Tent Making Ministy 4

 A Renewal of the Tent Maker Tradition 

With the greater part of society existing outside the organised life of the church, there appears to be a growing need for across-cultural ministry grounded within the congregational of the faithful but able to communicate the gospel in incarnational terms. Through such a ministry, substance is given to the latent Word found within all humankind. 

The example of this can be plainly seen in the life of Jesus Christ, who was able to naturally cross the cultural barriers and frequently accompany people at every level of society just where they were. For the Non-stipendiary Minister engaged in some other work there are two aspects of pastoral care distinct from those engaged in full-time stipendiary ministry. 

The first is the process of enabling the laity to share with others the problems and achievements of their working or community life. I suggest that in order to be able to fulfil their vocation with awareness, the scattered church members need an ordained ministry that recognises the value of their task and actively promotes an internal church life that sustains them as agents of the world's potential in God's name. It has been advocated  that the presidency of a Non-Stipendiary minister at the communion service has a strong contribution to be made in this area for the one who breaks bread on a Sunday is also the one who is at the work bench or office desk on a Monday,

I recall a stipendiary minister of many years service speaking of a growing gulf between him and his congregation. He knew that his existence was secure, compared with many in his congregation who faced efficiency targets, vulnerable security and all too often faced redundancy. The Non-stipendiary Minister faces the same predicament as his/her congregation and in this sense can be truly representative and a focus of ministry with, through and by the Christian Community. 

The Pastoral Task in Action The second aspect that I feel needs liberating within the Non-stipendiary Minister `s ministry is that their day-to-day employment is not merely the means of earning a living but forms an integral part of her/his ordination. There is a need to end what could be termed, ministerial schizophrenia, where the identity and integrity of a Non-stipendiary Minister is brought into question. 

Twelve years on from leaving as head of St Loye’s College, I am still contacted by former colleagues or their families in need of pastoral support, particularly at times of crisis, for those who have no other church affiliation,

All too often there is a  tension within congregations in the  way that a local community of faith understands its existence, its dynamic and its locus of operation. This is also true as to its expectation of the ordained ministry, albeit paid or unpaid. 

A simple way of defining the way a church operates is to compare activity by what has been called the sheep farming models of Britain and Australia and therefore to have a clearer picture of the scope of pastoral care for the ordained Non-stipendiary Minister. 

The British model is of an enclosed sheepfold with definite boundaries and capacity. Here the pastoral care is inward looking and subject to a gate-keeping mentality. This model leaves little scope to operate flexible patterns of ministry. Within the Australian model there are no boundaries as the ‘flock’ is centred on a well with scope for variety of mission and extended ministry. The sheep roam where they will but know where to find water that sustains life.

Whilst Jesus in the parable of the Good Shepherd speaks of a fold, he also tells of seeking the lost sheep. He also said, “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” John 10:6

Help us, with simple words, to explain the warmth within our hearts that we experienced in that first encounter with your love and grace - the Spirit’s flame, still burning bright within - that others, in their own journeys of discovery might reach out and touch the hand that’s always there, and be embraced by love.