Diocesan Handbook
Introduction
The business of the church is to 'remember' the future. Not merely to remember that there is to be a future, but mysteriously to make the future really present.Herbert McCabe OP, Law, Love, Language
All this information, all these words, and all the training opportunities listed here will only be truly useful if they serve our great prayer that the Kingdom should come. Training and formation is not an endless process of preening and polishing ourselves, in order that we might look slightly better. Our aim is to equip ourselves for God's future. So our task is always to look ahead. Anticipating the future is also a task for the whole church. We don't learn something so that we can keep it to ourselves, we train and prepare so that, together, we can share in the Kingdom where we will all be citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, (Ephesians 2:19).
We have tried to set out here all the resources we can offer. This document brings together the work of many different diocesan officers. We have tried to answer the questions we are usually asked. If there is something missing, if there is some resource or bit of training that we should be offering, or if there is something that you can offer to us please let us know. This document will always be work in progress we will add to it and refine constantly.
There are some skills and resources we do not have, but we can often put you in touch with those outside the Diocese who fill those gaps. Do ask.
To download the complete Handbook as a PDF document, please select the download link below.
David Hoyle
The Department of Ministry
Diocesan Handbook (439.95 KB)
Training and Formation in the Diocese of Gloucester
Becoming Christ likeWhen Jesus called us to follow him he made disciples of us all. We all gather around Christ to learn from him and to learn how to become like him. All our training, education and formation are means directed to that end. So, training is intended to change us, We do not read, go on courses, or learn new skills in order to be better versions of ourselves. We do all this in order that we will all be made alive in Christ (I Corinthians 15:22)
The Church as the Whole People of God
We are not called to Christ like as individuals; we are called into the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all (Ephesians 1:2). We will be transformed together and come to the Kingdom, or the City of God, places of community and common life. All members of the Church are called to strive for the coming of the Kingdom and all of us should learn to confess our faith and hope. Not only that, but we should be constantly seeking to draw others into this rich community of faith. The commission to the apostles to make disciples to all nations is a commission to the whole church and therefore mission is an essential part of ministry of the whole church.
A Community of Gifts
To sustain our common life the Holy Spirit gives to the whole community a diversity of gifts, to name but a few: gifts to communicate the gospel, to heal, pray, teach, to serve, to lead, to follow, and to inspire. All members of the church are called to employ their particular gifts for the building up of the Kingdom. The great task is to employ our gifts without competing with one another and without wanting everyone else to stop and admire what we are doing.
Training together as God's people in the Diocese of Gloucester
The expression of our gifts and the life of the Church community will take different forms in different places. The intention behind this training portfolio is not to make us all the same. There are though two important principles at work here.
1. We are training for shared ministry and to live a common life
2. We are training in order to be changed into the image of Christ
So this Portfolio assumes that we should all give priority to the idea that we train together, that we share ministry, and that we are called into God's mission.
You will have particular challenges to face and when you first use this Portfolio it may well be in order to meet a very specific need. We hope, however, that in time you will use the resources here to develop the practice of shared ministry and to look ahead to what you might become in Christ.
This Portfolio is not just a list of resources; it is an invitation to imagine what the church might become.
I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.
(1 Corinthians 9:23)
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