Of course you preach the gospel prayerfully in the power of the Spirit and leave the results to him.
But you do a whole load of other stuff too. What really matters?
Humanly speaking, what are the few keys to church growth?
Maybe they include:
(1) Church services and events generally have a good positive feel. People are glad they came and would like to come again. It is the kind of thing they feel they could invite others too.
(2) The qualities of love and friendship are impressive and outward looking. There is a really warm welcome and people are invited in to quality relationships.
What else would you include?
I guess its more than really good flyers and posters - though of course we want those too. I seem to remember our Diocisan Mission and Renewal Advisor saying that he normally finds a touching faith in the power of publicity in parishes. We put up a notice, but the church did not grow. Why?
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Mission & Missional and all that: STOP IT!
There is much talk of Mission Shaped Church and Mission Action Plans and even being "Missional", whatever that is supposed to mean. If you speak like this next you will be "doing ministry." But that is another story.
But how much difference does it all make in real ministry?
Research by CPAS suggests that 60-70% of church vision statements make no real difference.
So much of the the pastor's work is probably concerned with keeping the show on the road and the church will tend to try to do what it has always done whether it works or not.
The thing is to hold before oneself the mission of Christ and his church: the call to make disciples.
And then we need to ask, "Does this contribute to disciple-making?" If not we need to consider STOPPING IT. We even need to ask "Is this the most effective way to contribute to disciple-making?".
No doubt the 8am Communion for the 6 customers is a good thing that could contribute to disciple-making, but is it the best use of everyone's time and energy? Would you start it for the sake of mission if it didn't exist? Have you ever considered STOPPING IT.
But how much difference does it all make in real ministry?
Research by CPAS suggests that 60-70% of church vision statements make no real difference.
So much of the the pastor's work is probably concerned with keeping the show on the road and the church will tend to try to do what it has always done whether it works or not.
The thing is to hold before oneself the mission of Christ and his church: the call to make disciples.
And then we need to ask, "Does this contribute to disciple-making?" If not we need to consider STOPPING IT. We even need to ask "Is this the most effective way to contribute to disciple-making?".
No doubt the 8am Communion for the 6 customers is a good thing that could contribute to disciple-making, but is it the best use of everyone's time and energy? Would you start it for the sake of mission if it didn't exist? Have you ever considered STOPPING IT.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
How to lead a service
Be well prepared but able to be flexible.
The feel and atmosphere of the service matters a lot and you can affect that by what you do and say, how you dress and your whole bearing. Be friendly and in control, relaxed but deliberate. We neither want to be pompous and terrified of making a mistake nor a sloppy shambles.
You should cast yourself as a minster of the Gospel, not as a quiz show host, entertainer, lecturer or bully. It is not about putting on a show but (a) worshiping God with reverecne and awe (b) helping people, ministering to them for their edification. Always keep in mind the newcomer, vistor and unbeliever, even if you think there may not be any! But focus on God's people if this is the Lord's Day service of covenant renewal.
Think of yourself as a father presiding at a family feast. That is what this is. It is solemn and jolly.
The mood should be serious and purposeful but not miserable or oppresive. The service can have more lighthearted moments. You may even venture a joke in the notices.
Sometimes you might address the children.
Start on time even if half the congregation is not there. If you wait for latecomers the service will start later and later and punctuality will be disincentiveised. Keeping to time is a matter of keeping your word. Likewise, what end-time are you aiming for and how worried are you about sticking to it? Most people will expect the service to be about an hour. I do not think you should exceed 1 hr 15 mins except in the most exceptional circumstances in most C of E churches. What could you drop if people are drooping and the service is into its second hour?
Do you know who else is taking part in the service? Do they know what to do and when?
Make sure your microphone is on and off at appropriate times. Do you operate that or does the sound person? Will they actually manage to turn you off for hymns and will they always miss the first line of anything you say?
How are you going to come in? A formal procession? Walk decisively to the place from which you are going to lead the service. A stall or seat or lectern or the middle somewhere? People might automatically stand up when you come in. Do you start straight away or pause to pray or fiddle with your papers and watch or whatever?
Have a clear formal start. Smile. Welcome people. Be deliberate in your first words: "Good Morning and welcome to St Swithin without the Wardrobe Parish Church." Be loud enough, don't shout. Be nice.
If there are a significant number of guests or visitiors you might introduce yourself: "My name's Marc and I'm the Vicar here"
Notices might be best got out of the way at this point. You may say something about creche and children etc.
Don't be in too much of a rush but get on with it.
Does the congregation need to be pointed to page 7 of the service books or the service sheet or the screen or is all that obvious? Do they know that they join in with the words in bold type?
If the service always starts on p7 and everyone has been here for 50 years then "The Lord is here" is a perfectly good beginning.
Make your links breif and to the point. "We join together in singing hymn number 235" is perfectly acceptable from time to time. Sometimes you might read out the title or first line or first verse.
If something in a hymn really needs explaining (e.g. "here I raise my Ebeneezer") please do. But, again, don't define every vaguely tricky word in every hymn all the time.
People do not generally want 10 sermons in the service. Let the preacher preach.
People need to know when you want them to stand or sit etc. Over time I would suggest you train the congregation to always stand as soon as the first note plays and remain staning unless told to do otherwise. When you tell them to kneel many will disobediently sit! If you want them to remain standing you might say "we remain standing for to affirm our faith / for the Gospel reading." It is worth making "As we stand..." the first thing you say if half of them are inclined to automatically sit.
