Against a one person ministry

 There are certain buzz-words and fashions in ministry speak. "Collaborative ministry" is very much The Right Answer when it comes to ministry style. But, even if it is a truism, it is surely true. 

Yet most clergy are sole pastors, like the old single practice GPs. And we know this is not ideal. 

So, you should try to mitigate against the weaknesses of this. 

If you are C of E, you share the cure of souls with the Bishop. There is an Archdeacon and a Rural Dean. And clergy chapter. And all sorts of help and advice potentially available if you seek it and are willing. Discuss all this at your Ministry Development Review. 

But you almost certainly need to do something informal for yourself. You want some friends in ministry. You want to keep in touch and pray for one another. Think about what would really help you and try to make something like it happen sometime. 

But you must also avoid a one person ministry in the parish. You might be tempted to it. And your people might quite like it is some ways too. 

We all know that it can be easier and quicker sometimes to do everything oneself. And then of course it will be done your way, in your time, for good or ill. 

So:

(1) The minister must encourage an every member ministry. He is only one person. He has weaknesses of skill and personality. He has much to learn from others. 

(2) The people must embrace their ministries and use their gifts. 

Father does not always know best. Likely there are those who are more skilled in law, education, finance, buildings, publicity, gardening etc. than the Vicar. But the people must also embrace, you know, God! The Bible, prayer, evangelism and discipleship is their work too. It must not and cannot all be left to the Vicar. One Vicar told his PCC: "My liturgy; you gutters". That is too simplistic. We must all seek to live and speak for Jesus. The Vicar should try to help and encourage the spiritual gifts of others and see that the body builds itself up and shares its like. 

One error, in a C of E context, it seems to me is to treat those who are not Deacons or Presbyters as if they were. The C of E already has these roles. And there are roles for OLMs and ALMs and Readers and Churchwardens and PCC members and all that. We should understand and stick to our legal roles. The Vicar is the ordained Elder. Almost anyone could be elected as Churchwarden next year. But the Vicar is a fool if he does not listen to others, consult and collaborate with them.