Associate Director:Practical Theology

The Revd Canon Nigel Rooms

Direct Line: 01636 817231        

e-mail: nigel.rooms@southwell.anglican.org

My role in the Department for Development and the Diocese is

• Discerning our missionary context in Nottinghamshire and understanding our engagement with it
• Asking the practical theological question; "how, then shall we live?" - as often as possible
• Developing our minsters (clergy and lay) in role

Expanding on these headline roles let me explain further for those who want to know more.................

1. "Looking for God"

We believe that the Trinitarian God we worship as Father, Son and Holy Spirit created and saved the world and one day will perfect that work at the end of all things.  So God, as the first missionary, is always at work in the world around us and our task is to "find out what God is doing and join in" (as Archbishop Rowan Williams has put it). Or in other words 'we can never be sure where Christ is not.'

God at the Car Boot Sale
Some time ago I noticed on early Sunday morning bike rides that a local Car Boot Sale attracted over a thousand people on a cold wet Sunday morning in February by 9am.  In the summer this could rise to many thouseands of people.  Surely these people weren't just turning up to by and sell their inwanted stuff to each other?  Yet they would rather be at the Car Boot than in Church!!  It so happened that I knew of a local lay minister in training who also knew "Car Boot Bob" who ran the whole thing.  Quickly the idea of Car Boot Church was born.  You can visit it next Sunday at the Calverton Car Boot Sale at a field just north of the village - just follow the road signs!

What I do:

I convene the Diocesan Spirituality Group which overseas provision of spirituality events and spiritual direction in the Diocese.

I am engaged in a research project undertaking local church missiologies in our area in conjunction with a national project in advance of Edinburgh 2010 http://www.edinburgh2010.org/

I convene a group of Fresh Expressions practitioners in the Diocese and help with the supervision of our Pioneer Curates.

I ruminate about the possibility of developing a "Robin Hood Theology" - a contextual theology for Nottinghamshire - I certainly think the Robin Hood myth is foundational in the identiy of our area.

2. "How then shall we live"

Theology is just "pie-in-the-sky" unless it affects the way we live.  Christianity is not just for Sundays in Church.  Practical Theology attempts to connect faith and everyday life through this key question that I try to keep before us in the Diocese.  I have some expertise in this area and offer training days and other resources for those wanting to find out more.

Getting in front of the Bible

On a recent Practical Theology training day participants were encoruaged to 'get in front of' their favourite bible texts through painting, pastels, or clay work (rather than getting behind them by pulling them apart!) In groups they then took the insights gained outside and looked for surprises from God in the world around the training venue.  They presented their findings through liturgy, drama and poetery in a most moving way.

What I do:

In the Department, as well as being a practical theology resource, I supervise the Lay Training Officer, the World Development Adviser and the Equality and Diversity Officer and Rainbow Project Leader.

3. Lifelong Learning and development for Ministers

The World we live in is rapidly changing and unless our minsters, lay and ordained, are continuously learning they are simply left behind.  We provide therefore a "Continuing Ministerial Education" (CME) programme for clergy, lay ministers and lay people - in fact there is something for everyone at most levels.  Click here to see forthcoming events.

Being on a hamster wheel

Clergy and minsterial life often feels like "being on a hamster wheel" which over time grinds away the sense of vocation and even sometimes the very humanness of the minister.  Our programmes are designed so that people can get off the wheel and be in touch with themselves and God again.  Often people discover a new freedom to work out their 'core identity, vocation and gifting' rather than the expectations that others are placing on them.

What I do:

Plan the annual CME Programme for the Diocese

Administer grants for courses and study for licensed clergy

Arrange study leave for clergy

Deliver targeted CME programmes for clergy and laity

Oversee and administer the Diocesan Review (appraisal) system for clergy