If you want to ask them to stand it is best to say "Please stand" and wait for them to do so. If you say "We stand to sing hymn no 235 When I survey the wondrous cross, look especially at v8...." some people will stand at the start of your sentence and some people will stand half way through the first verse.
Think about how you will introduce responses. What do the congregation expect? Will you say, "We join together in saying the prayer in the middle of page 88, saying..."? Or will you just lead into the words with bold type: "As our Saviour taught us, so we pray: Our Father...". Or will you just launch into stuff and expect them to join in? Do they know what you say and what they say and what you say together?
Stage directions can be included in an order of service.
The sermon is jolly important but it is not the only thing or the be all and end all.
The service should ideally have a logic and coherence. It has an order and a goal. It is not just one thing after another or a random assortment. You don't have to give a running commentary but sometimes you might bring that out. For example, you might say after the absolution, "So conscious of God's forgiveness, we sing his praises with hymn number 235."
Themes from the readings or sermon or day might influence the choice of hymns.
At some point in the service you might link one of the hymns to the readings. Your opening Scripture sentences, invitation to confession, confession and absolution, creed and blessing can all be chosen to reflect themes of the service, day, readings or sermon.
Obviously you will want to observe your ordination vows and use only those forms of service which are authorised or allowed by canon. In practice on a Sunday this will normally mean a minimum of authorised confession and absolution, creed, the Lord's Prayer and a blessing.
End. Walk out.
The feel and atmosphere of the service matters a lot and you can affect that by what you do and say, how you dress and your whole bearing. Be friendly and in control, relaxed but deliberate. We neither want to be pompous and terrified of making a mistake nor a sloppy shambles.
You should cast yourself as a minster of the Gospel, not as a quiz show host, entertainer, lecturer or bully. It is not about putting on a show but (a) worshiping God with reverecne and awe (b) helping people, ministering to them for their edification. Always keep in mind the newcomer, vistor and unbeliever, even if you think there may not be any! But focus on God's people if this is the Lord's Day service of covenant renewal.
Think of yourself as a father presiding at a family feast. That is what this is. It is solemn and jolly.
The mood should be serious and purposeful but not miserable or oppresive. The service can have more lighthearted moments. You may even venture a joke in the notices.
Sometimes you might address the children.
Start on time even if half the congregation is not there. If you wait for latecomers the service will start later and later and punctuality will be disincentiveised. Keeping to time is a matter of keeping your word. Likewise, what end-time are you aiming for and how worried are you about sticking to it? Most people will expect the service to be about an hour. I do not think you should exceed 1 hr 15 mins except in the most exceptional circumstances in most C of E churches. What could you drop if people are drooping and the service is into its second hour?
Do you know who else is taking part in the service? Do they know what to do and when?
Make sure your microphone is on and off at appropriate times. Do you operate that or does the sound person? Will they actually manage to turn you off for hymns and will they always miss the first line of anything you say?
How are you going to come in? A formal procession? Walk decisively to the place from which you are going to lead the service. A stall or seat or lectern or the middle somewhere? People might automatically stand up when you come in. Do you start straight away or pause to pray or fiddle with your papers and watch or whatever?
Have a clear formal start. Smile. Welcome people. Be deliberate in your first words: "Good Morning and welcome to St Swithin without the Wardrobe Parish Church." Be loud enough, don't shout. Be nice.
If there are a significant number of guests or visitiors you might introduce yourself: "My name's Marc and I'm the Vicar here"
Notices might be best got out of the way at this point. You may say something about creche and children etc.
Don't be in too much of a rush but get on with it.
Does the congregation need to be pointed to page 7 of the service books or the service sheet or the screen or is all that obvious? Do they know that they join in with the words in bold type?
If the service always starts on p7 and everyone has been here for 50 years then "The Lord is here" is a perfectly good beginning.
Make your links breif and to the point. "We join together in singing hymn number 235" is perfectly acceptable from time to time. Sometimes you might read out the title or first line or first verse.
If something in a hymn really needs explaining (e.g. "here I raise my Ebeneezer") please do. But, again, don't define every vaguely tricky word in every hymn all the time.
People do not generally want 10 sermons in the service. Let the preacher preach.
People need to know when you want them to stand or sit etc. Over time I would suggest you train the congregation to always stand as soon as the first note plays and remain staning unless told to do otherwise. When you tell them to kneel many will disobediently sit! If you want them to remain standing you might say "we remain standing for to affirm our faith / for the Gospel reading." It is worth making "As we stand..." the first thing you say if half of them are inclined to automatically sit.
If you want to ask them to stand it is best to say "Please stand" and wait for them to do so. If you say "We stand to sing hymn no 235 When I survey the wondrous cross, look especially at v8...." some people will stand at the start of your sentence and some people will stand half way through the first verse.
Think about how you will introduce responses. What do the congregation expect? Will you say, "We join together in saying the prayer in the middle of page 88, saying..."? Or will you just lead into the words with bold type: "As our Saviour taught us, so we pray: Our Father...". Or will you just launch into stuff and expect them to join in? Do they know what you say and what they say and what you say together?
Stage directions can be included in an order of service.
The sermon is jolly important but it is not the only thing or the be all and end all.
The service should ideally have a logic and coherence. It has an order and a goal. It is not just one thing after another or a random assortment. You don't have to give a running commentary but sometimes you might bring that out. For example, you might say after the absolution, "So conscious of God's forgiveness, we sing his praises with hymn number 235."
