Ministry in Three Dimensions: Ordination and Leadership in the Local Church - Softcover

Steven J.L. Croft

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0232527431 ISBN 13: 9780232527438

Publisher: Darton,Longman & Todd Ltd, 2008

Synopsis

In Ministry in Three Dimensions, Steven Croft outlines the challenges - greater geographical and social mobility, and older, smaller congregations, for example - that today's society presents to the churches, explaining that models of mission and ministry which were once perfectly adequate no longer work in this new situation. The author identifies some of the potentially harmful ways in which attempts have been made to meet these new challenges, suggesting the use of secular management models as one such false trail. Far better and more fruitful is to recover a biblically-based understanding of ministry. In scripture and through Church history he explores the dimensions of ministry indicated by three different Greek words found in the New Testament: diakonia, presbyteros and episcope, uncovering the rich tradition surrounding what it means to be an ordained leader in the Church. Steven Croft draws out insights from which a new, relevant understanding of ordained ministry can be built across the denominations, and explores how to put these insights into practice, suggesting ways in which each minister can balance the three dimensions in their own setting.

About this title

About the Author:

is the current Bishop of Oxford. He was previously Bishop of Sheffield between 2008 and 2016. He is also a theologian specialising in mission.

About this edition

• Publisher: Darton,Longman & Todd Ltd
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0232527431
• ISBN 13: 9780232527438
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 176