Village, Andrew ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2174-8822 (2024) Church of England ministry in the south-west peninsular: Gaps and priorities. Rural Theology.

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Abstract

As part of a review of ministry and training for ministry by the dioceses of Exeter and Truro in 2023, an online survey was distributed to clergy and lay ministers. The paper reports on how 92 parochial incumbents (or incumbent status clergy), 80 assistant clergy (self-supporting ministers and curates), and 94 Readers rated the importance of various tasks in their ministries, how well they felt they were equipped to do those tasks, and what they felt should be the priorities for ministry and training in their dioceses. In general, traditional tasks of preaching and teaching, leading worship, and pastoral care were rated as most important, while those rated as least important were management and administration, talking about giving and raising money, and speaking up on local issues. When it came to the gap between importance and being equipped, supporting personal wellbeing was rated as most under-equipped by incumbents, equipping disciples by assistant clergy, and bringing others to faith by Readers. The top ministry priorities were equipping lay ministries, team working, and supporting evangelists, while the lowest priorities were remaining faithful to received traditions, maintaining the parish system, and developing digital ministries. Participants recognised the need to select the right people to do particular ministries and support the mental health and wellbeing of ministers.

Item Type:	Article
Status:	Published
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.1080/14704994.2024.2327765
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BX Christian Denominations > BX5011-5207 Church of England
School/Department:	School of Humanities
URI:	https://ray.yorksj.ac.uk/id/eprint/9685

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