the Baptism party responded to my

invitation from the front to receive a blessing or, if they were confirmed, Holy

Communion. In some way, at some level, the service had touched them and they were

very positive in their comments to me afterwards.

Looking forward I can see that I had misjudged the understanding of these committed

and loving Christians; I had been blindsided by their admirable commitment to mission

and their faithful commitment to corporate worship. I have to take responsibility for

failing to see that they understand my vocation to bless people’s lives, but don’t

understand yet how part of that is to resource them, the church family, and the people of

God to do likewise.

But I end with the question: It says on the Saint Swithin’s notice board “Sunday Services

at 9.30 am, 10.45am and 6.30pm. All Welcome” How can this mission statement be

made a reality and what is my part in making it real?

Bibliography

Burns, S., (2006). SCM Studyguide Liturgy. London: SCM Press.

Earey, M., (2002). Liturgical Worship: A Fresh Look, How it Works, Why It Matters.

London: CHP.

Bradshaw, P. & Moger, P., Eds., (2008). Worship Changes Lives: How it Works, Why it

Matters. London: CHP.

Croft, S., & Mobsby, I., (2009). Ancient Faith, Future Mission: Fresh Expressions in the

Sacramental Tradition. Norwich: Canterbury Press.

Earey, M., (2012). Worship That Cares: An Introduction to Pastoral liturgy . London: SCM

Press.

Pratt, A., (2010). SCM Studyguide Practical Skills for Ministry. London: SCM Press.

Stewart, S., & Berryman, J., (1989). Young Children and Worship. London: Westminster

John Knox Press.

Thompson, R., (2006). SCM Studyguide The Sacraments. London: SCM Press.

Ward, P. (2008). Mass culture: the interface of Eucharist and mission (rev. and expanded

ed.). Abingdon: Bible Reading Fellowship.

Websites

Fresh Expressions www.freshexpressions.org.uk

New Patterns for Worship

www.churchofengland.org/prayer-worship/worship/texts/newpatterns.aspx

Case Study Example 2 - IME Session 6: Strategic Mission Development

Our Problem and our Plan

We have seen a decline in new people attending our church evangelistic events, such as

our Christianity Explored course, our guest services and our mission weeks. As a staff

team, we have discussed what we think might be the problem and concluded that there

is a lack of enthusiasm for evangelism amongst the church family. Therefore, our plan is

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to motivate and equip the church family so that their enthusiasm for telling others the

gospel of Jesus grows. That, we pray, will achieve our aim of enabling the church family

both to tell others the gospel themselves but also feel able to invite friends and family to

church evangelistic events.

Main Issues This Plan Raised With Me

I have felt increasingly uncomfortable about our plan but never quite understood why. I

have spent the summer pondering how to enact our plan with the members of Explorers

(for whom I have pastoral responsibility) but not been sure how best to do it. I do want

to motivate and equip the members for evangelism and I know what I think they need

and how I could provide that, but I still don’t feel easy about enacting the plan. Why?

Building a Richer Understanding of What Happened

As I’ve prepared for this presentation, it has become clear why I have felt uneasy about

our plan and my role in enacting it with the Explorers members. It has become clear that

we are seeking to address a problem without truly knowing the cause. We discussed it as

a staff team but have not actually asked the church family why they are not bringing

friends and family to church and evangelistic events, and so we are seeking to act on

what we think the problem is but not listening to what it actually is. That is why I am

feeling uneasy about enacting the plan.

As the Mission Action Planning (MAP) process points out, listening is the crucial first step

in any strategic planning. We ‘Review’ by listening and learning before agreeing our

vision and priorities, and decide on specific plans and actions.

Impey writes that when seeking to develop our local church, we must first ask what

people really think.1 ‘The kind of change that will produce wholesome development is a

shared responsibility of the congregation... My fear is that we have too many people who

know just what local churches need but who have not bothered to ask the people most

concerned.’2 Before seeking to address the problem, I need to ask our Explorers

members why they are not bringing people to evangelistic events and courses.

There are others that I need to listen to as well. Cameron notes that, ‘The local church

cannot escape a relationship with contemporary culture and so it needs to ‘read’ the

cultural signals it sends out, to ensure they are consistent with the essence it wishes to

convey.’3 I need to listen to those that we are seeking to reach with the gospel as to why

they are not coming. It may be that they are being invited but that they don’t feel

comfortable joining us or simply aren’t interested in what we are offering. We want to

ensure that what we intend to say is what is conveyed culturally.

I want to make plans that solve the real problem that we have and by listening to both

parties, I pray that I will rightly understand the issues. Hamilton adds another important

point that comes about through listening to those concerned. Through listening to others

and working on what the problem is together, you make plans that, ‘actually impact and

1 Richard Impey, How to Develop Your Local Church: Working with the Wisdom of the Congregation (London: SPCK, 2010), xi. 2 Impey, How to Develop Your Local Church, xi-xiii. 3 Helen Cameron, Resourcing Mission: Practical Theology for Changing Churches (London: SCM, 2010), 20.

