Calling, Character, Competence and Context

1. Preparatory Paperwork

1. Calling, Character, Competence and Context

1. Mission Action Planning

1. Pastoral Epistles

1. The Ordinal

1. 360 degree review

1. Agreed Record

1. Ministry Development Plan

INTRODUCTION

MDR is an ongoing process which enables those who hold the Bishop’s license to

• To reflect before God on our vocation and ministry
• To identify areas for thanksgiving and lament, receiving affirmation and challenge
• To set some priorities for personal and ministerial development

The process, which all who hold their posts under Common Tenure must participate in, and those with freehold are warmly invited to undertake, has three phases.

1. Preparation: carried out as an opportunity to reflect on the past 18 months, noting key events, your learning and experience, and any causes of lament or celebration that you might wish to share. You will also begin to identify the key issues which you wish to reflect on during your conversation with a view to identifying areas for development in the future. There are now four models of preparation for you to choose from, although you may also simply write a report based on your own themes and priorities.

You should cut and paste the version you chose to use into a new document and return it by email to your reviewer at least one week prior to your review.

The preparatory paperwork will be read by the reviewer so that context and key events can be acknowledged, but will not constitute the main focus of the review conversation.

1. Review: a conversation which will act as a hinge – acknowledging the past – noticing the present – and looking to the future. The themes of the conversation should be identified by the reviewee. The reviewer’s task will be to ask questions, to elicit solution focussed thinking, and occasionally to challenge. The outcome of the conversation will be to identify a direction of travel, asking the question “By the time I do this again in 18 months time, what would I want to be different? What would I want to have learned? What would I have done?”

1. Development: at the end of the review, you will be asked to identify three bullet points from the conversation, agreed with your reviewer.

Your reviewer will agree with you whether you should complete a personal development plan. You will be asked to email your agreed record to your reviewer within one week. You will then be given a period of time for reflection, to seek advice and to shape your personal development plan. This plan should then be emailed to the reviewer and the Director of Ministry and Training. Guidance on completing the development plan is included below. Only activities specifically identified in this plan will be eligible for a Continuing Ministerial Development Grant, and in many cases needs can be met by resources on offer from the Ministry and Training Department.

The timetable for your review is set out in the email inviting your participation.

1

Calling, Character, Competence and Context

Name: Date of Review:Reviewer:

Calling, Character, Competence and Context

Calling

Priests are called to be servants and shepherds among the people to whom they are sent. With their Bishop and fellow ministers, they are to proclaim the word of the Lord and to watch for the signs of God’s new creation. [...] Will you then, in the strength of the Holy Spirit, continually stir up the gift of God that is in you, to make Christ known among all whom you serve?

1. What is my vision, under God, for my ministry?

1. What gifts and skills do I bring to this ministry?

Consider whether you have gifts or skills which are under-used, or need further development? Are there areas of your ministry for which you feel ill-equipped?

1. How is my praying and spiritual life? Who or what helps me?

Consider also how your spiritual life has developed since your last MDR, and how your theological understanding is developing. When did you last make a retreat or similar time?

1. Are there significant changes of direction in my ministry that I would like to make?

If so, ask when you would like to make them, in what direction and with what support.

1. Where have I spent most of my time and energy?

1. How far have the objectives I set in the past or at my last review been reached? Are they still pertinent?

Character

They are to be messengers, watchmen and stewards of the Lord; they are to teach and to admonish, to feed and provide for his family, to search for his children in the wilderness of this world’s temptations, and to guide them through its confusions, that they may be saved through Christ for ever. Formed by the word, they are to call their hearers to repentance and to declare in Christ's name the absolution and forgiveness of their sins.

Will you, knowing yourself to be reconciled to God in Christ, strive to be an instrument of God’s peace in the Church and in the world?

Will you endeavour to fashion your own life and that of your household according to the way of Christ, that you may be a pattern and example to Christ’s people?

1. How is the quality of my life (in my ministry, at home, with my family, in leisure, with God)?

1. What are the areas of ministry which I find fulfilling?

You might also wish to consider what areas you find difficult or unrewarding. What factors in the situation or in yourself contribute to this fulfilment or lack of fulfilment?

