Handbook of Christian Ministry
An A to Z for Lay and Ordained Ministers
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Paperback / softback
£12.99
Publisher: SPCK Publishing
ISBN: 9780281084395
Number of Pages: 176
Published: 18/06/2020
The follow up to Bishop John's bestselling The Life and Work of a Priest in an easy to navigate format.
This handbook aims to help any Christian committed to their role as a follower and fellow-worker with Christ to be more effective in their ministry. It offers practical suggestions for faithful practice in numerous areas, ranging from Apologetics to Worship and beyond. The suggestions aren't 'hints and tips' as such; rather we are encouraged to reflect on what underlies our actions.
John Pritchard has been a parish priest, diocesan youth officer, theological college principal, archdeacon and bishop. He's also been warden of readers, trained lay ministers of all kinds, taught large numbers of lay people, written widely, led retreats etc, and thus has a handle on many aspects of ministry. The book contains illustrations from the Bible, experience, stories, quotes, and possibly poetry and prayer.
Contents
Apologetics, Attentiveness, Bible, Care and compassion, Death, Evangelism, Forgiveness, God, Holy Communion, Jesus, Kingdom, Leadership, Mission, Narrative, Older people, Prayer, Preaching, Questions, Renewal, Self-care, Suffering, Teaching, Unity, Vocation, Worship
Acknowledgements vi
A word at the beginning vii
A Attentiveness 1
B Bible 8
C Care and compassion 18
C Children and schools 27
D Death and bereavement 35
E Evangelism 44
F Forgiveness 53
G God 60
H Holy Communion 69
I Identity 78
J Jesus 80
K Kingdom of God 88
L Leadership 97
M Mission 105
N Narrative 115
O Older people 124
P Prayer 133
P Preaching 143
Q Questions 152
R Renewal 160
S Self-care 170
S Suffering 179
T Teaching 188
U Unity 197
V Vocation 204
W Worship 214
Y Why believe? (Apologetics) 223
Y Young people 232
Z Have a look! 244
Notes
With his usual wisdom and good humour, John Pritchard writes for anyone and everyone curious about the varied work of ministry. This book will refresh and illuminate your perspective on what it means to participate in the growing of God's Kingdom. -- Helen-Ann Hartley, Bishop of Ripon Dipping again into John Pritchard's The Life and Work of a Priest for this review reminded me what a remarkable, wise, and humane book it is. It covers just about everything parish life might throw at clergy. Well, not quite everything. If you're troubled by sylvan revels or cohabiting bandits, I'm afraid you're on your own. -- Paul Handley * Church Times * This wonderful volume . . . must become the set book for ordinands. The content is refreshingly sane and intelligent; the experience shines through from the author, both as priest, Bishop and theological teacher. * thegoodbookstall on The Life and Work of a Priest * This is an unusually honest book. Its analysis is plain-spoken and compassionate, and what Bishop John has to say about finding ways to live constructively with times of emptiness is superbly well focused. You'll emerge from reading this with - probably - relief that a widespread set of challenges has been so sensitively identified and - certainly - with gratitude for sensible, durable advice on how to go on making friends with the mystery we can never digest or contain. -- Rowan Williams, Master of Magdalen College, Cambridge on God Lost and Found What a courageous book! . . . full of hope and full of God. -- Elaine Storkey on God Lost and Found This is a very good book by a very exceptional leader. John Pritchard puts himself into what he writes, and the result is accessible, encouraging and fun, with a steel core that not only makes one think but takes one back to the face of Christ and the realities of Christian discipleship. John is never cheaply comfortable but always reassuringly real. I am very glad to have read Living Faithfully. -- Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury on Living Faithfully