Themes from the readings or sermon or day might influence the choice of hymns.
At some point in the service you might link one of the hymns to the readings. Your opening Scripture sentences, invitation to confession, confession and absolution, creed and blessing can all be chosen to reflect themes of the service, day, readings or sermon.
Obviously you will want to observe your ordination vows and use only those forms of service which are authorised or allowed by canon. In practice on a Sunday this will normally mean a minimum of authorised confession and absolution, creed, the Lord's Prayer and a blessing.
End. Walk out.
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Expository Jottings on Revelation 22:12-end
Audio sermon available here
In the lectionary reading for today we come to the
triumphant finale of the book of the Revelation and of the Bible.
Like a great composer, John or God, depending on how you
think about it, revisits some of the great themes of his symphony and gives
them one last blast and brings the whole thing to a wonderful conclusion.
A conclusion that demands a response from us: yes, a
standing ovation and cries of “Encore!” and “Bravo!” (feel free after the
sermon!) but much more than that:
A response of our whole heart, soul, mind and strength:
Our intellects, emotions, wills, thoughts, plans, dreams,
actions, words – all are affected by this great anthem.
We too are to echo its themes.
I hope God’s tune will get stuck in your head and you’ll
be able to hum it to yourself this week, and perhaps even to improvise on it.
This sermon is a running commentary on the text.
It makes no pretense to any structure or headings other
than the Bible’s own.
So it might seem a bit less like an incoherent jumble if
you follow it in the Bible.
P1250.
Here are the notes John has laid down for us.
I hope to play them all and some of them I’ll hold for
longer than others and some I’ll give a jolly good bang.
V12 – The Lord Jesus Christ himself speaking:
John has been speaking earlier in v8 but if its not
obvious from the content, look at v16 and you can confirm that this is Jesus
speaking.
“Behold, I am coming soon!”
The Bible talks about various different comings of God
and of the Lord Jesus Christ.
e.g. his birth – his first coming
came to Jerusalem in his earthly ministry
predicted that he would come again to Jerusalem in
judgement
AD 70
Much of the book of Revleation, I suspect, is actually
about that
But Jesus also spoke of his Second Coming
End of the world
“He will come again in glory to judge the living and the
dead”
“soon”
2000 years is not soon in my diary
I might adopt that approach when someone asks me to do
something
“I’ll do it soon” – 2 millenia
AD 70 was soon – within a generation of Jesus, maybe
within a few years of John’s writing
2000 years not long in God’s terms
That’s the blink of an eye to him
Older people’s perspective on time
To them my 35 years are but a moment
The Vicar is still a lad!
Policemen are looking young
(Wedding couples)
To a 90 year old the 2nd world war might feel
like only yesterday even though it was 70 years ago
God eternal, timeless, unchangeable
God never early or late, always right on time
All time is present to him
God is never in a hurry
He always (literally) has all the time in the world
A thousand years like a day
2nd coming “soon”
No one knows the date or the hour
Could be any minute
God showing mercy to a thousand generations
A generation 30, 40, 50, 60 years?
30 000 years
We’re planning for a lot more generations of faithful
Lloyds!
The Second coming might be today but I guess
We’ve only just started
The church is barely out of nappies
It’s not surprising she keeps squabbling and falling out
and mucking things up
She’s a toddler
We’ve all got a lot more growing up to do
Growing pains, teething troubles
Perhaps the Reformation was the adolescence of the church
May God bring us to greater maturity and unity
V12b
Justification by grace alone through faith alone in
Christ alone
A free gift
We never earn or deserve our salvation
Judgement according to works
Above all we will be judged by what we have done with
Jesus
Have we followed him?
Obviously not perfectly, but really?
What has Jesus done in and through you?
In the portacabin where I had Sunday School there was a
poster:
Cartoon judge
“If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there
be enough evidence to convict you?”
A searching question, isn’t it?
It obviously stuck in my mind.
What real difference has Jesus made in your life this
last week?
What difference will he make next week?
Not just secretly in your heart, but the kind of thing we
could point a stick at in a court of law – public observable evidence
And don’t just say you came to church for an hour on
Sunday!
That’s a great start!
Did you read your Bible or pray in between?
Did you speak to anyone about Jesus?
Did your commitment to Jesus change the way you treated
your spouse, or parents, or kids, or neighbours, or even the mother in law?
How did it affect the way you do business?
Where you a Christian builder / judge / teacher / car
park person / carer / housewife / nurse / accountant / … / this week?
(Have you even started to think about what that would
mean? – Good Book Club!)
Or how you treat the gardener or cleaner?
Or your boss?
Jesus really does expect our commitment to him to be
visible in what we DO and SAY.
We should see our Christianity from our diary and our
bank statement but we should also see it running through everything.
For example, on the great final day, you might be able to
say for a decade I photocopied the church notice sheet for you, Jesus.
No one really knew I did it.
I didn’t enjoy doing it.
It wasn’t my gift.
But I knew it needed doing, so I did it happily with a
smile on my face.
I was converted, wasn’t I, Jesus?
No one in their right mind would have done that, except
for love for you.
Works the evidence of a changed heart
Justification by faith alone, but the faith that saves is
never alone
e.g. even the thief on the cross – his words
Not faith + good works = salvation
But salvation = faith + good works
v13
Jesus the A & the Z
Jesus is the beginning and the end.
The originator and the completer.
The creator and the redeemer.
The start and the goal.
The promise and the fulfilment.
