Old Catholic ministry

Bishop Arnold Harris Mathew, founder of what is now Old Catholic ministry.

Old Catholic ministry is a small and developing aspect of Christian ministry and often reflects a growing diversification within niche chaplaincy. Ordained ministry within the Old Catholic Church in the United Kingdom is small in scale when compared to the large Christian denominations such as the Anglicans or Roman Catholics; its lay ecclesial ministry remains undeveloped in comparison to larger denominations. A lack of funding has been experienced by Old Catholics which is in contrast to that traditionally available to large denominations. Smaller scale Old Catholic ministry may become more important with the declining church attendances witnessed in Western Europe, whereby larger denominations are unable to support their relatively expensive ministry.

Individual clergy

Old Catholic ministry traditionally develops through the personal skills and talents of the individual clergyman rather than from a centralised ministry plan. The ministry is often a source of commitment for the clergyman in question and something clergy has been involved in for many years. Sometimes the ministry is a new development. In the United Kingdom there is evidence of partnership working between orthodox Old Catholic groups. For example, the Catholic Orthodox Union of Saints Peter and Paul, a c. 2007 – c. 2010 umbrella organisation.

Niche chaplaincy

Old Catholic ministry is often specific to a particular geographical locality and Old Catholic ministry is frequently initiated to meet a need that is not being dealt with by one of the larger denominations. Niche chaplaincy describes a type of ministry where Old Catholics often choose to serve communities and put their Holy Orders into practice. Localised and focused ministries are by their nature small in nature and attracts little publicity from the media or larger organisations. Importantly, rather than having the resources to concentrate on national issues, Old Catholic ministry concentrates on being available for people who may be alienated from the denomination of origin for a variety of reasons. Old Catholics often work with the marginalized and those who can no longer fit into the larger organisations. In addition, the Old Catholics are for those that have well thought out theological reasons for not supporting the Anglican or Roman Catholic Church.

Old Catholic ministry is individualised and unobtrusive in nature and reflects the geographically dispersed nature of Old Catholicism in the United Kingdom. The lack of personal and corporate funding has traditionally been available to larger Christian groups and unavailable to Old Catholic groups. Old Catholics often work within partner organisations by invitation or with permission given by other organisations. The places which have experience of Old Catholic ministry include prisons, nursing homes, further and higher education, governmental organisations and community groups.

Old Catholics work with groups such as older people who begin to fall away from their faith of origin when they can no longer attend their usual place of worship without assistance. Old Catholics will also work with students who are often not part of an established belief community, although they may be interested in knowing more about new age relaxation, meditation and prayer. Old Catholic involvement with older people, students and community groups largely has an unpaid and voluntary status which can be compared and contrasted to the Anglican experience whereby many clergymen and women receive payment, a wage or a traditional stipend in return for their time.

Future

The future for Old Catholic ministry is unclear, although this form of ministry has been available from the early 20th century with the arrival of Arnold Harris Mathew. Cost concerns are mitigated to a degree due to the absence of physical structures and church buildings. While relieving Old Catholics of the need to maintain expensive buildings, this can present a problem for many Old Catholic clergymen. However, unlike the larger denominations, Old Catholics do not need to raise money for pensions, building maintenance or to fund the local diocese. There appears to be a continuing role for "small Church" within the community as Old Catholic Ministry meets a need not met by the large denominations.

See also

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