Living in the Gaze of God offers an accessible exploration of the theme of ministerial accountability through the lens of one reflective tool - that of formal supervision of ministerial practice. Bold and far-reaching, the book addresses the key presenting issues around a need for a change of culture in the church as regards accountability for ministerial practice. It outlines a theological and practical model of 1-to-1 supervision, arguing that such an approach enables the development of greater attentiveness to God, the self and others and thus enhances accountability. Laying aside the need to offer a 'how-to' approach, Helen Cameron instead brings us a rigorous and dynamic consideration of the interface between supervision, accountability and ministerial practice, and offers a theological underpinning for the issues.
Helen Dixon Cameron is Chair of the Northampton District of the Methodist Church, former Director of Methodist Formation of the Queen's Foundation, Birmingham and Co-Chair of the Anglican: Methodist Safeguarding Group.
Title: Living in the Gaze of God: Supervision and Ministerial Flourishing
Author: Cameron, Helen Dixon
ISBN: 9780334056508
Binding:
Publisher: SCM Press
Publication Date: 2018-11-30
Number of Pages: 176
Weight: 0.1600 kg
The Methodist Church has been on a journey of increasing understanding about the need and benefits of improving the wellbeing of ministers. This includes ensuring church environments and work is safe and appropriate for our current understanding of safeguarding. This comprehensive and accessible guide has skilfully integrated these elements into a compelling agenda to help the whole church move forward in confidence and expectation. -- Tim Carter
This is a book for those who desire to know God, to know themselves and to serve others. It offers a poetic and deeply biblical invitation into a deeper relationship with God, self and other as part of the transforming work that God is doing through those called to minister. Writing out of her experience of 30 years as a Methodist minister and at the start of the British Methodist Church's journey into mandatory supervision for its ordained ministers, Helen advocates the value of supervision in the maturation of those called into public ministry. She sees this process as one for which the body of Christ bears responsibility alongside the minister, offering a 'shared agenda' model of supervision that allows both the supervisee and the supervisor to bring issues for exploration. Reflecting on the need for ministry to be accountable to those it serves, this book is a timely discussion of some of the spiritual, theological and ethical foundations for practising supervision in an ecclesial context. -- Jane Leach
