SPCK Library of Ministry – serie

What happens internally when we listen to another human being in need? This is a question that arose from the pastoral experience of a team in a hospice. This book by Bob Whorton offers an 'imaginative' listening to the author's pastoral experience.Reflective Caring will introduce you to the innovative method of "soul reflection" - a technique aimed at transforming people's lives. "Soul reflection" can be defined as an objective inference of our inner reactions. If we apply this principle, we can become a more fulfilled, wholesome version of ourselves.

This practical guide offers invaluable and sensitive advice for all who work alongside terminally ill children, their families and families who have been bereaved. Paul Nash helpfully describes the different types of care that are needed depending on the age of the child - from baby to teenager - and on the particular needs of the child's family. He also provides resources to help with remembering and celebrating the life of a child, including rituals that can be used in preparation for death, at the time of death and at funeral or memorial services.

Rooted in a clear understanding of the indispensable authority of God's word, Transforming Preaching provides a wealth of practical wisdom and advice for anyone approaching the task of preaching for the first time. It also serves as a useful refresher for all who want to increase the effectiveness of their preaching ministry. Basing his advice on the latest research into the way people listen, learn and grow in the Christian life, David Heywood looks at ways of constructing and delivering more successful sermons, while also providing a stimulating guide to the principles and benefits of interactive preaching.

This book, written by experts in the field, explores the role of the youth minister by looking at a range of metaphors, such as 'flawed hero', 'visionary architect', 'party planner' and 'guardian of souls'.Each chapter takes one of these metaphors as a central theme, offers biblical and/or theological reflection on this aspect of youth ministry, explains the relevant theory and the necessary skills, uses real-life stories from practitioners to bring the metaphor to life, summarizes the key principles and values, gives questions for reflection and makes suggestions for further reading.

Chaplaincy - a place for those who have sold out, can't hack church ministry and don't believe in mission? Against the negative stereotypes, this book argues that chaplains are a valuable resource to the Church. Embedded in places as diverse as prisons, hospitals, educational establishments and the armed forces, chaplains often encounter social trends well in advance of the institutional churches. Their experiences and expertise can be very helpful for thinking about ministry, ecclesiology and the engagement with contemporary society. The first five parts of this book gather together stories of 22 chaplains working in a wide variety of contexts and from a range of Christian churches. The final part consists of four essays on key themes: multi-faith issues; the core skills needed by a chaplain; models of chaplaincy; and tensions that can arise in the work. This book is for chaplains, students, clergy and all those who are considering becoming a chaplain or have dealings with people in the role. It will be of considerable interest to anyone who wonders what exactly chaplains do, how and why they do it and what the churches can learn from their experiences.

This book describes how, in adopting an organic approach to ministry development, it is possible to make a real impact on people's lives and ministries; this approach is based on the organics model proposed by James Hopewell. Backed by thorough research, and wide reading in the literature, this book nevertheless keeps in touch with what is happening in the grassroots and is realistic as well as hopeful, about what can be achieved.

This book is designed to provide practical help to those involved in filling a vacancy, showing how to make it a good process and end with a good appointment. At the same time, it is useful to clergy seeking appointments, and senior clergy actually making the appointments.

Contemporary mission and ministry, as well as best practice in secular government, emphasize partnership and working together. Yet this can be easier said than done.At its best, working together brings energy and synergy and enables you to achieve something you could never do alone. At its worst, it's a nightmare that you may well wish you had never got into.Skills for Collaborative Ministry will help you to work more effectively with other people, bothinside and outside of the Church. Each chapter focuses on a particular skill - such as team building, facilitation, diversity skills, conflict resolution and evaluation techniques - outlines the theory and the theology behind it, and gives practical guidance and advice.Written by an experienced team, the book includes exercises for both individuals and groups, along with a range of ideas that can be adapted to your own context. It will enable you to work collaboratively with confidence and skill.

This book will be attractive to all ministers who are seeking to understand how leadership works and why it can be so difficult. It would be useful as a study book for lay ministers as well and for all who take up a leadership role in local churches.

A basic and theological introduction to the role and work of a Church of England Reader, covering the full range of Reader ministry, together with a short history of reader ministry. This is a practical guide for candidates, trainees, and licensed Readers, and for all who work with them. The public ministry of the Church of England currently comprises some 27,000 licensed ministers and more than 10,000 Readers. In many parishes and benefices, it is Readers who make the local pattern of worship sustainable Sunday to Sunday.

In reflective practice we are asked to consider our own experiences and ask 'what went well?', 'what went badly' and 'how might I do better next time?' Tools for Reflective Ministry contains practical exercises and ideas on how to do this theologically and spiritually, putting Christianity at the core of the discipline.Topics covered include: using metaphor in reflection; spiritual practices for reflection; reframing the past, imagining the future, understanding the present; using culture in reflection; reflecting without words; reflecting with nature; reflecting together.