Theological Foundations for Collaborative Ministry

This book examines the theological foundations of a collaborative approach to Christian ministry. The discovery that Christians are members 'one of another' creates energy and joy in ministry and empowers the Church in an age of mission. Outlining the present challenges for ministry, Stephen Pickard offers an historical perspective on ministry over the last century; develops a theory of collaborative ministry based on a dialogue between theology and science; and explores some implications of collaborative ministry for lay and ordained people of the Church. This book breaks new ground in its theory of collaborative ministry through a dialogue with the sciences of emergence. It also offers fresh insights on important texts in ministry; relationships between Christology, Pneumatology and ministry; a relational ontology of ministry; episcopacy, ecumenism, ordination vows; and wisdom for team ministry.

In this book I draw upon my experience in ministries of various kinds and in different contexts. As priest in a team ministry in a large rural town in a new housing area in Australia; in a pit village daughter church of a city parish in the United Kingdom; in University chaplaincy in the UK; in theological education and ministerial formation in the Uniting Church and Anglican Churches in Australia; in a School of Theology of an Australian University; and more recently as an assistant bishop in the Diocese of Adelaide. Beside numerous chapters and journal articles, I have a book published in the Mission and Modern Culture series with Trinity Press International: Liberating Evangelism: Gospel, Theology and the Dynamics of Communication, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Trinity Press International, 1999.