LOCAL MINISTRY

A Strategy for the Diocese
Recognising that far-reaching changes were taking place in Church and society, in 1994 the Diocese of Hereford adopted Local Ministry as its Strategy for the future.

This means recognising that 'the ministry of the local church' involves everyone, not just the Vicar. Many lay people already work hard for the church in practical ways, but often not all the gifts for pastoral ministry are being used.

The Local Ministry Scheme
The Local Ministry Scheme is a way of putting the Strategy into effect. The Diocese has worked out a process which has now been tried and tested in a variety of places.

The Scheme has 2 main aims:

To encourage every Christian disciple to use their gifts

• for the benefit of the whole church
• to serve the local community
• to share the good news of Jesus Christ

To encourage parishes to set up Local Ministry Teams

• a partnership of lay people and clergy
• sharing leadership and responsibility
• co-ordinating the worship, witness and pastoral care of the local churches

How does it work?
Once it has been decided to go down the Local Ministry route, there are 3 stages to the process.

Preparing the ground
Parishes spend time making sure everyone understands the idea

• through discussion/study groups (3 sessions: Exploring Local Ministry)
• through sermons, articles, open debates

Parishes do a survey of the wider local community (Setting the Scene)

• what are local people's needs and expectations?
• how can the church respond?

Usually the parish is part of a group (benefice). All the parishes in the group meet to pool their findings. They decide their joint priorities for the mission to which God is calling them.

Establishing the Local Ministry Team
The Team members are chosen not to 'do all the ministry' but to take a lead and to co-ordinate the ministry in which everyone plays their part. With this in mind, the local congregations, after prayer and in confidence, submit nominations. These are sifted by representatives from all the PCCs involved.

Developing the Team
The Team Development Programme includes:

• courses to help Teams understand and plan for vital areas of church life.
• practical workshops on team-working and the skills of leading others in ministry.
• reflective processes to develop a ministry of prayer and intercession.

The Teams also work out what training is needed in ministry skills, often involving other church members.

Commissioning the Team
Once the Team has been established and begun to develop, the Bishop commissions the Team - in their parishes - for this collaborative venture.

Reviewing progress
Teams are encouraged to review their own progress regularly.

Every 3 - 4 years, the Team undertakes a major 'stock taking' involving the PCCs and others, with help from an external Reviewer. At this point priorities are re-assessed and there may well be changes in membership.

Supporting the Teams
The Diocese provides each Team with a Ministry Consultant, Training Adviser and a Spiritual Adviser, to be alongside the Team and the parishes.

A new role for parish clergy
The culture is changing. A Vicar is still engaged in front line ministry, but also actively discerning gifts for ministry in other people and sharing the responsibility of leadership with lay people in a Team. Clergy now have more of an oversight role - collaborative ministry often means not working less but working differently.

Specialist Local Ministries
As the Team works together, it sometimes becomes clear that a particular member has a particular gift and vocation that could be further developed. The possibilities are explored and training can be set up, eg

Working with young people
Evangelism
Pastoral counselling
Spiritual direction

Those, with a call to be a Reader or an Ordained Local Minister, train further with the West of England Ministerial Training Course. The development work they have done with their LMT counts as part of their training.

So far . . .
16 Local Ministry Teams cover nearly 25% of the parishes in the Diocese.

There are 10 Ordained Local Ministers and 2 others in training.

Want to know more?
Contact Graham Earney at the Local Ministry Office on 01584 872822.