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solve real problems, but also... everyone agrees what problem you're trying to solve in

the first place.’4

Timmis adds to this with a theological understanding of listening to those concerned

before seeking to solve problems. Somewhat controversially, he advocates leadership by

consensus: ‘it is important for leaders to open up an issue for wide-ranging discussion, as

it allows the Spirit of God to be at work in the people of God to shape what the church

looks like.’5 He provides Scriptural support from Acts 15:22 when the whole assembly

made a decision together,6 and also Acts 13:1-5 when only the leadership were involved,

but once again it was a decision made by consensus and guided by the Holy Spirit.7 So

whether we aim for decision making by consensus or not, taking the time to listen before

we plan allows the Spirit of God to work in us to shape what the church will be like.

How do These Perspectives Change my Initial Understanding of the Situation?

By making plans without first listening to those concerned we run the risk of not

addressing the real problem, losing their interest, and resisting the Holy Spirit’s work in

us to mould us a church.

Listening is also a way of expressing love for our church family. A way of showing that

we want to help them and meet them ‘where they are’.

I was right to feel uneasy about seeking to enact our initial plans and am grateful for the

wisdom of others in helping me understand why.

What are the Implications for Future Practice?

Once the autumn term has begun, I will ask a number of Explorers members to join a

focus group, in which we can discuss this problem and how to address it together, with

me doing most of the listening!

Bibliography

Cameron, Helen. Resourcing Mission: Practical Theology for Changing Churches. London:

SCM, 2010.

Croft, Stephen. Transforming Communities: Re-imagining the Church for the 21st

Century. London: Darton, Longman & Todd, 2002.

Hamilton, Craig. Wisdom in Leadership: The How and Why of Leading the People You

Serve. Sydney: Matthais Media, 2015. Impey, Richard. How to Develop Your Local Church: Working with the Wisdom of the

Congregation. London: SPCK, 2010.

Jackson, Bob. What Makes Churches Grow: Vision and practice in effective mission.

London: Church House Publishing, 2015.

Timmis, Steve. Gospel Centred Leadership: Becoming the Servant God Wants You to Be.

Epsom: The Good Book Company, 2012.

4 Craig Hamilton, Wisdom in Leadership: The How and Why of Leading the People You Serve (Sydney: Matthais Media, 2015), 353. 5 Steve Timmis, Gospel Centred Leadership: Becoming the Servant God Wants You to Be (Epsom:

The Good Book Company, 2012), 104. 6 Timmis, Gospel Centred Leadership, 98. 7 Timmis, Gospel Centred Leadership, 102.

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Reflective Practice and Theological Reflection

a. What is reflective practice?

Reflective practice describes a process of learning from experience that is particularly

fitted for our life and work as ministers. It binds together our thinking and our doing

(theory and practice) such that, when the whole process is offered to God, it can enable

us to become a place 'wherein the Holy Spirit makes his dwelling' and so can lead to

transformation in our lives and our ministry.

Reflective practice starts from the actual experience of ministry, carefully observed and

recalled. The observation is then brought into dialogue with a number of different

perspectives: how does this connect with previous experience or assumptions? what light

is shed by other learning and knowledge? what biblical passages or theological themes

help me to discern where God’s presence may be recognised in this, or what God may be

saying? what questions does this leave me with? This whole process may generate new

insight and learning, but the real purpose of it comes from the question 'what, if

anything, am I going to do / do differently as a result of this learning?'

The reflective process can be carried out by an individual working alone, but it can be

enhanced by dialogue, for example in the context of structured supervision or a tutorial

group. For Christians it is a process in which prayer and the conscious desire to seek

God’s will is kept in mind throughout and so one in which learning is also personal

discipleship.

b. Theological Reflection: 'God is in the facts …'

Since (as we are reminded in Psalm 139) there is no situation or place where we can flee

from God's presence, it is appropriate to use our own experience as the starting place for

theological reflection. As a former Dean of York put it, 'all Christian doctrine arises from

Christian experience' (Alan Richardson, Creeds in the Making, 1941 10th Ed 1986). Or as

Gerry Hughes says, 'God is in the facts, and the facts are kind' (Gerry Hughes, God of

Surprises, DLT 1986, p 9). It is this principle that makes reflective practice in ministry

explicitly theological reflection on our practice and experience and the issues that arise

from them.

A striking example of this comes in Acts 10, where Peter finds himself called to preach in

the household of the centurion Cornelius, a gentile. His existing theology resists this as

ungodly and he has to wrestle with his calling in the light of a vision before he is able to

be obedient. As he is speaking, the Holy Spirit falls upon all his listeners, who are heard

'speaking in tongues and extolling God'. In a moment, Peter's ingrained and unexamined

theology is turned on its head: 'can anyone withhold the water for baptising these people

who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?' Both Peter and his hearers are

converted through experience and reflection. (Acts 10:44-48). In this case the patient

work of reflection leading into action is short-circuited by a blinding insight followed by

immediate action! But it also leads to real conflict when Peter is challenged by other

believers about his actions and his understanding of them; they, too, undergo a

conversion experience as their theology is revolutionised.

Reflection as a habitual practice, starting from the data of the real world, is also

illustrated from the Psalms: 'When I consider the heavens, the work of your fingers, the

moon and starts that you have established …' (Psalm 8: 3). Or Jesus’ saying, ‘Consider

the lilies of the field, they neither toil nor spin yet even Solomon in all his glory was not

clothed like one of these.’ (Matt 5: ).

