We’re told that being a member of clergy is the happiest job going (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-26671221), but what do our vicars really go through in their ministry? The Experiences of Ministry Survey, conducted by a team from the Ministry Division of the Archbishops’ Council working with King’s College London, have spent the last four years in a five-year project finding out what best helps clergy do their jobs.
How does the average vicar’s spend his week? What sacrifices do they make and are they seen as worthwhile? Does ongoing training help them in their role? These are just some of the questions that the Clergy Experiences of Ministry project have begun to answer.
What the research is finding is that clergy roles are challenging and demanding in lots of different ways and require frequent sacrifices. Administrative work is a significant area of ministry that many clergy find. Yet the vast majority of clergy continue to recognise very strong and clear calls to ministry, acknowledge considerable autonomy and support from colleagues within their roles, and remain highly engaged towards the main tasks they undertake.
Central to this project is the recognition that ministry may encompass a diverse range of tasks, identities and settings, both between different groups of clergy but also across an individual role, and that these tasks, identities and settings are likely to further change across a life spent engaged in ministry. The survey is therefore sent to chaplains, active retired clergy, assistant ministers and not just stipendiary incumbents.
The project is already helping us to understand better how to support clergy, to identify good practice in continuing ministerial development and to share this with dioceses. We’ve been learning that ministry development really does make a difference when it’s of high quality and properly resourced. It is also providing insights that are leading to innovative support being developed such as Sheffield diocese’s project to appoint administrators to release clergy for mission.
In Sheffield Diocese two appointments have already been made to support the church to grow by releasing clergy from other burdens.
Kathryn Heath was the first to be appointed – to the Redhouse Partnership. “It was a steep learning curve but we’ve already brought the church fees procedure up to date and we’re now developing a partnership website. I’m starting to get known in the parishes as the first point of contact on several key areas of work”.
Val Simpkins started as a Development Worker with the Beakon Partnership last month. Val said “It’s a very varied role, working across a number of churches but within the first few weeks we’ve been able to find ways of bringing processes together in a more efficient manner”
These are just some early fruits of this work. Please do encourage clergy you know to take part, more details:
http://www.ministrydevelopment.org.uk/emsurvey
Dr Tim Ling, National Adviser for Continuing Ministerial Development
Ministry Division