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'After many years as a hands-on Christian minister, Alan Bartlett writes of what he knows well and loves wisely.' PROFESSOR WALTER MOBERLY
'Magisterial' CHURCH TIMES
The Church has long been talking about the oncoming challenges of providing ordained ministers to lead and enable local churches. Now structural change is really happening: but those at the sharp end - 'vicars' - are often bewildered and demoralized.
This book celebrates the tradition of English Anglican ordained pastoral ministry; it also affirms the value of vicars' ministry and way of life, and the great gift they have for relating to our communities and churches. The 'vicar' (parish priest, pastor, minister) still leads people - those who 'come to church' and those who don't - in prayer and praise, cares for them in their sufferings and rejoices with them in their joys. This deep wisdom has sustained the Church for centuries.
Yet, the question must be asked: how can we be better equipped to make prudent decisions about the way church ministry has to evolve now?
Preface v
Part 1
THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS
1 Introduction 3
2 Whose world is it anyway? 17
3 What on earth is the Church for? 33
4 The mysteries of place 49
5 Signs of the kingdom 65
Part 2
WHAT DO VICARS ACTUALLY DO?
6 In persona Christi - and not 81
7 No more FKB ('Father knows best') 94
8 The Chief Exec? 106
9 Joy and throne and hair shirt: the Bible and vicaring 116
10 Sacraments of the present moment 131
11 'You're the man who talks about God': evangelism neither bashful nor cheesy 145
Part 3
WHAT SORTS OF PEOPLE ARE VICARS?
12 Self-fulfilment or self-sacrifice or self-fulfilment? 157
13 Are vicars sad? 173
14 'Do justice... love kindness... walk humbly with your God' 183
15 Jesus-likeness 191
CONCLUSION
16 Success? 203
Notes 212