All things were created by him and for him that in all
things he might have the supremacy.
Jesus is the whole story.
He’s the underlying principle, the organising genius, the
theme, the motif.
He is the author, the playwright, the producer, director,
choreographer.
He gives the universe its coherence and reason, purpose.
He is all in all.
V14
“Blessed” = “Happy” – truly happy, real fulfilment, joy,
security, the good life
Not… small holding in the countryside or a secure
retirement
Forgiveness – a wash
J b f a again!
Our righteousness as filthy rags
Scarlet stains as white as wool, as snow
There’s an asymmetry:
All those who are shut out deserve it
None of those who are let in deserve it
Yet they are really Jesus’ people, really changed by him
They are sinners saved by grace – and the work of grace
in them is apparent
Do you remember what John Newton, the former slave-trader
who wrote Amazing Grace said:
“I am not what I ought to
be,
I am not what I want to be,
I am not what I hope to
be in another world;
but still I am not what I
once used to be,
and by the grace of God I
am what I am”
Always simultaneously righteous and a sinner having the
alien righteousness of Christ (Luther)
A right
To the tree of life
And to go through the gates of the city
A tree and a city, both
The Bible begins with a garden and ends with a garden
city
Tree of life – Eden
Eternal life
What was forbidden to the 1st man because of
his sin is now permitted to mankind because of the saviour.
The first Adam could not eat of that tree but the Last
Adam has given the sons of Adam the right to eat.
Paradise restored.
Only better!
Eden 2.0
Eden upgraded, mature, complete, full
City – community, people
If you get Jesus you get his friends thrown in!
Sorry about that!
This lot are part of the package!
A city also implies a civilization, a way of life, a
culture
The way we do things around here
Kingdom manners and habits and style
Mature, complete, developed
One degree of glory to another
Christ’s Kingdom come here on earth as in heaven
The New Creation won’t be like the Amish
There’ll be IPads or the latest equivalent!
V15 – Some will be shut out
Not automatic entry
Gates open wide, but you have to show your invite
You have to observe the dress code
Could you do that?
Have you accepted Jesus’ invite?
Have you put on clean robes washed in the blood of the
lamb?
Not literally dogs – dogs will be in! – a term of abuse!
Biblical abuse!
Interesting, isn’t it: the Bible calls people horrible
names!
Dogs – not as in our culture – splendid Caleb the dog! –
scavengers on rubbish tips, pariahs, unclean
Magicians – phew!
Sexually immoral? You? Fantasies? If you knew you
wouldn’t be found out?
Murder in your heart?
Idolaters – mental as well as metal idols
Those who love and practice falsehood – say whatever’s
easiest
V16
Jesus the root and offspring of David
A very odd expression
Both root and offspring:
Root and shoot
The seed and the bud
Ancestor and descendent
Great king David’s greater son
The Eternal Son of God is also the Son of Man, the Son of
David
Jesus the bright Morning Star
The Morning Star is a bright planet esp. Venus that
appears in the East just before sunrise
He heralds the dawn of eternity
This world-order was merely the prelude, the first
movement
First Fruits
1st bluebell in the wood – it’ll soon be full
of them!
V17
The bride – the church
The Bible the greatest love story ever told
A romance, a love affair
God woos his bride
Gives her everything
Wayward, tart, harlot, unfaithful
God should have divorced her
Jesus lays down his life for his bride
The greatest fairy story ever - They turn out to be true!
Jesus is the knight who kills the dragon and gets the
girl
For her it’s a rags to riches story
For him it’s a riches to rags to riches story
She gets a royal name
She gets great wealth
He gets death!
Yet through death he wins the greatest victory of all
He washes and beautifies her
Both a wounded and bloodied, but only Jesus’ wounds
remain, the glorious tokens of his victory
She is made whole by his brokenness
The Spirit and the bride agree
The Spirit teaches us to pray like this
God and the church are at one
V17 – response say “Come!”
Do you want the future this book describes?
Are you willing to entrust yourself to Jesus?
Do you want Jesus?
If I were an American preacher I would say “Can I get an
AMEN?”
That’s the response God is looking for.
Not necessarily vocal but volitional, a yes from our
souls!
Thirsty?
Free drink of the water of life.
FREE!
Really free.
There is some small print!
But it is really free.
What could be easier?
Come, take, drink!
We can all manage that, can’t we?
Jesus is water in a dry land.
Water when all the other cisterns are cracked and dry.
All the other drinks turn out to be poison.
Much that is apparently good water is salty and only
increases our thirst.
We are insatiably thirsty.
V18-19 – a warning
V20 – Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Will you echo those words?
The note on which to end this sermon is perhaps the same
note on which John ends the book of the Revelation:
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.
A prayer before preaching on Revelation 22
O Lord, God of the Spirits of the prophets, we thank you
for the trustworthy and true words of testimony the book of the Revelation of
Jesus Christ, which you sent your angel to show your servant for the churches
what must soon take place.
May we know the blessings of keeping the words of this
book, we pray, neither adding to them nor taking away from them, but living
faithfully in the light of them all, for Jesus’ name’s sake, Amen.
Thursday, May 09, 2013
John Owen on the Ascension
Slightly overstated, perhaps, but good stuff:
On the Person and Work of Christ, works, vol 1, pp. 235 and 252 quoted in Chester & Woodrow, Ascension, p10
The assumption of our Lord Jesus Christ into glory, or his glorious reception in heaven, with his state and condition therein, is a principle article of the faith of the church - the great foundation of its hope and consolation in this world... The darkness of our faith herein is the cause of all our disconsolations, and most of our weaknesses in obedience.
