My Name is John: an Affirmation of Parish Ministry

Having been a clergyman for thirty one years, working in Britain and abroad, John Cree has a comprehensive overview of changes which have occured throughout the latter part of the twentieth century. He illustrates these changes by presenting two excerpts from his personal journals, one from 1976 when he was working as a Methodist Missionary in Africa and the other from 1998 when he was working as a Vicar in an English Parish. Alongside these two journal extracts the author presents the reader with two major theological works, each written in the same period from which the journal extracts are taken. With this material written twenty two years apart, the author undertakes a case study in which social analysis and theological study are used as evidence to affirm the importance of Parish Ministry. The importance of Community, Mission and the Holy Trinity are seen as inter-related elements in affirming the role of ordained and lay Ministry within the Church and community. The author concludes by anticipating the future for "grass roots" Parish Ministry. He affirms that the Preaching, Pastoral and Priestly role will be as important in the future as has been the case in the past.