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c. Theological Reflection and the 'Learning Cycle'

In recent years a multitude of approaches to theological reflection have been developed

and there is no single right way to do it; indeed, they can complement each other very

fruitfully e.g. journaling and action reflection sets. Several different methods are explored

in Graham, Walton and Ward (2005), with a convenient single-page summary in

Thompson, Pattison and Thompson (2008, p 9), However, one of the fruitful models for

ministry is the cycle of action and reflection known as the 'Learning Cycle' or sometimes

(in a ministry context) the 'Pastoral Cycle'. The cycle can be summarised in three verbs:

see – reflect – act.

Most versions of the Learning/Pastoral Cycle build on the work of David Kolb. Kolb

described education as a cyclical process with four stages: experience, reflection,

conceptualisation, and experimentation. Graham, Walton and Ward summarise as

follows: 'A concrete situation or experience generates observation and reflection, which is

then tested out in the context of revised practice'. (p5).

d. Laurie Green: The Doing Theology Spiral

The Learning Cycle has been adapted for theological reflection in a number of ways.

Laurie Green (2009) has developed a Doing Theology Spiral, pointing out that the four

stages of Experience, Explore, Reflect and Respond will lead to a New Situation which

itself can generate a new cycle. 'Like a wheel on a bicycle, the circle itself can continue

around time and again, but by doing that it propels the bicycle to a brand new place at

every turn' (p 24).

Explore and Reflect have a distinctive meaning for Green, as he adapts Kolb's Learning

Cycle for 'a new way to do theology'. 'Explore' means a rigorous factual analysis of the

situation which may draw on, for example, statistical mapping of an area, and which may

be informed by disciplines such as sociology, history or psychology. 'Reflect' is to 'see

how the Christian faith directly relates to the experience at issue' (p 21), using Bible

study, hymns and songs, creeds and great theological themes etc. Drawing inspiration

from the 'base ecclesial communities' and liberation theologians of Latin America, Green

views his Doing Theology Spiral as essentially a community process, in which theology is

democratised.

e. Judith Thompson: Progressing Theological Reflection (PTR)

Judith Thompson (2008, p 55-56) offers a five-stage variant which she calls PTR, or

Progressing Theological Reflection:

Identify the situation, experience, or issue

Build a 'thick description' around the issue (e.g. context, psychological

insights)

Draw on key insights from theology and the faith tradition

Return to the issue, allowing these insights to illuminate it, and perhaps

reframe it from a new perspective;

Identify outcomes and possible actions.

This model, despite the rather clunky title, is perhaps the most immediate and practical,

and is recommended as the default structure for the reflective journal; see the reflection

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sheet under Reflective Journal below, an electronic copy of which is available on the

diocesan website.

The reflective cycle can be expressed as:

The above reflective cycle is based on Laurie Green’s pastoral cycle and Judith

Thompson’s Progressing Theological Reflection (PTR) and is one version of the pastoral

cycle from amongst a number. Choose the version which works best for you and your

case study and ensure that you explain to other group members which model you are

using, and why, when you introduce your case study.

What is absolutely crucial is that you do not jump too quickly from the experience to the

response, and, in particular, that you do not miss out the theological stage of the cycle.

• Bring theological resources to bear on both experience and my understanding of it

•What should I/we do in response to the situation?

• Identify key issues and try to understand them as fully as possible create a 'thick description'

• I have an experience/find myself in a specific situation

Experience (facts/

feelings)

Exploration

(depth/ meanings)

Reflection (faith

insights)

Response (plans/

responses)

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Reflective Journal

Keep a reflective journal, by hand, in printed form or in electronic form, whichever is

most natural and effective for you. If you do work electronically, remember to back up

your journal entries on a memory stick or external hard drive. This is a professional

journal which is intended to remain private rather than enter the public domain. It is

intended to help you to absorb and develop the habit of reflecting theologically on your

ministerial practice. It is also intended to be a resource for you when preparing case

studies and completing appraisals during and at the end of curacy. Ensure that it is kept

securely and that you do not breach confidentiality by referring to people by name.

Make regular journal entries at one key time during each year of your curacy, for

example, Ordination, Lent, following through an area of pastoral work, running a

project, gaining chaplaincy experience

Make a journal entry to reflect on a new area of ministerial experience

Make a journal entry to reflect on experience which has changed your practice and

developed you understanding and skills

Make a journal entry to reflect on experience which has caused you to engage

again with your sense of vocation, role and identity

Below is a copy of a reflection sheet which you can use, if you wish, to take you

through the stages of theological reflection and action learning, leading to

reflective ministerial practice (the reflection sheet is available in electronic form

on the diocesan website)

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Reflective Journal – Capturing Learning from a Ministry Event

This form is designed to help you reflect systematically on your experience of ministry in

order to help integrate learning and practice. It can be printed and used as it is, used as

a template on your computer, or adapted to your own needs and found at:

www.manchester.anglican.org/resources-for-ministers/curates.

Not all the questions will be relevant for every situation. This template is based on the

model of ‘Progressive Theological Reflection’ outlined in Judith Thompson, SCM Guide to

Theological Reflection. (London: SCM 2008, p 55-56).

Date /

time:

Place:

The event:

Date / time: Location:

Nature of event:

Describe briefly what happened:

Describe your own role:

How did you feel about the event / your role within it?

What were the main issues / questions which this event raised for you?