On the Person and Work of Christ, works, vol 1, pp. 235 and 252 quoted in Chester & Woodrow, Ascension, p10
The Ascension: Humanity in the Presence of God
Mr Timothy Chester and Mr Jonny Woodrow have written a little book of said title, which naturally I shall be reading today ahead of tonight's Ascension Day service and sermon, the Lord being my helper.
The chapter headings / sermon (!) are:
(1) Ascended Priest
(2) Ascended King
(3) Ascended Man
Conclusion: Who May Ascend?
And there's a newly written Ascension Hymn by Mr Chester which makes those chapter's singable to lots of well known tunes.
The chapter headings / sermon (!) are:
(1) Ascended Priest
(2) Ascended King
(3) Ascended Man
Conclusion: Who May Ascend?
And there's a newly written Ascension Hymn by Mr Chester which makes those chapter's singable to lots of well known tunes.
Wednesday, May 08, 2013
Ascension Sermon Notes
St Augustine of Hippo once said:
Ascension
Day... is "that festival which confirms the grace of all the festivals
together, without which the profitableness of every festival would have
perished. For unless the Saviour had ascended into heaven, his nativity would
have come to nothing ... and his passion would have borne no fruit for us, and
his most holy resurrection would have been useless."
The ascension
completes the death and resurrection of Jesus.
The resurrection
and ascension prove that the cross worked.
When Jesus ascends
to heaven he sits down.
His work is done.
The ascension is
Jesus’ enthronement.
Now Jesus, the
God-man, sits enthroned in heaven at the Right Hand of the Majesty of the Glory
of God.
The ascension guarantees the return of the Lord Jesus as
judge (Acts 1v11).
May God grant that we might know Jesus as our King who is
also our friend and our brother.
That we might bow the knee to him in all things, that we
would serve him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.
And that he might use us to bring others under the sway of
the King of love, that they might know the blessings of his perfect peace.
Preparing For A Mission Sermon Series
We are hoping to take part in the Passion For Life Mission at Easter 2014 and to have a team of students from Oak Hill College to help us.
I am thinking of preaching a series of topical sermons to help us prepare.
My subjects might be:
God's Mission & Ours
What is the gospel?
Who should share the gospel with whom?
Why should I share the gospel?
How can I share the gospel?
Answering tough questions
(could be a few sermons on specific questions)
Mission Issues
What might yours be?
I am thinking of preaching a series of topical sermons to help us prepare.
My subjects might be:
God's Mission & Ours
What is the gospel?
Who should share the gospel with whom?
Why should I share the gospel?
How can I share the gospel?
Answering tough questions
(could be a few sermons on specific questions)
Mission Issues
What might yours be?
How to chair a PCC meeting
You should know the rules and conventions (and be able to distinguish between them!).
Plan the agenda carefully. What order of items would be most fruitful? For example, you could put a couple of quick easy wins first. If there is a major controversial item, where will that be on the agenda? What will be before or after? Don't leave important urgent matters to the last 5 minutes when everyone is tired if you want to make the best decisions.
Sometimes you might take a break durring a meeting or pause to pray about something.
You might put possible timings on the agenda either for your own use or for the whole PCC. Sometimes you might say "I think we ought to move on", "Let's come back to this next time, next year etc.", "Why don't you and I discuss that after the meeting, Dave", "Jenny, if you put down some specific proposals we'll ask the Standing Committee to take a look at them, shall we?".
Generally speaking the chair should ensure that only one person speaks at once and that people know who has the floor. Of course there could be times to break into pairs or groups or ask people to write down their thoughts.
Sometimes you might go round the table and ask everyone to speak if they will. You might also invite anyone who hasn't yet contributed to speak. You might ask people by name what they think, especially if they have some kind of involvement or insight into the issue.
The chair might have a role in ensuring good manners, no one should be rude or disrespectful or swear or fight or spit. The chair may also wish to challenge errors of fact or failures of charity. For example, if someone impugns someone's motives one might say "but we can't make windows into men's souls" or if someone is not there to defend themselves you might say "but I imagine Betty would have a different version of events." As ever you should be cautious about "everyone thinks" and "people are saying".
Sometimes the chair may need to keep people on task though general philosophical discussions have their place. You might ask if someone wishes to propose a motion. You might propose one yourself.
The business of the PCC needs to be suffuciently prepared, but they won't like it if they feel everything is stitched up and they are just a rubber stamp.
Sometimes the chair might need to check that something has been minuted - or not!
The chair should also take care to flag up anything especially confidential.
The feel and mood are important. You want people to have confidence in your fair chairmanship even when you feel very strongly about something. You don't want to chair the meeting like an oppressive tyrant. Relationships are important as well as business.
For some items you might offer to or insist on resigning the chair or even leave the room.
I strongly reccomend that you establish some standing orders or conventions e.g. any items of Any Other Business must be notified to the Chair at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting; all meetings will end at 10pm if not before whatever the state of discussion. It is probably also good to have a rule about not voting on the same issue say for another year.
You should probably begin and end the meeting with prayer and maybe a Bible reading and a short talk or thought - though this is not the place for political speaches. It is an abuse to use the opening devotions to tell people how to vote on motion 4b unless the Bible is very clear on the matter.
You should think about when, where and how often you want to meet. Do you set the dates for the whole year? Do you varry the day of the week for people who always go to choir on a Tuesday?
