The Wakefield Ministry Scheme at Staincross
Introduction
In 1995 Wakefield Diocese began a pilot project for the Wakefield Ministry Scheme, mainly in small rural parishes.
From Autumn 1997 Parishes in the Pontefract and Barnsley deaneries had the opportunity to try out an adaptation of the scheme in the light of suggestions made by the local clergy.
The parish of St John’s, Staincross took the opportunity to be involved at the earliest possible stage and began to participate in the scheme during Advent 1997
What is the aim of the Wakefield Ministry Scheme?
The most obvious aim is to discern vocations to ordained ministry so that people can go on to turther training and then exercise a priestly or diaconal ministry in their home area. That is not however the only aim. Long before we start thinking about vocations to ordained ministry we want to affirm and enable the vocation and work of all the people of God as a praying and witnessing community of disciples. All kinds of vocations may come out of the scheme, including that to the traditional full time ministry!
What is involved?
The basic programme lasts three years. In each year there are two study units for the congregation, a number of training units for people from a group of parishes to join in together, and two day conferences for representatives from all the parishes involved.
What happened in the first year?
We started with a day conference on Discipleship in daily living. This was held at Bishop's Lodge on 29 November 1997 which was attended by 21 members of St John’s congregation.
It was followed up.by a study unit on the theme of ministry. This consisted of a five-session Bible Study and discussion course held during Lent 1998 entitled “Thinking about Ministry”. This unit examined how christians work together within the church as an organisation
On 9 May 1998 we partcipated in a day conference shared with parishes from the Huddersfield area on the theme of Priesthood and then the final area training unit which dealt with the Church of England, its history, organisation and setting in the community. This 5 session course entitled “Not Angels but Anglicans”, held during June and July 1997 examined the following aspects of life in the C of E. - history, belief, what is legal, baptisms weddings and funerals, do we have common prayer?
All of this helped us to begin to think about vocation and ministry.
What then?
In the subsequent two years there is a similar, though lighter, programme on the themes of Outreach' and 'Church in Society'. This allows space for parishes and individuals to undertake other specialised training as required.
Our second year began on 19 Sep 1998 with a study day on “Outreach to the community and evangelism” followed by a further day held on 22 Nov 1998 about personal spirituality called “Reflecting on the Journey of Faith”
1999 began with a study day at Gildersome where we looked at ways of improving the conduct of church worship, learnt about the new liturgies being introduced and practiced planning worship events for special occasions.
As 1999 began we felt it necessary to divert slightly from the planned scheme to follow a course specially designed for our parochial situation by Mike Holt who also led it. For four sessions we considered episodes from the lives of spiritual figures from history in the context of our own call to service both by receiving teaching and participating in meditative exercises. The course concluded on 24 March with reflection on the implications of the course for our own individual responsibility in creative ministry.
Our involvement with structured elements of the scheme continued with attendance at a half day on 24 April 1999 studying issues concerned with initiation (baptism and Confirmation).
On 13 June 1999 we learnt about ways of encouraging people to pray together
This was followed by several days on the theme of Pastoral Awareness in Church and Community.
At the first of these days on 18 Sep 1999 three projects were identified which it is hoped will help and encourage experience in collaborative ministry. These are
Refurbishment of the chancel
Repairs and improvements to the church heating system
Re-ordering of the West end of church
During November and December 1999 two parish meetings were held to assist the PCC in preparing their submission to the Bishop on 6 Jan 2000. This is our "Parish vision for 2000-2005"
The theme of collaborative ministry was continued at a meeting on 8 Jan 2000 when we looked particularly at pastoral awareness, social ethics and the parish projects. This theme will be further developed on 6 May 2000
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