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1.
Introduction |
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11.
Vestments |
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2.
Work |
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12.
Continued formation |
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3.
Being part of the One Church |
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13.
Holy Orders |
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4.
Working in the community |
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14.
Membership of the Order |
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5.
Liturgy |
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15.
Overseas Provinces |
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6.
Prayer |
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16.
Resignation from the Order |
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7.
The Bible |
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17. |
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8.
The place of ‘the traditions of the church’. |
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18. |
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9.
Language usage |
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19. |
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10.
Authority within the Order |
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20. |
Working
in the community, the sacred harvest:
1)
Most denominational priests are responsible for a church (usually
based around a building or other premises) and a parish (as a defined
geographical area of ministry). This is not the case in the Order.
2)
Members of the Order have spiritual and pastoral responsibility for
all people they come into contact with and for as long as any need exists.
3)
These people form the church community to which the member of the
Order is priest regardless of denomination or other consideration or constraint.
4)
There is therefore no geographical boundary of priestly
responsibility or service. It would on this basis be quite reasonable
to reply to anyone asking which parish a member works in to simply
state, ‘This is my parish (and these are the members of the
church Christ has called me to serve).’
5)
Members of the Order may still wish to have their own chapels or
churches or premises which may be usefully be used as ‘centres
of ministry’, but it is neither obligatory nor should constrain,
restrict or put any limit on ministry. Neither should they be a
financial burden or need undue management.
6)
Whether members have chapels etc or not, each member shall be
responsible for finding and maintaining their own personal sacred
space(s) in terms of the practice of the presence of God.
7)
The effective use of personal sacred space is a key element in being
both fit for and prepared for effective service in the community.
8)
This personal sacred space shall also include places and times of
retreat, reconciliation, personal healing and spiritual development
and shall be as free as possible from unnecessary distraction or interruption.
9)
The spiritual health (and to some extent physical health) of the
minister directly affects the quality of the work they do and this
shall not be taken lightly or ignored. Similarly, the spiritual
health (and physical wellbeing) of the community will also have a
direct impact on the spiritual (and physical) health of each
individual member. They are very much inter-related.
10)
It is therefore important that the Holy Spirit is allowed to bring
into being and develop a support network which is appropriate to the
needs of each priest and each community.
11)
Priests must realise that they cannot do everything and need to
delegate in order that others may learn and grow into effective
ministry. This is particularly important in discerning, encouraging
and developing both this and the next generation of workers for
Christ’s harvest.
12)
Although it is not always possible, members should search within the
community they serve for those who will take their place if they are
called to serve elsewhere.
13)
Any ministry or service is gifted by God and is entrusted in faith
to each member for the building up of others as God sees fit; members
of the Order should remember that ministry and service do not come
under individual ownership but find their origination and creation in
God, the Father, are empowered by God in the form of the Holy Spirit
and are for the benefit of both God and all His people through
Christ, God the Son.
14)
Members should also remember in humility that even though they are
called by God for service in both the Order and the community at
large, God may direct and use others in that same service as is His will.
15)
Every member of the Order shall be in as far as is possible part of
a worshipping community so that they may minister to, receive
ministry from and share in ministry however led by God.
16)
It is important in that each member should be part of a prayer
support network for the work of a priest is not one that can be
carried out without the care, support, encouragement and guidance of
others. An effective priest simply will not remain effective with out
the support of others.
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