"What, if anything, particularly struck you as you listened to these different Readers speaking about their call to this particular ministry? "
"What difference do you think the public nature of this role would make to ministry and life?"
The link took me to 4 readers different to the video shown on the web page for session 8.
Stephen - BBC sports journalist,
I was struck by his passion for leadership in both his secular job and also as a reader in the church. What also shone through was his desire and calling to enable the equipping and calling of all believers in the church to reach their potential and fulfilment as they journey with Jesus. He utilises his role as leader to accomplish this.
Riffat - a nurse,
I resonated with parts of Riffat's story where she accepted the call of the Lord and declared that he was there to serve Him. She was a visible witness in the community where their is also a Hindu temple. She participates in compassion ministry of cooking and providing food for people and then can chat about Jesus as she sits with people. There appears to be both pastoral and evangelistic elements to her role as a reader. Where she can sit and 'chat the gospel' as she gets along side people.
I have always followed that style too of 'chatting the gospel' whilst being involved in and leading outreach mission activities, and living incarnationally in my local council estate. This style I can still use but less so due to the physical limitations of ill heath retirement form nursing and disability. I get out less but can still use that style when opportunities present themselves. This process is a transition for me as a find new ways to minister through the guidance of God through his Holy Spirit.
Jonny - a church planter
This was challenging. Very often we will meet people where they are just like Jesus did with the woman at the well (John ch 4). The next part of leading people on in their journey towards transformation in Jesus is more tricky, but it's important to love people enough to not leave them where they are. Despite this challenging aspect, I felt something spark to life within me when I heard that phrase.
In addition, Jonny appears to make reference to the need for skills of self-awareness when communicating and supporting those searching to find their own answers rather than just providing the answers. (I've experienced Martin do this in our tutorials!)
Jonny seems to demonstrate how facilitating conversation can enhance deeper relationships as the journey towards Jesus progresses.
His role as a reader gives him the background knowledge and training to serve others well and with confidence in their discipleship journey.
Emily an agricultural chaplain.
This I connected to the least but loved the idea that she could unapologetically stand for Jesus in both her day job as a chaplain and also as a reader at church. both roles seemed interchangeable for Emily as she undertakes 'God's work' as she referred to it. Her passion and calling shone through.
Considering the public nature of the role of a reader I feel that there may be differences to the following;
* Responsibility and accountability - if leading and preaching in public worship this is a big responsibility to consider what is communicated and that it lines up with the teachings of Jesus, scripture, the Christian faith, and reader training.
* Time commitment - as a reader and member of church leadership in that way to support clergy whilst being a link to the community more time will be expected from the role. Whether that be in a pastoral setting or the time commitment of planning services and sermons and possibly participating in funeral ministry.
*Emotional Aspect - when dealing with pastoral care settings and funeral ministry to the grieving and bereaved this can be quite challenging emotionally. It would be important to identify somebody who could act as a mentor or spiritual director to support in prayer and listen to our experiences and provide wisdom in how to apply healthy boundaries.
*Living with integrity - does my private life with the Lord match up to my public face and ministry? Again in this situation, accountability from a mentor / spiritual director would help to explore this and pray through how our journey is progressing towards the likeness of Jesus. In other words am I both informally and formally opening up the scriptures by the way I live as well as lead?
On a personal note this session in particular has really spoken to me and stirred something further in my desire to pursue this vocation, I feel God is calling me to pursue and explore further.
In particular the idea of being deeply rooted in the community and speaking the eternal word in the local dialect informally and formally opening up the scriptures. Many of the ways the readers ministered in their roles, I have been involved in serving Jesus and others in mission and my local community for many years. As I transition and heal through this season of ill health retirement, I want to learn the new way the Lord has for me to minister alongside disability.
I pray the Lord will guide me as I know he can use the suffering to show His beauty in discipleship and the daily practicalities of taking up my cross to follow Jesus and serve Him and others anyway.
Tracey
Good comments here around the role/expectations for a Reader.