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Building a theological understanding

What insights from the faith tradition (e.g. from scripture, theological writing, historic

tradition) help to build a theological understanding on what happened? What

difference does it make to see from a faith perspective?

Now return to the original situation

How do these perspectives change your initial understanding of the situation?

Finally…

What are the implications for future practice? What specifically might you do

differently in a similar situation, and why? Is there anything you need to do now?

Any other questions to note or follow up?

Books / resources to note

This relates to the following Learning Outcomes:

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Supervision

In her book Transformative Supervision for the Helping Professions (2012, p.18) Nicki

Weld identifies four functions of supervision, which offer helpful lenses through which to

view the place and purpose of pastoral supervision in a ministerial context:

Normative (how is the curate growing in her or his sense of vocation, in her or his

professional identity and in her or his inhabiting of a public and representative

role)

Formative (how is the curate developing in her or his work with individuals and

groups and in her or his carrying out of the tasks of ministry, for example

preaching and leading worship, engaging in pastoral care and outreach)

Supportive (how is the curate managing her or himself in ministry, including

balancing time for ministry with time for family and for other commitments, and

including responding to the physical, mental and emotional demands of ministry)

Transformative (how is the curate engaging with professional and personal change

and development)

These four functions of supervision can be laid alongside the four constituent roles which

Lamdin and Tilley identify for training incumbents as supervisors in their book Supporting

New Ministers in the Local Church. London: SPCK. (2007, p.6), namely:

Manager (managing the volume and quality of work, identifying tasks and

defining areas of responsibility and accountability)

Educator (educating with respect to the knowledge, skills and dispositions of

ordained ministry)

Mediator (mediating with others on behalf of the curate, eg. diocese, or directing

the curate to individuals or organisations which may be of benefit, eg, chaplaincy

opportunity or network of spiritual directors)#

Supporter (supporting the curate, for example, in analysing a pastoral situation

and identifying possible courses of actions and thinking through the decision

making process)

Together, these four functions of supervision and four constituent roles of the training

incumbent, offer a rich description of pastoral supervision which is focused on the

person, ministry and learning of the curate.

Reflective questions which help to give theological and ministerial definition to pastoral

supervision are:

How was the presence of God discerned in this encounter or situation?

What is happening to me and why?

What is being learnt about the practice of ministry?

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The functions of supervision, the roles (and responsibilities) of the training incumbent

and the reflective location and focus of pastoral supervision (the curate’s learning and

development) need to be gathered and affirmed in a framework of regular supervision

sessions and an agreed pattern of working within individual supervision sessions. Pastoral

supervision sessions need to be clearly differentiated from staff meetings which may

include other people and which are not focused on the learning and development of the

curate. Pastoral supervision sessions would normally take place at a different time and in

a different location to staff meetings in order to mark this differentiation.

In the Diocese of Manchester the expectation is that those who are serving stipendiary

curacies will participate in at least 9 supervision sessions per year, and those who are

serving self-supporting curacies will participate in at least 6 supervision sessions per

year, and that each supervision session will last between one and a half and two hours.

It is recommended that curate and incumbent agree an agenda for each supervision

session. Such an agenda should include standing items such as review of current

ministry, planning for future learning and space to discuss any issues or concerns that

there might be with respect to the curate / incumbent relationship, or as Rick Simpson

puts it in his book Supervising A Curate: A Short Guide to a Complex Task (2011, p.20),

space to ask, ‘How are we doing? Is there anything we need to discuss about our working

relationship?’

A draft agenda might look something like this:

Main topics covered (outline of the agenda for the meeting)

Review of significant learning since the previous session (from amongst the range

of experiences since the last session, what have been the key experiences and

what has been learnt from them?)

General review of curate’s ministry and development (how is the curacy

progressing against the training plan? are core areas of ministry being covered?

are core knowledge and skills being developed? what is the next stage? how is

this being planned for? how will it be implemented?)

Record of decisions taken (what have curate and incumbent decided? who is

taking responsibility for what in relation to ministry and training?)

Actions / agenda for next meeting (who will do what before and for the next

meeting? what will be the focus of the next meeting?)

Curate’s notes and reflection

The above draft agenda assumes that the incumbent will take responsibility for making a

record of the meeting and that the curate will have the opportunity to add their reflection

or to represent a point which they wish to clarify or log (in the final section of the

record). The record of a supervision session would need to be written up by the

incumbent and passed on to the curate within a week in order that the curate could add

their reflection within a reasonable timescale. The record of a supervision session is not

something that either curate or incumbent would submit for assessment, but taken

together the supervision records form a log of the curate’s learning and development

across the curacy and can be referred back to, by curate and incumbent, when preparing

annual appraisals and completing assessment at the end of curacy. Below is a copy of a

pro forma which is based on the above draft and which can be found on the diocesan

website.

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Pastoral supervision sessions are intended to be times and spaces where curates can

reflect with an experienced colleague on the experience which they are gaining as

ordained ministers. Especially as experience increases one of the key functions of

supervision will be to offer curates ‘a place to explore and develop … through

opportunities to consider different perspectives on their actions and practice’ (Weld,

2012, p.15). As experience increases, a key role of the incumbent will be ‘eliciting and

supporting [the curate’s] reflection, insight and solution finding capacities’ (Weld, 2012,

p.15). Within such a model of pastoral supervision curate and incumbent are able to

learn from each other and from the shared ministry to which they are committed within

the cure of souls.

