Revd Alan Tyler, Senior Hospital Chaplain in the chapel at the Royal Gwent hospital Priests are called...
The particular work of the priest is to lead and care for the people of God.
Priests lead the church in:
proclaiming the word of God; calling people to repentance and reconciliation; calling the people of God into holiness of life; blessing; praying; guiding; baptising; presiding at the Eucharist; communicating Christian faith; encouraging new ventures in mission; ministering to the sick and dying; working for peace, justice and healing; encouraging the ministry of all.
Priests work with their Bishop, other clergy and all the people of God, sharing in the ministry of Christ.
There are many ways of being a Priest…
Increasingly priests are being deployed in a wide variety of ways:
In parish life the church needs …
- some priests willing and able to move around and serve in a range of different places and situations over the years
- others to serve in their local church and community or near where they live. These priests live in their own homes and are financially self-supporting.
Increasingly, all priests in parishes serve with other ministers, lay and ordained, leading several churches in an area.
Many exercise ministry in prisons, schools, chaplaincies, shopping centres, with police, fire-service, local authorities, civic chaplaincies, at work.
Some priests are paid by the church; increasing numbers support themselves financially; some are employed by other agencies and organisations.
There is increasing need and opportunity for priests to minister in a range of ways over the course of their ministry.
[this material is based on Church in Wales leaflets on Ministry]