Balanced view of how being a priest actually plays out
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I write as an ordinand who was given this by my DDO during pre-selection conference interviews, and it is the book whose ideas I still consider the most now I am actually in training.
Croft takes the threefold order (Bishop, Priest, Deacon) and illustrates how these titles all actually invoke qualities (strategic oversight, leadership, service) that are all to some extent relevant to each of these positions.
While I am broadly liberal of centre, I feel that Croft's ideas would be valuable to most considering training or in training. Croft is also endearingly honest about the failure of his attempt to "manage" his church rather than be its pastor in his own time in ministry (he is now teaching at theological college).
And his appendix on types of church, from family and personality centred to organisation centred and cell grouped is very good.
Recommended.
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The difference between titles and roles
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An insightive book, which explores the principal that the titles of Bishop, priest and deacon reflect roles rather than persons, and are equally applicable to the responsibilities of the laity as they are to the roles of the clergy. Ministry is to do with teamwork using different gifts rather than hierachical structures focused on what people are promoted to. A ground breaking book. Post-Charismatic, post- evangelical, post clerical. Readable.
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