AOCM

Chair’s Foreword from 2003 Handbook

James Oakley is the Chair of AOCM

We live in a time of change. British society is becoming increasingly disinterested in God; the so-called sacred-secular divide is widening. In the church, Christians increasingly feel marginalised. In the area of ordination training, the General Synod endorsed the Hind Report which promises a wide-ranging restructure. In the face of all this to ask why we are here, and what ordained ministry is about in the twenty-first century is only natural.

There was a day of worship and reflection planned for all ordinands in February 2004. Unfortunately, due to lack of popular demand, this has been cancelled. However the theme of that day was to be “Changing Culture; Changing Ministry?” and I am convinced that is the right subject to reflect on. The culture we live in is changing – both that of the world around us and that in the church. What kind of ministry is required in this day and age?

That is no small subject. But it will do us no harm to start this year, and this Handbook, con-sidering one of the biblical portrayals of Christian ministry. The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy:

“What you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well.” (2 Timothy 2:2, NRSV)

How does this inform our understanding of what it is we are training for? There are three qualities of the Christian leader in this charge. Let’s reflect on the kind of leader Paul thinks is needed and seek to grow into such people throughout the coming year.

We need to be those who will be faithful

Timothy is to “entrust to faithful people.” We are to be reliable and dependable. In 2 Timothy this acquires particular nuance. One aspect is that of enduring suffering. Being a faithful Christian will entail suffering, and the pressure is there to be ashamed of what we believe. We need to be those who will not buckle under pressure, but be willing to suffer for the gospel. The other, related, aspect is that of unpopularity. 4:3 is clear that authentic Christianity will not be popular in the last days, and those who teach what their hearers want to hear will always be successful. Being a faithful Christian will at times entail not being popular; we need to be prepared for this and to stay faithful.

We need to be those who will be able to teach others

We instinctively know what this looks like. It means working hard to understand the faith; it means working hard to understand those we would teach; it means knowing how the faith has been understood historically; and it means developing good communication skills.

Just as faithfulness has a 2 Timothy nuance, so does teaching aptitude. The content of the teaching is defined by what Paul taught. It is “what you heard from me” (2:2) which is “the standard of sound (healthy) teaching” (1:13). This is in contrast to whatever it may be that the “itching ears” want to hear.

In short, ability to teach others is a particular example of the faithfulness we need. In a climate where Paul’s teaching is unpopular and attracts opposition, one application of the need to be faithful to the historic faith is the need to be faithful in passing it on. As E F Scott helpfully comments: “[The deposit] is of inestimable value to the human race, and must be preserved and handed down without injury.”

We need to be those who will train new leaders like this

All this is addressed to Timothy himself. Elsewhere in the letter, he is exhorted to be faithful and an able teacher. But here he is asked to ensure that such leaders are found. Part of being a faithful, teaching Christian leader is ensuring that the next generation of leaders are trained, and therefore that they are both faithful and able to teach. We are being trained to train others!

All this matters because of “the day”

The ultimate rationale behind Paul’s ministry and his exhortations in 2 Timothy is “the day” when Jesus will appear again as judge. He knows that those who keep the faith until then have their crown in store for them. Those who do not remain faithful are ensnared by the devil and face ruin. It is the hope of the resurrection (2:18) that we must never lose sight of – in order that we, and those in our care, may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus.

So why AOCM?

That is a question I am asked frequently. What is the value of an organisation like AOCM? Well, AOCM is not so much an organisation as a network which depends on its members for its existence and effectiveness. As cultures change, the Church of England is right to constantly reform ordination training so that the next generation of leaders is equipped for ministry in today’s church, not yesterday’s church. In this process, the views of students need to be heard by those who make the decisions, and students need to be kept informed about what is going on. AOCM is the network set up to provide exactly that bridge. AOCM has a vital role to play in ordination training, and I am convinced that we neglect it at our peril.

So, let’s resolve that this year might be a year of growth in faithfulness and in the ability to pass the message of Christianity onto others. Let’s pray for one another to grow in these qualities, and for God to raise up many more such leaders. And let’s pray that AOCM might facilitate this happening – both as we engage at the national level, and as we network with one another.

James Oakley
AOCM Chair
October 2003