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Self-supporting ministers are wonderfully non-standard. They are deployed in a wide variety of ways and have a range of motivations, working patterns and training needs. Sometimes underused or overworked, they may feel unrecognised and under-supported. As the Church turns increasingly to its volunteer minsters, however, there are encouraging signs that SSMs are being given more creative opportunities than in the past.
John Lees is Associate Priest in Holyford Mission Community in East Devon and Bishop’s Officer for Self-Supporting Ministry for the Diocese of Exeter. He has served for 12 years as an SSM, working as a parish priest but also as Assistant DDO ffor Chester, where he was co-leader of the Headway leadership programme. He was previously a Pastoral Tutor on the Northern Ordination Course.
John’s day job is working as a career coach. He writes, speaks and broadcasts extensively about work and careers. He is the author of 12 books on work and careers, including Secrets of Resilient People and the best-selling How to Get a Job You Love.
This handbook is full of sound common sense. . . [it] is both an encouragement and a challenge in the task of re-imagining ministry today. — Robert Atwell, Bishop of Exeter