Books around supervision which training incumbents and curates may find helpful are:

Cherry, S., (2012). Beyond Busyness: Time Wisdom for Ministry. Durham: Sacristy

Press.

Cottrell, Stephen,(2009) Hit the Ground Kneeling. London: CHP.

Croft, S., & Walton, R., (2005). Learning for Ministry. London: CHP.

Hawkins, P., & Shohet, R., (2000). Supervision in the Helping Professions. Maidenhead:

Open University Press.

Lambdin, K., & Tilley, D., (2007). Supporting New Ministers in the Local Church. London:

SPCK.

Paterson, M., & Rose, J., (2014). Enriching Ministry: Pastoral Supervision in Practice.

London: SCM.

Simpson, R., (2011). Supervising a Curate: A Short Guide to a Complex Task.

Cambridge: Grove.

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Diocese of Manchester IME 4-7

Record of supervision

This form is designed for the Training Incumbent’s record of the regular supervision

meeting held with the curate. Please feel free to adapt and customise the form to suit

your particular needs and preferences. Using the template will help the supervision

become more focused and purposeful. The completed record should be copied to the

curate promptly, and will become part of his / her Ministry Portfolio.

Curate Supervising

incumbent

Date of

supervision:

Main topics covered during this session:

Review of significant learning experiences since the previous supervision:

General review of curate’s ministry and development

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Record of decisions taken

Actions / agenda for next supervision meeting

Curate’s notes / reflection

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Formation and Assessment

Formation aims to weave together the strands of being, doing and knowing in the person

of the minister, and in her or his practice of ministry. Assessment aims to discern the

loving and self-giving pattern of Christ’s calling in their weaving together in the person’s

ministry. The national criteria for both formation and assessment, which are appended at

the end of this handbook, are clustered around disposition (being), skill (doing) and

understanding (knowing) in seven ministerial areas (which form the learning outcomes).

The criteria emphasise the primacy of disposition or Christ-like character and are a

vocational tool. They are to be used to reflect on ministerial development and provide

evidence of readiness for a post of responsibility.

There are a number of important reasons why assessment is carried out, as highlighted

in Ministry Division’s Formation and Assessment in Curacy8 document (2010), and

summarised below:

Integrated formation and assessment contribute to learning and enhance

reflective practice

Assessment leads to a public affirmation of ministry

Assessment helps to identify areas of ministerial gift

Assessment assists curates and dioceses in discerning skills and gifts so as to

make appropriate appointments at the end of curacy

Assessment assists curates and dioceses in demonstrating that appropriate

training was given and competence demonstrated should a dispute arise or

capability be questioned

Taken together they provide assurance to congregations that their clergy are well

prepared for the challenges and responsibilities of ministry, and assurance to clergy that

their vocation has been further tested and affirmed by the church leading to them having

an appropriate and godly self-confidence. Good assessment should provide real

encouragement to curates and training incumbents alike.

Formation and assessment are rooted in the call of gift of God in Jesus Christ as we seek

together to con-formed to the likeness of Christ who is the Head of the body. All

formation is therefore provisional until Christ is finally formed in our lives and we are

‘changed from glory into glory.’

8 search.churchofengland.org/results.aspx?k=formation%20and%20assessment%20in%20curacy (accessed 18/06/2014)

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Interim and Final Assessment

In the Diocese of Manchester, and across the Church of England, assessment takes place

at two key stages during curacy (interim) and also at the end of curacy (final). At each

stage assessment will be based on self-assessment, assessment by the training

incumbent, case studies presented in the Intentional Learning Groups and assessed by

the Intentional learning Group Tutor. Final assessment will include these elements and a

series of references at the end of curacy. This assessment will be gathered in a curacy

file which the curate will submit to the IME 2 Officer towards the end of the curacy. It is

the curate’s responsibility to maintain records of these assessments and to compile the

curacy file from them for submission by the date set.

For all curates Interim Assessment will take place at:

9 months (first year) This is based on the curate’s self-assessment and their

training incumbent’s report sent to the Director of Vocations and IME 2 Officer by

the end of March

18 months (IME 5) This is based on the curate’s self-assessment, their training

incumbent’s report and their ILG Tutor’s feedback and report, all of which are sent

to the IME 2 Officer by the end of February

For stipendiary curates Assessment at the End of Curacy (AEC) will take place at:

30 months (IME 6) This is based on the Curacy File, submitted to the IME 2

Officer by the end of November in the third year of the curacy, and containing the

sections listed below on page 58.

For Ordained Pioneer Minister (OPM) curates AEC will take place at:

60 months (end of the fifth year) This is based on the Curacy File, submitted to

the IME 2 Officer by the end of November in the fifth year of the curacy, and

containing the sections listed below on page 58.

For those in self-supporting forms of ministry (OLM/SSM/MSE) AEC will take place at:

36 months, 48 months or 60 months (end of third, fourth or fifth year, according

to the speed at which Formation Criteria are met and the Curacy File is

completed) This is based on the Curacy File, submitted to the IME 2 Officer by the

end of November in the third/fourth/fifth year of the curacy, and containing the

sections listed below on page 58.