Business will tend to expand to fill the time available. Think carefully about how often you need a finance or building report. What are the reports for?
Sometimes you might have different kinds of meetings: PCC prayer meeting, Bible Study, Review Meeting, Planning Meeting, Mission Action Plan meeting, Away Day, Vision Day etc.
Sometimes you might get in an outside speaker or fascilitator.
Plan the agenda carefully. What order of items would be most fruitful? For example, you could put a couple of quick easy wins first. If there is a major controversial item, where will that be on the agenda? What will be before or after? Don't leave important urgent matters to the last 5 minutes when everyone is tired if you want to make the best decisions.
Sometimes you might take a break durring a meeting or pause to pray about something.
You might put possible timings on the agenda either for your own use or for the whole PCC. Sometimes you might say "I think we ought to move on", "Let's come back to this next time, next year etc.", "Why don't you and I discuss that after the meeting, Dave", "Jenny, if you put down some specific proposals we'll ask the Standing Committee to take a look at them, shall we?".
Generally speaking the chair should ensure that only one person speaks at once and that people know who has the floor. Of course there could be times to break into pairs or groups or ask people to write down their thoughts.
Sometimes you might go round the table and ask everyone to speak if they will. You might also invite anyone who hasn't yet contributed to speak. You might ask people by name what they think, especially if they have some kind of involvement or insight into the issue.
The chair might have a role in ensuring good manners, no one should be rude or disrespectful or swear or fight or spit. The chair may also wish to challenge errors of fact or failures of charity. For example, if someone impugns someone's motives one might say "but we can't make windows into men's souls" or if someone is not there to defend themselves you might say "but I imagine Betty would have a different version of events." As ever you should be cautious about "everyone thinks" and "people are saying".
Sometimes the chair may need to keep people on task though general philosophical discussions have their place. You might ask if someone wishes to propose a motion. You might propose one yourself.
The business of the PCC needs to be suffuciently prepared, but they won't like it if they feel everything is stitched up and they are just a rubber stamp.
Sometimes the chair might need to check that something has been minuted - or not!
The chair should also take care to flag up anything especially confidential.
The feel and mood are important. You want people to have confidence in your fair chairmanship even when you feel very strongly about something. You don't want to chair the meeting like an oppressive tyrant. Relationships are important as well as business.
For some items you might offer to or insist on resigning the chair or even leave the room.
I strongly reccomend that you establish some standing orders or conventions e.g. any items of Any Other Business must be notified to the Chair at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting; all meetings will end at 10pm if not before whatever the state of discussion. It is probably also good to have a rule about not voting on the same issue say for another year.
You should probably begin and end the meeting with prayer and maybe a Bible reading and a short talk or thought - though this is not the place for political speaches. It is an abuse to use the opening devotions to tell people how to vote on motion 4b unless the Bible is very clear on the matter.
You should think about when, where and how often you want to meet. Do you set the dates for the whole year? Do you varry the day of the week for people who always go to choir on a Tuesday?
Business will tend to expand to fill the time available. Think carefully about how often you need a finance or building report. What are the reports for?
Sometimes you might have different kinds of meetings: PCC prayer meeting, Bible Study, Review Meeting, Planning Meeting, Mission Action Plan meeting, Away Day, Vision Day etc.
Sometimes you might get in an outside speaker or fascilitator.
Vicar skills
What are the most important things for most Vicars to be able to do?
Obviously it all depends. You can try to play to your strengths and compensate for your weaknesses. If you have a staff team, some things could be delegated almost entirely.
"apt to teach"
Can preach
Teach the Bible
Lead small group Bible studies
Teach the Bible informally one to one
Pray
Plan and lead public worship including occasional offices (baptisms, weddings, funerals etc.)
Leadership
Recruit, monitor, train & motivate others
"equip the saints for the works of ministry" by teaching the word
Set vision and direction
Mission Action Planning
Able to work with others in healthy fruitrful ways
Communicates
Can relate to people to do them good
Ideally people of all sort of ages and backgrounds, men and women etc.
Pastoral care including showing love and teaching the Bible and praying with people
does the "work of an evangelist" including making the most of occasional offices
Hospitality
Adequate organisation and admin (e.g. fees, banns, churchyard)
Self-motivation
Self-awareness
Able to exercise a public role in church and wider community
an example to the flock
Can chair meetings such as the PCC or arrange for others to do so well
Role specific tasks: e.g. is he expected to be a school governor, take assemblies, serve on various committies
What else would you include? What are the real priorities and essentials?
How much are these things a matter of nature or gifting and how much can they be learned and how?
Obviously it all depends. You can try to play to your strengths and compensate for your weaknesses. If you have a staff team, some things could be delegated almost entirely.
"apt to teach"
Can preach
Teach the Bible
Lead small group Bible studies
Teach the Bible informally one to one
Pray
Plan and lead public worship including occasional offices (baptisms, weddings, funerals etc.)
Leadership
Recruit, monitor, train & motivate others
"equip the saints for the works of ministry" by teaching the word
Set vision and direction
Mission Action Planning
Able to work with others in healthy fruitrful ways
Communicates
Can relate to people to do them good
Ideally people of all sort of ages and backgrounds, men and women etc.