1. What fulfilments do I find with those amongst whom I work and minister?

Are there frustrations it would be helpful to express? What did you learn from feedback?

1. With whom do I share issues in my life and ministry?

What supportive networks do you use and how might they be enhanced?

Competence

They are to baptise 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. They are to bless the people in God’s name. They are to resist evil, support the weak, defend the poor, and intercede for all in need. They are to minister to the sick and prepare the dying for their death.

Do you accept the Holy Scriptures as revealing all things necessary for eternal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ?

Will you be diligent in prayer, in reading Holy Scripture, and in all studies that will deepen your faith and fit you to bear witness to the truth of the gospel?

Will you lead Christ’s people in proclaiming his glorious gospel, so that the good news of salvation may be heard in every place?

1. What objectives do I have for the next two years in my ministry?

It may also be helpful to ask what have been you most important activities and whether your objectives build on these. What do you need to put in place to realise the objectives?

1. What are my long term objectives?

What will you need to do or to learn to realise these?

1. Did I undertake any education or learning recommended in my last MDR?

Will this assist you in realising the vision you have under God for your ministry now? What additional or other professional development needs do you have and what would be helpful in meeting them?

1. What specific steps do I need to take as a result of this review?

Context

With all God’s people, they are to tell the story of God’s love. Guided by the Spirit, they are to discern and foster the gifts of all God’s people - that the whole Church may be built up in unity and faith.

Will you accept and minister the discipline of this Church, and respect authority duly exercised within it?

Will you work with your fellow servants in the gospel for the sake of the kingdom of God?

Will you faithfully minister the doctrine and sacraments of Christ as the Church of England has received them, so that the people committed to your charge may be defended against error and flourish in the faith?

1. What changes do I recognise in my ministerial situation since my last review?

Are these opportunities for growth or ministerial or personal hindrances? What did you learn from feedback?

1. What changes do I recognise in my personal situation, which relate to my ministry?

Are these opportunities for growth or are they ministerial or personal hindrances?

1. What developments have there been in working together with others in mission and ministry?

1. Have I generally taken a weekly day off and my full holiday entitlement?

How is my health and well-being and that of my family? How does this affect my work?

1. What place has current Diocesan vision and strategy played in my ministry in the past eighteen months?

1. How has this vision or strategy impacted on the parish?

CONCLUSION

1. Is there anything you want to tell the Bishop? (Please note that your preparatory material is not normally shared with the Area or Diocesan Bishop.)

1. Are there any other matters to mention?

1. Is there anything to communicate elsewhere e.g. to the Bishop’s Staff Meeting?

1. Are there gifts, skills or experience that you feel could be better utlised and you would like to have drawn o the attention of the Bishop’s Staff?

1

Mission Action Planning Guidance

Mission Action Planning: Guidance

This document sets out the framework for your reflection and offers questions you may wish to ask yourself.

A simple list of headings is included at the end of the document in a form which you can complete and return.

1.Prayer

MAP has four key stages, which are the themes of the following pages, but prayer is central to the whole process. So a key element of MAP is developing the prayer life of the leaders and of the whole church, individually and corporately.

Ask yourself:

• What supports your own prayer life and relationship with God?
• How important is praying together to your congregation?
• Are the members of your Church encouraged to develop a regular practice of prayer and Bible study?

Reflect on this area of your ministry, bringing to the fore the areas which will make the ministry development review meeting most useful for you:

2.Review your situation

1. Listen
2. Assess
3. Values

The first stage in MAP is to review the Church’s situation. This review would include:

• listening to God, the Church members, and the communities and networks that the Church serves.
• assessing the Church’s strengths and weaknesses, perhaps considering:
• recently completed and ongoing projects.
• statistics from Church registers.
• the five marks of mission, signs of a healthy church, or other frameworks.
• reflecting on the purpose of the Church:
• why does this Church exist?
• how does it relate to the community?
• what does it believe?
• how is it enacting the mission priorities of Faith, Hope and Love?

Ask yourself:

• How involved are you in this threefold process of listening? What are you hearing?
• Do you have an objective sense of how your Church is doing?
• What is God’s unique calling to your Church or Parish?
• What have you learned from feedback?