Self-supporting curates should discuss the date on which they intend to complete

AEC and submit their curacy file with the IME 2 Officer in the second year of their

curacy. SSM curates are often not in a position to fulfil all the criteria within 36 or

even 48 months and need to be realistic about this.

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Ministry File

Keep a Ministry File (in printed or electronic form) in which you gather records of your

experience from your curacy, for example sermons, liturgies (worship and occasional

offices), notes from meetings, preparatory material for bible study groups or assemblies,

etc. This file will then form a resource which you draw on when preparing for meetings of

your intentional learning group, writing case studies and completing annual appraisals.

You will be asked to submit your Ministry File for assessment or share its contents with

anyone else.

Curacy File

Develop your Curacy File throughout your curacy. It will form a more formal record of

your curacy and will be submitted for assessment at the end of your curacy. It should

contain the following:

• A CV giving basic details of qualifications, employment, ministerial experience and

training, post held since ordination

• Self-assessment reports from each year of curacy (against the Formation Criteria)

• A series of reports from across the curacy from: your training incumbent,

examining chaplain, Intentional Learning Group tutor, IME 2 Training Officer

• Your case studies and feedback from work with the Intentional Learning Group

• References from colleagues in key areas of ministerial experience e.g. members of

ministry team, church wardens, school head teachers

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APPENDIX 1

FORMATIONAL CRITERIA for ORDAINED MINISTRY: IME Phase 2

Structure of the formation criteria

The Formation Criteria are organised under seven headings:

A. Christian faith, tradition and life

B. Mission, evangelism and discipleship

C. Spirituality and worship

D. Relationships

E. Personality and character

F. Leadership, collaboration and community

G. Vocation and ministry within the Church of England

Within each of these headings, the Formation Criteria are organised in clusters that are

disposition-led [in bold] and emphasise the primacy and inseparability of character from

understanding and skills:

Dispositions:

These are related to formational learning and character development. They represent the

most important criteria: knowledge, understanding and skills are secondary to Christ-

like character. However, disposition is not easy to assess: sometimes evidence may be

more anecdotal and narrative than systematic. Dispositions are often discerned

relationally and developed through a combination of learning, experience, reflection and

prayer.

Understanding:

These are related in subject matter to the dispositions, but are not an elaboration of

them. They are aspirational in that knowledge and understanding is never complete:

ordinands and priests will gain greater depth and breadth of understanding as they

continue to pursue and reflect on lifelong learning.

Skills:

Again, related to the first two categories, but not an elaboration of them. While skills and

abilities reflect competence, they, too are aspirational: greater fluency will be achieved

over time through the experience of exercising ordained ministry in a reflective mode.

NOTE: Criteria for incumbency / post of responsibility are in purple.

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Ordained Pioneer Ministry

Formation Criteria for Ordained Pioneer Ministry are described on page 56.

Those who are serving a curacy for ordained pioneer ministry will do so through

pathways that enable them to embed their learning in fresh expressions praxis through

sustained and systematic action reflection. Although the formation criteria described

above (and below) will be used to discern a minister’s readiness to take up a pioneer

ministerial post (and, where appropriate, a pioneer post of responsibility) at the

completion of initial ministerial education, progress towards the criteria will have been

achieved through a bespoke IME Phase 2 pathway for pioneer ministry. It is likely that

dioceses will need to draw upon resources from other institutions in order to achieve

sufficient sharpness of focus on pioneer ministry in IME Phase 2.

Ordained pioneer ministers will work towards the formation criteria with continual

reference to the formation of new ecclesial communities through contextual mission. The

mix of skills, gifts, knowledge and expertise that they bring to their training, formation

and ministry, will differentiate them.

Using the formation criteria

The Formation Criteria are fundamentally aspirational: they are goals to work and

develop towards rather than criteria that can be ‘fully met’. This means that they should

be used as a vocational tool:

1. by curates – to provide a framework for reflection on their development in

ministry against the Church’s expectations through the curacy training process.

2. by training incumbents and diocesan colleagues – to discern areas of and for

growth and development during curacy and to provide the grounds on which to

affirm the readiness of ministers to take up assistant minister, ordained pioneer

minister or incumbent status posts in the Church of England.

3. by bishops – as a framework to enable them to confirm candidates’ readiness to

take up ministerial posts as priests of the Church of England at the end of IME

Phase 2.

A. CHRISTIAN TRADITION, FAITH AND LIFE

Ordained ministers sustain their public ministry and personal faith in Christ

through study and reflection that is open to new insights. They …

understand the Bible as text and as holy Scripture for the church and the world

through regular critical engagement with Old and New Testament texts and issues relating to their interpretation.

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are able to interpret Scripture in a wide range of settings, using their exegetical and

hermeneutical skills to communicate clearly and accurately in ways that enable others to learn and explore.

are able to engage in independent study of Christian beliefs and practices and

communicate their findings in diverse settings.

Ordained ministers work with and value the breadth and diversity of belief and

practice within the Church of England. They …

are able to engage in independent study of how Christian beliefs and practices shape

the moral life of individuals and communities.

are able to reflect critically on how Christian doctrine and ethics relate to discipleship,

church and society, communicating this appropriately inside and outside the church.

Incumbents replenish their leadership through a life of disciplined study and

reflection that is open to new insights. They …

are able to exercise theological leadership for the church in mission.