Pastoral care including showing love and teaching the Bible and praying with people
does the "work of an evangelist" including making the most of occasional offices
Hospitality
Adequate organisation and admin (e.g. fees, banns, churchyard)
Self-motivation
Self-awareness
Able to exercise a public role in church and wider community
an example to the flock
Can chair meetings such as the PCC or arrange for others to do so well
Role specific tasks: e.g. is he expected to be a school governor, take assemblies, serve on various committies
What else would you include? What are the real priorities and essentials?
How much are these things a matter of nature or gifting and how much can they be learned and how?
Tuesday, May 07, 2013
The Hero Head or Pastor
I once heard someone say that they thought church leaders had a lot to learn from excellent school leaders.
Today I was involved in a discussion of the Hero Headteacher. On this old model, it is said, the head was the best at everything, challenged and solved everything etc.
It was argued that today the head needs to make sure they're not the hero! They need to surround themselves with good people who are great at some things - better even than they are. And they need to help and encourage and empower those people.
Now pastors could learn from that, couldn't they?
Today I was involved in a discussion of the Hero Headteacher. On this old model, it is said, the head was the best at everything, challenged and solved everything etc.
It was argued that today the head needs to make sure they're not the hero! They need to surround themselves with good people who are great at some things - better even than they are. And they need to help and encourage and empower those people.
Now pastors could learn from that, couldn't they?
What are we gonna do here?
(1) Audit
(2) Action plan
(3) Review
Stating the obvious, maybe, but a useful framework to keep in mind.
(2) Action plan
(3) Review
Stating the obvious, maybe, but a useful framework to keep in mind.
Your church policies
You and / or your church need policies on various things such as:
Baptism
Re-marriage of divorced persons when their former spouse is still living
The churchyard and garden of remembrance
It is probably helpful if those policies are written down and publically available. You may also have other documents that talk about how you will interpret and apply those policies.
Your policies need to conform to the law, including Canon Law, and you should have regard to the various guidence that the C of E or your Diocese might produce.
You may wish to inform the PCC or the whole church of these policies. Some things are for them to decide. The whole thing is probably best discussed with them and if you can formally all agree, brilliant.
One thing you need to decide is how much you will have a cast iron set of rules which govern all cases and are strictly implimented and how much you will have a set of guiding principles. How much discretion do you want in each case and who is the exercise it? There are pros and cons either way. You may want to pass the buck on some decisions, but then you are giving up your right to decide. It may be good to share the responsibility but again if you involve others they may not agree with you!
Whatever you do, you need to be fair and consistent and you need to seek to be seen to be so. You don't have to treat all cases alike, but you do need to treat all relevantly similar cases alike in the significant ways.
Happy writing!
Baptism
Re-marriage of divorced persons when their former spouse is still living
The churchyard and garden of remembrance
It is probably helpful if those policies are written down and publically available. You may also have other documents that talk about how you will interpret and apply those policies.
Your policies need to conform to the law, including Canon Law, and you should have regard to the various guidence that the C of E or your Diocese might produce.
You may wish to inform the PCC or the whole church of these policies. Some things are for them to decide. The whole thing is probably best discussed with them and if you can formally all agree, brilliant.
One thing you need to decide is how much you will have a cast iron set of rules which govern all cases and are strictly implimented and how much you will have a set of guiding principles. How much discretion do you want in each case and who is the exercise it? There are pros and cons either way. You may want to pass the buck on some decisions, but then you are giving up your right to decide. It may be good to share the responsibility but again if you involve others they may not agree with you!
Whatever you do, you need to be fair and consistent and you need to seek to be seen to be so. You don't have to treat all cases alike, but you do need to treat all relevantly similar cases alike in the significant ways.
Happy writing!
Monday, May 06, 2013
Sacraments & English Evangelicalism
A friend suggests that part of the reason for English evangelicalism's neglect of the sacraments is that it has largely been nurtured through para-church things such as Christian Unions and summer camps. This may also contribute to a lowest common denominator Evangelicalism in general which puts aside "secondaries" for the sake of unity and mission (which is of course kinda laudable in its way).
Sunday, May 05, 2013
Evangelical ministry when its not just CU and camp any more?
This may not be the most original observation, but I think its a big issue and a real one for me.
I guess many of us evangelicals had formative experiences of ministry in University Christian Unions and at summer camps for young people.
So what does effective evangelical ministry look like in other contexts - such as 3 rural parishes or an enthic minority majority inner city or....?
For example, reading the Bible one to one seemed to work really well with students. Is it the thing to do in a less intellectually minded, less bookish, practical hands-on no nonsense context?
I guess many of us evangelicals had formative experiences of ministry in University Christian Unions and at summer camps for young people.
So what does effective evangelical ministry look like in other contexts - such as 3 rural parishes or an enthic minority majority inner city or....?
For example, reading the Bible one to one seemed to work really well with students. Is it the thing to do in a less intellectually minded, less bookish, practical hands-on no nonsense context?
The no. 1 reason why younger people in London today won't engage with the gospel
I didn't note down his exact words but I believe The Revd Richard Coekin, who is pretty well-placed to know, argued at Bible By The Beach that the no. 1 reason why younger people in London today won't engage with the Biblical Gospel or evangelical churches is that they think of them as homophobic.
Do you think that's true? (Obviously there's sin and spiritual death and blindness and all that but....) And if so what are we gonna do about it?
Do you think that's true? (Obviously there's sin and spiritual death and blindness and all that but....) And if so what are we gonna do about it?
Saturday, April 20, 2013
What sort of organ does the church have, Vicar?
I'm afraid I had no idea. But a friend knew that Google might know. You can search The National Pipe Organ Register (NPOR) online.
