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The Guide contains how-to-do-it advice on starting, developing and sustaining fresh expressions of church based on shared experiences.
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Posted by: Andrew Wooding - 09 March 2009
If I had a pound for every person who has asked me what a pioneer minister is, I'd be rich. If I had another pound for every different definition of a pioneer minister that I've heard, I'd probably have enough money to fund the 50 or so training for Ordained Pioneer Ministry in the Church of England.
So what is a pioneer? Well I got selected as one. I am training as an OPM (Ordained Pioneer Minister) at St Mellitus' College, the new college in London which has a particular stream aimed at training pioneers.
I chose the 'pioneer track' as it was suggested to me by my DDO, although I agonised about whether I was 'pioneering enough' or 'too pioneering' for the role, depending on who I spoke to. The selectors at my BAP had some awareness of what being a pioneer might entail, but to be honest, I do not think that they had a clearer idea than I did.
Since starting training, I have been ruminating about the heady mix on the St Mellitus 'pioneer course'. It is a mixed mode course and we have a number of people who seem to have started fresh expressions of church without really knowing what that is; there are people who are interested in inherited church planting (planting traditional forms of church in new areas); and there are people who are off the map pioneers, with experience and theology to back them up. Thrown into the mix are a number of 'parish' ordinands who are sometimes more pioneering than the pioneers themselves.
The boundaries aren't clear and no one really knows what we will be asked to do when we leave.
There is recognition that different people who have different callings need different training, as, for example, there are different skills needed to plant an inherited church model in comparison with those who are starting a fresh expression with people struggling with addictions.
I think it is important for the first of the Ordained Pioneer Ministers ('pioneering pioneers'!) to remember that the definition of 'pioneer' is 'a person who is among those who first enter or settle a region, thus opening it for occupation and development by others'. This holds two connotations.
Firstly, that we are pioneering what pioneers are, and therefore we will have to take responsibility for the training and experience that we get; that the courses will be written as we do them.
Secondly, we are opening up new areas for the whole church to occupy and develop. This means that pioneers cannot disconnect themselves from the wider church and just 'do their own thing'. It is of vital importance for the pioneers to be constantly training others, lay and ordained people, in how to live lives of mission and reach out to communities of de-churched and non-churched people who need to see the kingdom in their lives.
Comments
Pioneer ministry
Posted by Andrew Wooding on 09 March 09 - 17:26
But I do have two (possibly rhetorical) questions:
1. Do you have to be ordained to be a pioneer minister?
2. Were there pioneer ministers in the church before Ordained Pioneer Ministry training started?
Andrew
Posted by Diana Greenfield on 10 March 09 - 16:54
I want to respond to your question by saying that I don't for one minute believe that you have to be ordained to be a pioneer minister, however some of us truly feel called to ordination. For me it is part about being called to serve in a sacramental church, and about accountability in an episcopal system, others will have different reasons, all I can say is this is where my call and my studying have got me to.
And yes, of course there were pioneer ministers before OPM's and there will be pioneers who are not called OPM's for whatever reason, because the true pioneers always find a way to trail blaze whether they are ordained or not!
Is training the be all and end all?
Posted by Pam Smith on 10 March 09 - 00:02
I'm interested in your statement that
"There is recognition that different people who have different callings need different training, as, for example, there are different skills needed to plant an inherited church model in comparison with those who are starting a fresh expression with people struggling with addictions."
I wonder if training can really be that specific, and if we should expect or want training institutions to be turning out people who are very well equipped for one particular, very specific form of ministry?
You also say that no-one really knows what any of you will be doing when you leave, which goes for most ordinands really!
What does training for 'pioneer' forms of ministry contain in terms of equipping rather than specific content? Is there/should there be, for example, an emphasis on how to teach and encourage others since this is major part of the role of pioneer as you see it?
'pioneering pioneers'
Posted by Andy Campbell on 10 March 09 - 13:06
I think that you're right to challenge those of us who are 'pioneering pioneers' to give and take as we train. As one of your peers, I also have been struck by the diversity of understanding and assumption (within both student and staff members) regarding issues of mission, ecclesiology, cultural engagement (or otherwise), worship, growth, membership, Christology, success, financial support, leadership, … I could go on.
