Some of the earliest ventures into developing Local or Shared Ministry took place three decades ago in the Diocese of Lincoln. Once one of the largest dioceses in England, Lincoln has a significant rural character with many very small parishes.
I visited today with Judith, the Lay Coordinator for Local Ministry in the area of the diocese called South Wold. In this deanery there are 24 churches with just one rector, one rural missioner, one non-stipendiary deacon, and four retired clergy who have permission to preside at services. Such a small group of "professsionals" would be hard-pressed to provide pastoral care and worship leadership here if it all depended on them. That is why there are many more trained, authorized lay ministers who offer their gifts in service to God voluntarily in these churches.
They had at least one year-long course in "foundations" for ministry, and they took at least one module of training in either worship leadership or pastoral visiting offered in their area by the diocese. Most took two or more modules. They were "licensed" for their ministries, and they are reviewed at least annually.
Not every church has a service every Sunday. In fact some have not had a service led by a priest for more than a year. But they are all cared for, and they have an opportunity to grow spiritually because the church has not abandoned them.
Tomorrow we head out to Coventry to attend a three-day conference of leaders in the Local Ministry Network. They will discuss their problems and share their joys, and most importantly, they will pray for one another. Please remember them in your prayers as they seek God's guidance to discover new ways to make Local Ministry work.
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