08/12/2010

This week I have been at another conference.  This time, on whole church learning.  It is strange how the word "ordinand" seems to have taken over my life.  Even at work I find myself looking at things as if through a different lens.  Even so, I was a little dismayed that our lively conversations over the last few days on learning as a christian community, all too often were hijacked to become a discussion about ministerial education, as though that were the whole of the issue. I may have a vested interest in wanting the very best theological education for people entering ministry but Theology is not a language reseved for Christian Educators.  As a children's worker I believe that we are each of us called to "do theology" - that we are each called to explore and understand the Christian faith as far as anyone can.  I reflect, once again on the words of Alister McGrath* that a key task of ministry is translating the language of the Christian Faith into ordinary plain English. So if you ask me about my study, I will do my best to tell you, but if I fail to explain it well, point me back to here please!

* At the STETS graduation ceremnoy in September 2010.  If you are interested you can listen to his talk by following this link
 http://www.stets.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Alister-McGrath-9-10-10.mp3