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Ecumenical Mission Communities in the County of Cumbria: An Interrogation of the Impact of Implementation on Chaplaincy Models
Glynn, Jones
Glynn, Jones
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2020-01
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Abstract
In 2014 Anglican, Methodist, Salvation Army and United Reformed
churches in Cumbria came together under a formal covenant to form
‘Mission Communities’. The stated intention for these new groupings was
to resolve to seek out every opportunity for joint initiatives: to work
together to equip both lay and ordained ministry – and to share buildings
and resources wherever possible. Mission Communities were to share a
common evangelistic emphasis under the banner of ‘God for All’. This
thesis identifies that the ecumenical and evangelistic nature of the new,
imposed structure has been the cause of a disconnect between chaplains
and Mission Communities. The research question addressed throughout
is, ‘What is the impact of Mission Communities on chaplaincy models in
Cumbria?’ After tracing the historical development of Mission
Communities, due to the needs of the research I identified all the
chaplains in the county and offered every one of them the opportunity to
participate by expressing their perception of how the introduction of
Mission Communities has impacted upon their work and ministry. A
thematic analysis of responses extrapolates that five significant issues
arise: ecumenism, same-sex relations, sacraments, the role of women in
Christian leadership and episcopacy. The weight of the collective view on
each of these issues is balanced against an alternative view and then
synthesised into a summary of the theological and practical impact as a
whole. Whilst the purpose of this research was to identify early impact with
a view to informing the wider church of the implications of reorganising in
this way, the results are mixed and reflect the issues that were uppermost
in church conversation at the time the research was conducted. It may
provide the foundation for a longitudinal study at the conclusion (in 2020)
of the Cumbrian outreach initiative ‘God for All’, when ecumenical Mission
Communities in Cumbria will have been established for four years and a
second phase of impact can be assessed. Three outcomes were
envisaged:
1) To provide denominational leaders with a basis on which to assess the
impact that their decisions have made on ordained and lay ministers
across Cumbia.
2) To encourage chaplains to assess how they engage and function with
Mission Communities after identifying themselves and/or their
colleagues in this study.
3) To be of practical use to those of the wider church who may be in the
process of exploring similar changes.
To this end, the thesis concludes with a clear set of recommendations to
enable chaplains and Mission Communities to reconnect.
Citation
Jones, G. (2020). Ecumenical Mission Communities in the County of Cumbria: An Interrogation of the Impact of Implementation on Chaplaincy Models (Doctoral dissertation). University of Chester, UK.
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University of Chester
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Thesis or dissertation
Language
en