Abstract
Judith Thompson and Ross Thompson,
Mindful Ministry: Creative, Theological and Practical Perspectives
, SCM Press: London, 2012; 224 pp.: 9780334043751, £19.99 (pbk)
The book is a helpful addition to the modern library of books studying the dynamics of ministry, from an ecumenically Anglican perspective. The wisdom of the book reflects the interest and expertise of the authors in grounded ministry and in the theological formation of ordinands. The bibliography represents a sustained and catholic attention to a broad range of reading and is helpfully contemporary. The attention in the Introduction to Stephen Pickard’s excellent book, Theological Foundations for Collaborative Ministry (2009), is particularly illuminating.
The framing of the book is influenced by Ross Thompson’s own engagement with Buddhism and he and Judith connect this work to his book, Buddhist Christianity: A Passionate Openness, published in 2010. The reader is told that one does not need to be interested in Buddhism to access the heart of the authors’ thesis here, and that is quite right. The book’s raison d’être, nonetheless, is to promote a contagious mindfulness in Christian ministry. A key direction of the book is to encourage the minister – lay or ordained – to be fully awake to environment, influence and relationship and to be engaged in rigorous theological reflection. This interaction draws the minister into living the charismata of Christ. There is a wise illustration of the spiritual and psychological realities that arise when ministers are not mindful of their dynamic relationship with God, the Church and their own nature and gifts.
The shift from the paradigm of the omni-competent professional minister to that of the collaborative ministry team does not make an easier life for the minister, far from it. There is a strong thread throughout the book about a kenotic, self-forgetful shape to leadership in ministry that is not an abdication of leadership. The theological grounding provided for this is good, although the secular insights could be more contemporary.
The authors note that the New Testament affords us several different lists of ministries. They recognize that setting the rainbow can be arbitrary but the colours are a given. Their eightfold approach to model mindful ministry is both clear and traditional: apostle, holy one, pastor, teacher, leader, go-between, herald of good news and liberator. The structure of the chapters is accessible and the reflective use of Scripture I found especially useful. The theological sections are engaging and intelligible to those exploring ministry for the first time. It is hard to be critical of a book which synthesizes with clarity a good deal that one recognizes and already knows, albeit expressed afresh as this is.
This book allows itself to be enjoyed as a whole and in its parts. I am sure that it could be useful for parish study groups and, of course, for prospective ordinands and those exploring other public ministries. The book draws attention to personality and spiritual types in a useful way. I would have been interested to see some reference to or critique of criteria for selection used by the Anglican provinces of the UK and Ireland in relation to mindfulness. Perhaps that is for another offering from this interesting and useful collaboration.