The above can be a great thing if we use the diversity to mutually inform and shape us – not to create the ‘definitive version’ of pioneer ministry (ordained or otherwise), but to produce a church leadership that is prepared to take appropriate risk and be appropriately cautious. After all, often the best critique comes from someone who loves and respects us, yet ‘comes from a different place’.
I also agree that one issue yet to be fully explored, perhaps because of the very nature of this ‘pioneer’ stuff, is what are we being trained into? The mixed-economy is a great phrase, and I for one am excited about the Church of England balancing ‘inherited’ and ‘emerging’ models of church, calling neither ‘better’, but supporting both. The potential headache is the same diversity highlighted above: at St Mellitus, I think we have talked a little about Church Planting, made a reference to Fresh Expressions, but not really explored Emerging Church. All of these are, of course, labels that bring with them in turn a mixture of meanings, and no doubt others will disagree. But the point remains – we are being trained within an institution that has, broadly speaking, modelled leadership and community along similar lines for some time now. As you rightly point out, some of us will be church planters, others leaders within inherited models, and still others leaders of missional communities.
It is tempting to simply be glad that I am a student, not a trainer at this time – but that is ducking your challenge. All of us need to be aware that this is new territory for everyone, and respond accordingly.
Posted by Pam Smith on 10 March 09 - 18:17
That brings us back to Andrew's question about whether there were pioneer ministers before the training - and I would say yes.
This is a really obvious comment but in fact surely historically it's being a minister in an 'inherited' situation that's the deviation and pioneer ministry is the norm?
Loving
Posted by Mark CE on 11 March 09 - 17:15
Hannahs blog
Posted by Trevor Clarke on 22 April 10 - 01:38
Surely the point is we are to just get on with the work whatever Title we are known by!!!
PIONEER MINISTRY
Posted by RON M WEEKS on 23 April 10 - 20:17
Pioneers were one of the first settlers to come to Canada, from a land they could not live in due to economical stress or political tensions. they choice to build and create new senses of faith by using the only tool they could bring, a Gospel. No Church structure, no congregations, not committees to organize them. Pioneer Ministry like it's origins must be willing to go out into the world that does not know what circumstance will offer. It msut be willing to endure the test of elements, fears and misgivings to be a suffering service, with little rewards but immense benefits once shown to survive all it's challenges.
I look forward now to brining this same spirit of faith, worship and tradition to a society who needs and wants to hear, read and share the benefits of a leader who can bring it forward with love and care, without any thing more than the will to act boldly in the face of harsh criticsm of a religious world too caught up in the true spirit of the Gospels that the Disciples and Apostles meant for us to show a world.
To boldly go where the Holy Spirit can only show us a way, in a bright strongwilderness of faith like the giant forests of BC and the Pacific Region.
I hoep to hear from many of you who want to know more about alterante Minsitry and Pioneer Ministers.
RON M WEEKS
Cert CH Studies
Fresh Expressions
Diocese BC
ST PAULS ESQUIMALT
PIONEER MINISTRY
Posted by RON M WEEKS on 23 April 10 - 20:46
Let us suppose the traditional church method has created a sense of loss and disconnection to today’s general population. All people have a sense of embedded faith in their minds, yet have difficulty with discerning a faith in how they can simply come together in forms less traditional than they are aware exist from an embedded view from the past.
Pioneers were one of the first settlers to come to Canada, from a land they could not live in due to economical stress or political tensions. They travelled to many unknown areas choice to build and create new senses of faith by using the only tool they could bring, a Gospel. No Church structure, no congregations, no committees to organize them. Pioneer Ministers today need the same purposes as those settlers. To go out into a society not knowing what the circumstance will offer. Pioneer Minister's are a single source, willing to endure the test of elements, fears and misgivings to be as Pioneer like suffering service, with little rewards but immense benefit.
I look forward now to brining this same unconventional spirit of faith, worship and tradition to open society. Young and old and all levels of community like the trees and rivers of the pristine regions, need and want to hear, read and share the benefit of Gospel and open worship. The new leader who can bring it forward , without any thing more than the will to act boldly in the face of harsh criticism of a religious world too caught up in out of date Religion and models of structured church. The best example is a spirit of the Gospels that the Disciples and Apostles meant for us to show a world.
I hope to hear from many of you who want to know more about alternate Ministry and Pioneer Ministers.
RON M WEEKS
Cert CH Studies
Fresh Expressions
ST PAULS ESQUIMALT