Faith at Work

Reflections on seminar in Sheffield on 26/4/07 Led by David Clark
Question: How can we as church leaders encourage congregations to see their ‘work’ life as a integral part of their Christian discipleship. How can we learn from the experience of people at work in order to enrich our understanding of God as creator? For examples given by David see here
Definition of work as those experiences which derive from our engagement ‘in the world’, ie apart from congregational life.
Positive benefits from engaging with the world of work

Discipleship as 24/7

Consciously looking for where God is already at work in the world

Earthing our church-based Christianity in the ‘real’ world

Releasing Christians to engage as part of the Kingdom community

To actively witness to the way our faith informs our practice which leads to new ways of doing/thinking about something. Praxis leading to Poiesis:

Role of Christian Leader as Community Educator

Equipping the laity to think/interpret theologically

To release scripture as a living tool to help in that interpretive process

To see the work of the Holy Spirit as the interpreter of life’s experience ( I know a ‘man’ who can!)

For an exercise looking at the theology of the laity see here

Questions I am working on
How do I see myself as an ordained person?
Why do I have feelings of regret about the experienced of perceived loss of connection with the world of work?
In what ways are ministers also participants in the ‘workplace’?