Reflect on this area of your ministry, bringing to the fore the areas which will make the ministry development review meeting most useful for you:

3. Choose Future Priorities

a.Vision

b.Priorities

c.Goals

In the second phase the Church’s leaders prayerfully discern how God wants to shape the Church’s future, considering, for instance, its call to serve the community, respond to pastoral needs, and steward resources. To do this they:

• Produce a vision statement, shared and owned by the congregation, to inspire them and encourage engaging and working together.
• Use the vision statement to set priorities for the next five years, and determine which two or three are most important for the next year. Some activities may need to be trimmed or dropped.
• Write a goal statement for the following year, which sets out what needs to be achieved by when.

To ask yourself:

• Does your Church have a vision statement? Is it inspiring? Realistic?
• How do you set priorities? Does you Church aspire to take on too much, or too little?
• What are your goals for the next year or so? Are they shared by the congregation?

Reflect on this area of your ministry, bringing to the fore the areas which will make the ministry development review meeting most useful for you:

4. Make plans

a.How

b.Actions

c.Communicate

During this phase plans are fleshed out into the lists of actions needed to achieve them by:

• Considering how each goal can be achieved. Identify the steps involved.
• Breaking each step down into a list of actions detailing:
• What needs to be done.
• When it needs to be completed.
• Who is responsible.
• Communicating the vision and plan through announcements, teaching opportunities, home groups, notice sheets and magazines etc.

Ask yourself:

• Does your Church have a plan of action for the next year?
• How collaborative is the ministry of your Parish? How do you recruit and care for volunteers?
• What strategies do you use for communication? Do Church members understand and share the concerns of those holding leadership roles?

Reflect on this area of your ministry, bringing to the fore the areas which will make the ministry development review meeting most useful for you:

1

Mission Action Planning Form

Name: Date of Review:Reviewer:

MISSION ACTION PLANNING FORM

1.Prayer

• What supports your own prayer life and relationship with God?
• How important is praying together to your congregation?
• Are the members of your Church encouraged to develop a regular practice of prayer and Bible study?

2.Review your situation, by listening, assessing and defining values

• How involved are you in this threefold process of listening? What are you hearing?
• Do you have an objective sense of how your Church is doing?
• What is God’s unique calling to your Church or Parish?
• What have you learned from feedback?

1. Choose Future Priorities: vision, priorities and goals

• Does your Church have a vision statement? Is it inspiring? Realistic?
• How do you set priorities? Does you Church aspire to take on too much, or too little?
• What are your goals for the next year or so? Are they shared by the congregation?

4. Make plans with defined actions and communicate them

• Does your Church have a plan of action for the next year?
• How collaborative is the ministry of your Parish? How do you recruit and care for volunteers?
• What strategies do you use for communication? Do Church members understand and share the concerns of those holding leadership roles?

CONCLUSION

1. Is there anything you want to tell the Bishop? (Please note that your preparatory material is not normally shared with the Area or Diocesan Bishop.)

1. Are there any other matters to mention?

1. Is there anything to communicate elsewhere e.g. to the Bishop’s Staff Meeting?

1. Are there gifts, skills or experience that you feel could be better utlised and you would like to have drawn o the attention of the Bishop’s Staff?

1

Pastoral Epistles Guidance

The Pastoral Epistles: Guidance

1 Timothy 1:12-20 12 I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service, 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-- of whom I am the foremost. 16 But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 18 I am giving you these instructions, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies made earlier about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, 19 having faith and a good conscience. By rejecting conscience, certain persons have suffered shipwreck in the faith; 20 among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have turned over to Satan, so that they may learn not to blaspheme.

1 Timothy 3:1-16 The saying is sure: whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task. 2 Now a bishop must be above reproach, married only once, temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an apt teacher, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way-- 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he take care of God's church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace and the snare of the devil. 8 Deacons likewise must be serious, not double-tongued, not indulging in much wine, not greedy for money; 9 they must hold fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let them first be tested; then, if they prove themselves blameless, let them serve as deacons. 11 Women likewise must be serious, not slanderers, but temperate, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons be married only once, and let them manage their children and their households well; 13 for those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. 14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these instructions to you so that, 15 if I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth. 16 Without any doubt, the mystery of our religion is great: He was revealed in flesh, vindicated in spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among Gentiles, believed in throughout the world, taken up in glory.