Doing or Being. An Old Chestnut Revisited

Abstract

"Head of Ministry Department, BUGB As I 'find my feet' in the Ministry Department, I am aware of a whole range of concerns about the processes of accreditation, training and support for ministers. However, let me take a step back and ask a more fundamental question. How are we to understand Baptist ministry? Is it about what we do, or about who we are? Baptists differ in their understanding of ministry, with a longstanding debate between those who see ministry in predominantly functional terms, and those who have a more ontological conception. This debate is highlighted particularly in the category of youth specialists, which the Baptist Union has accredited for some five years now. This debate is particularly acute for Baptists currently, as discussions begin to take place concerning the recognition of other categories of ministry, notably children's workers, family and community workers, music and worship leaders and parish nurses. If the ordained and recognised ministry amongst Baptists continues to maintain its historic connection to the Reformation tradition of Word and Sacrament, are Youth Specialists 'ministers' in a way that, say, Parish Nurses are not? Do they have sufficient in common with those called to Pastoral Leadership to defend their current status as ordained ministers?"