St Mary the Virgin Warbleton
St John's Bodle Street Green
St Giles Dallington
St Mary the Virgin Warbleton
St John's Bodle Street Green
St Giles Dallington
Friday, April 19, 2013
Too busy?
If you are a Christian, you might be interested in:
Tim Chester's The Busy Christian's Guide to Busyness
If you are a clergy-person, you might be interested in:
Stephen Cherry's Beyond Busyness: Time Wisdom for Ministry
Tim Chester's The Busy Christian's Guide to Busyness
If you are a clergy-person, you might be interested in:
Stephen Cherry's Beyond Busyness: Time Wisdom for Ministry
Getting Things Done - a quick off the top of my head summary of what I remember as useful
My copy of David Allen's Getting Things Done: How To Achieve Stress Free Productivity is on loan but I plan to run through some of the principles with a friend, so here are some jottings to remind me.
There are different ways of doing this but you need a really reliable consistent system. Keep it as simple as works for you.
If you apply this system it should make you more reliable and productive. Likely it will also make you much less stressed and free up your head space. You won't have to remember stuff: you can trust your system.
You need a really relaible non-leeky set of buckets to collect tasks. This probably means a notebook or filofax with section dividers or an electronic device. A physical bucket (like a storage box) might also help: then you can put in it the letter you mean to answer, the mug you want to fix and the book you need to read.
Then you've got to process your bucket. You have a number of options:
DO - if it takes less than 2 minutes to do it you should do it immediately if at all possible. This is because it probably takes longer to DELAY it
DELAY - either enter it on a to-do list for later or make a note in your diary or on your calendar or phone. You may even want a filling system for each day of the year or each month that in effect allows you to post something to yourself to arrive say in June (when you expect to deal with it). Obviously all this only works if you then check your diary, phone, calendar, to do list or file.
DELEGATE
DROP / DON'T DO IT (you could have a SOMEDAY MAYBE category too)
(In deciding what to do when Steven Covey's Important and Urgent matrix thing might be of use)
When it comes to your to-do list it might be divided up something like this:
PROJECTS - any jobs that take more than one step - e.g. visit Mrs Smith, start Youth Group
The important thing then is to think about NEXT STEPS. These might be phone Mrs Smith or invite all the potential stake-holders in a youthgroup to a meeting. Single step projects that are on-off things to do
It might be helpful to divide up your next steps into where you can do them. So some jobs can only be done at CHURCH, like putting up the posters and correcting the coffee rota. Errands to be done next time you're in TOWN like buy new printer ink and pay in those cheques go on one list. Many of your jobs you'll do in your STUDY where you have your books and filling cabinet etc. Obviously these days many PHONE or EMAIL jobs can be done almost anywhere. You might have a section for key people like your MANAGER or the people who report to you. Things you need to discuss in your weekly meetig go there.
To stop the whole system leaking you probably need a WAITING FOR list too. If you have to leave a message for Mrs Smith and a list of people need to confirm whether or not they are coming to the meeting.
REVIEW your lists maybe a quick scan once a day but a proper thorough goiung over once a week.
Getting Things Done Wikipedia article
David Allen's website
43 Folders website - Getting Started With Getting Things Done
There are different ways of doing this but you need a really reliable consistent system. Keep it as simple as works for you.
If you apply this system it should make you more reliable and productive. Likely it will also make you much less stressed and free up your head space. You won't have to remember stuff: you can trust your system.
You need a really relaible non-leeky set of buckets to collect tasks. This probably means a notebook or filofax with section dividers or an electronic device. A physical bucket (like a storage box) might also help: then you can put in it the letter you mean to answer, the mug you want to fix and the book you need to read.
Then you've got to process your bucket. You have a number of options:
DO - if it takes less than 2 minutes to do it you should do it immediately if at all possible. This is because it probably takes longer to DELAY it
DELAY - either enter it on a to-do list for later or make a note in your diary or on your calendar or phone. You may even want a filling system for each day of the year or each month that in effect allows you to post something to yourself to arrive say in June (when you expect to deal with it). Obviously all this only works if you then check your diary, phone, calendar, to do list or file.
DELEGATE
DROP / DON'T DO IT (you could have a SOMEDAY MAYBE category too)
(In deciding what to do when Steven Covey's Important and Urgent matrix thing might be of use)
When it comes to your to-do list it might be divided up something like this:
PROJECTS - any jobs that take more than one step - e.g. visit Mrs Smith, start Youth Group
The important thing then is to think about NEXT STEPS. These might be phone Mrs Smith or invite all the potential stake-holders in a youthgroup to a meeting. Single step projects that are on-off things to do
It might be helpful to divide up your next steps into where you can do them. So some jobs can only be done at CHURCH, like putting up the posters and correcting the coffee rota. Errands to be done next time you're in TOWN like buy new printer ink and pay in those cheques go on one list. Many of your jobs you'll do in your STUDY where you have your books and filling cabinet etc. Obviously these days many PHONE or EMAIL jobs can be done almost anywhere. You might have a section for key people like your MANAGER or the people who report to you. Things you need to discuss in your weekly meetig go there.
To stop the whole system leaking you probably need a WAITING FOR list too. If you have to leave a message for Mrs Smith and a list of people need to confirm whether or not they are coming to the meeting.
REVIEW your lists maybe a quick scan once a day but a proper thorough goiung over once a week.
Getting Things Done Wikipedia article
David Allen's website
43 Folders website - Getting Started With Getting Things Done
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