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The Order of On
Call Clergy is an Order of priests from many different backgrounds
who work in the community they are part of. Their ministries are open
to all in need regardless of denomination or any other kind of
restriction. 'On Call' ministry is for all. This reflects the way
Jesus conducted his ministry, meeting people where they were and
dealing with their needs.
Like all Orders,
members follow 'a rule', a way of explaining what their work is, how
they go about it and why it is important to them. The rule the Order
follows is called 'the
Rule of Simplicity' and
it works along side the Order's 'Principles
and Guidelines'.
This ensures that the kind of ministry members are involved in is
both open and available to all and doesn't come with any strings attached.
The Rule of
Simplicity has some similarities to the principles found in the Rule
of St Benedict although there are some differenes, the main one being
that the Order of On Call Clergy are not in an enclosed Order like
the Benedictines but live and work in and amongst ordinary people.
On Call members
work non-denominationally in the community they are part of where
ever they are needed. The work members of On Call Clergy do is often
wide ranging. Many members are highly skilled and qualified in a
variety of fields and are very experienced.
On Call priests
are often asked to assist where there are problems relating to:
(1) being divorced
and wanting to re-marry,
(2) being divorced
and being denied the sacraments,
(3) not being a
member of a church and being denied baptism,
(4) finding a
priest who will marry a couple who are not regular members of a church,
(5) finding
support and assistance during times of bereavement,
(6) personal
difficulties and damaged relationships
and so on.
On Call priests
will respond sympathetically and professionally.
On Call Clergy
often work with groups who often are through circumstances ignored by
the main stream churches who have little time or resources to work
with them. This is not a criticism of the work the denominational
churches but simply a statement of fact and a recognition that
resources will not always stretch as far as might be hoped.
As a simple
example, On Call has three priests who are chaplains to a number of
biker chapters.
The over-riding
principle is to 'take the church of Christ out to the people and
minister to the needs they have'. Members of On Call are expected to
work actively within in the wider community rather than from within
denominational limitations or traditional or historically restrictive
practices or canons.
Members of the
Order do not need to have church buildings as their centres for
ministry. They work with people wherever they are, and this is the
focus of their work.
The Order
recognises the importance of each of the different denominations
within the Christian family and support their work but it has chosen
without criticism being implied a different way to express the love
of God in terms of its ministry.
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