B. MISSION, EVANGELISM AND DISCIPLESHIP

Ordained ministers have a deep and prayerful enthusiasm for mission and

evangelism that is nourished by Christ’s love for the world and lived out in acts

of mercy, service, justice and reconciliation. They …

are able to discern God’s mission in a specific context by reflective and empathetic

engagement with it in light of its cultural, historical, economic, social, political and

religious characteristics.

are able to engage courageously in mission, evangelism and apologetics in a range of

contexts and particularly in local communities and churches.

are able to communicate the gospel confidently and effectively using a variety of

media in diverse situations, both inside and outside the church.

are able to lead and inspire others in mission and evangelism in the local church.

Ordained ministers are committed to Christian education, promoting good

practice, both inside and outside the church. They …

are able to nurture others in their faith development, including those with little

previous knowledge of the faith, through catechesis, teaching and preaching,

including preparation for baptism and confirmation.

understand the importance of the Church of England’s engagement with schools for

the common good and for the mission and ministry of the church.

Incumbents …

lead, enable and release missional vision and faithful witness in and among those for

whom they have responsibility.

enable others to articulate the gospel and participate in its proclamation.

are able to foster and lead mission-shaped churches.

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C. SPIRITUALITY AND WORSHIP

Ordained ministers are sustained by disciplined personal and corporate prayer

shaped by the responsibilities of public ministry and corporate worship in the

tradition of the Church of England. They …

are able to relate different approaches to, and traditions of, personal and corporate

prayer to sustain and develop their own prayer life and those of others of all ages,

backgrounds and in a range of life circumstances.

Ordained ministers …

are able to demonstrate good reflective practice in preaching and in leading – and

where appropriate, presiding at – public worship, including pastoral services, using

appropriate forms of liturgy in a variety of settings.

Ordained ministers are growing in the love of God and in Christ-likeness as

members of the body of Christ and can testify to the grace of the Holy Spirit in

their lives and ministries. They …

are able to relate spiritual traditions to corporate and individual practices that sustain

and develop their own spirituality, and those of others of all ages, backgrounds and in

a range of life circumstances.

Ordained ministers’ spirituality permeates their perceptions of and interactions

with others inside and outside the church. They …

are able to help others discern God’s presence and activity in their relationships and in

the wider world.

Incumbents are sustained in the strains and joys of leadership by a life of

prayer.

D. PERSONALITY AND CHARACTER

Ordained ministers show insight, resilience, maturity and integrity in the

pressure and change entailed in public ministry. They …

are able to balance appropriate care of self with the care of others by developing

sustainable patterns of life and work, and effective support networks in the context of

public ministry.

Ordained ministers are growing in self-knowledge and commitment to Christ

within the roles and expectations of ordained ministry. They …

are able to approach the sacrificial impact of ordained ministry on the whole of life with wisdom and discernment.

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are able to reflect with insight and humility on personal strengths, weaknesses,

failures, gifts and vulnerability in response to a new context of public ministry.

Incumbents …

encourage and enable colleagues to balance appropriate care of self with care of

others.

Incumbents personify an integration and integrity of authority and obedience,

leadership and service. They …

engage with others to reflect with insight on their style of leadership, its strengths and

weaknesses in context, and demonstrate appropriate development.

E. RELATIONSHIPS

Ordained ministers …

are able to form and sustain healthy relationships with peers in the mixed economy of

fresh and more traditional expressions of church.

are able to handle and help resolve conflicts and disagreements, enabling growth

through them.

understand human flourishing in relationships and Christian pastoral care in a range of

life circumstances and contexts.

demonstrate good reflective practice in a wide range of pastoral and professional

relationships.

Ordained ministers are people who respect others, demonstrate empathy and

honesty in their relationships, learning from them. They …

are able to live within the House of Bishops’ Guidelines: Issues in Human Sexuality

and engage positively with those with whom they differ.

are able to establish and evaluate appropriate professional boundaries in their

ministerial practice and personal lives.

understand policies and best practice in safeguarding and their application in a variety

of contexts.

Incumbents …

show skill and sensitivity in resolving issues of conflict within the church community.

are able to supervise others in the conduct of pastoral relationships.

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F. LEADERSHIP, COLLABORATION AND COMMUNITY

Ordained ministers seek to model their servant leadership on the person of

Christ. They …

are able to participate in and lead communities, reflecting on, and being alert to, the

use and abuse of power.

are able to lead collaboratively and competently, working as a member of a team

within a community, as an ordained person.

Ordained ministers share leadership by actively looking for, recognising and

nurturing the gifts of others. They …

are able to use authority appropriately in ways that release, equip, enable and

empower others, including colleagues, to fulfil their calling to mission and ministry

from within a Christian community.

are able to supervise and mentor others in a limited range of roles and responsibilities

in mission and ministry.

Incumbents …

show skill and sensitivity in enabling the formation and flourishing of corporate life in

the presence of diversity.

are able to lead teams collaboratively in a variety of settings, including multi-parish

benefices.

are able to facilitate change creatively and sensitively, exercising leadership with an

entrepreneurial and forward looking approach.

are able to supervise lay and ordained people in positions of responsibility in formal

and informal settings of training and practice.

