If You Meet George Herbert On The Road, Kill Him

Looking at the status and role of parish clergy, this book draws on the work of historians, social anthropologists, psychologists and theologians and presents their ideas. It sees the future strength of the parochial clergy to be found in a recovery of historic, renewed understandings of priestly ministry. At a time of uncertainty for the Church, this robust challenge to an outmoded style of ministry offers realistic encouragement for the future. The book's deliberately provocative title echoes: If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him; its thesis is that the shadow of George Herbert's parish ministry lingers still in the Church of England, placing an impossible burden of unreasonable expectations upon today's parish clergy. The author sets out realistically to assess the context of Herbert's life and to explore the difficulties of parish life today; he concludes by outlining a more sustainable pattern for the future. This is a book of the long view. In looking at the status and role of parish clergy it draws on the work of historians, social anthropologists, psychologists and theologians and presents their ideas in a readable and passionate style. It is neither a jeremiad nor pollyanna-ish in its analysis or its prescriptions, but rather sees the future strength of the parochial clergy to be found in a recovery of historic, renewed understandings of priestly ministry. In a climate of such uncertainty for the future of the church, it will be an encouragement for priest and people, and welcomed by both.

Priestly ministry in the Church of England needs a radical rethink...George Herbert died in 1633. His legacy continues. His poems are read and sung, and his parish ministry remains the model for the Church of England's understanding of how and where and why its priests should minister. But there is a problem. The memory of Herbert celebrated by the Church is an inaccurate one, and, in its inaccuracy, is unfair on Herbert himself and his successors in the ordained ministry. This is a book of the long view. It sets out to assess realistically the context of Herbert's life and to explore the difficulties of parish life today. By examining the status and role of parish clergy since Herbert's time and today, it draws on the work of historians, social anthropologists, psychologists and theologians, and presents their ideas in a readable and passionate style. It argues that the future strength of parochial ministry will be found in a recovery of historic, renewed understandings of priestly ministry, and concludes by outlining more sustainable patterns of practice for the future.In a climate of uncertainty for the future of the church, it will be an encouragement for priest and people, and welcomed by both.