G. VOCATION AND MINISTRY WITHIN THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND

Ordained ministers are firmly convinced of their calling to ordained ministry,

realistic about its challenges, and continue to ask important questions about

their role as deacon or priest in the church of God. They …

are able to articulate their calling to discipleship and to ordained ministry as a deacon

or priest within the Church of England.

understand the sacrificial and corporate nature of their role in ministry and mission as

a deacon or priest within the breadth and diversity of a mixed economy of traditional

and fresh expressions of church.

Ordained ministers are rooted in the traditions and practices of the Church of

England and share in the spiritual life of the communities they serve. They …

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are able to represent the church in public life and engage in partnerships across wider

groups of parishes, including, where possible, working with churches of different

denominations and traditions and other faith communities and their leaders.

Ordained ministers are accountable and obedient in exercising ordained

ministry as a deacon or priest within the Church of England. They …

understand the legal, canonical and administrative responsibilities of those in public

ministry within a mixed economy of church.

show developed skills as theologically reflective and reflexive practitioners in relatively

unsupervised settings, exercising wise and discerning judgment.

Incumbents are ready for, and open to, exercising a ministry of oversight and

vision as priests in the church of God. They …

take a lead role in working with partners, representing the church in public life,

including, where possible, working with other faith leaders.

Incumbents exercise appropriate accountability and responsibility in faithfully

and loyally receiving the authority of others, consistent with a position of

responsibility. They …

know and understand the legal, canonical and administrative responsibilities of those

having oversight and responsibility.

show sophisticated skills as reflective and reflexive practitioners and the capacity to

develop these further to energise creative, theologically informed practice.

ORDAINED PIONEER MINISTRY

Ordained pioneer ministers are particularly flexible, resourceful, innovative

and entrepreneurial in their approach to ministry and mission beyond the

existing church, thriving in unfamiliar cultures and contexts. They …

are able to plant, lead and mature a fresh expression of church.

are able to inspire and nurture the risk-taking of others

enable others to develop the capacity to learn from failure and success.

are proficient in contextualising the Church of England’s tradition and practices for a

variety of models of fresh expressions of church.

are proficient in clearly articulating the faith to those outside the church in a variety

of ways and contexts.

are able to identify, train, develop and use leaders within fresh expressions of church

and release them to develop ecclesial communities in other contexts.

are able and willing to develop sustainable, personal and communal support in a

fresh expression context within a mixed economy, including belonging to a peer

learning network.

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Ordained pioneer ministers in a post of responsibility are ready for, and open

to, exercising a visionary ministry as priests in the church of God with a

specific focus on the oversight of teams leading fresh expressions of church.

They …

understand the legal, canonical and administrative responsibilities of those having

oversight and responsibility, including Bishops’ Mission Orders.

are able to supervise lay and ordained pioneers and leaders of fresh expressions of

church in both informal and formal settings of training and practice.

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APPENDIX 2: ILG Case Study Feedback

Summary of Feedback

Learning Towards (Outcomes)

Knowledge and Understanding

Case Study

Date of Presentation Date of

Feedback

Tutor

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Skill and Competence

Theological Engagement and Reflection

Personal Learning

Awareness of Pastoral and Human Dynamics

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Sermon Feedback and Review Sheet

Thank you for taking time to fill in this form. It is always helpful for preachers to know

how their sermons are received and it will be most useful if you can fill in this form as

soon after hearing the sermon as possible. We know you will fill it in with the best

interest of the curate in mind. It would also be helpful if you include ways in which

you think that it could be improved.

Name of curate _________________________________________________________________

Date of sermon ______________ Bible readings ___________________________________

Type of service (e.g. Holy Communion/Service of the Word/All Age/Parade service)

_________________________________________________________________________________

A Theme and content

1. How well did the sermon fit in with the service as a whole?

2. How did the sermon relate to the Bible readings?

3. In one sentence, please write down the main theme of the sermon.

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How clear was the theme?

4. How appropriate was the sermon to the context and congregation?

5. Did the preacher use any parables or other stories?

If so, were they appropriate to the context and the theme of the sermon?

6. If the preacher used humour was it appropriate and effective?

B Structure

7. How did the sermon begin?

Was it appropriate for the content of the sermon?

8. Was the sermon coherent and keep to its theme or did it wander off the theme?

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9. How did the sermon end?

Was it effective as a conclusion to the sermon?

C Engagement

10. How did they engage you intellectually and emotionally in what they were

saying?

11. How far did you feel they were personally involved in what they were saying?

12. In what ways did the sermon inform, challenge or surprise you?

D Communication and body language

13. Was the sermon a) too long b) too short c) about right

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If it was too long or too short why was this the case?

14. What sort of language did the preacher use:

Was it easy to understand?

Did they use short, clear sentences?

Were academic/jargon words used?

Was it abstract/theoretical or down to earth?

Was it inclusive?

Was it difficult to understand at any point? e.g. obscure, long sentences

15. How did the preacher use her or his voice:

Could you hear easily or were they too quiet?

Did they shout?

Did they sound enthusiastic or bored?

Did they vary their volume and tone of voice?

16. Did they speak a) too quickly b) about right c) too slowly

How far did they vary their speed of delivery?

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17. How did the preacher use their body? (e.g. did they remain still, walk around or

use any distracting movements?)

18. How well did the preacher make eye contact? (e.g. did they look at their notes

all the time/did they look at the people from time to time?)

19. In what ways do you think that the preacher could develop their skills in

preaching?

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