Truly Called? Vocation in the Anglican Church is for all readers who are interested in or curious about ordained ministry.

Bradly Billings has written a wonderfully accessible and instructive book. He successfully informs readers of the many aspects surrounding the call to ordained ministry in the Anglican Church, not only for those who are called, but also for those who undertake support roles in the wider church community.

Foreword

Discerning a call to ordained ministry is much greater than marking skills or abilities on a matrix. It is the recognition of an ontological call of and by God that sits at the core of one’s being. It is a highly complex, private and public journey, that must be examined and affirmed by the wider Church. It is a lifelong journey of formation, being shaped and moulded to grow into the person God has created.

In this book, Truly Called? Vocation in the Anglican Church Brad explores the complexities of call and vocation to ordained leadership in the Anglican Church of Australia for both the enquirer, and those who might be privileged to accompany a person on this journey.

Brad specifically addresses an often overlooked, but essential aspect of this discipline. Knowledge of God, and deep, honest knowledge of self, or of one’s own personhood. When we truly love God then we can begin the interior journey of exploration of self, a journey that helps us to understand and recognise our calling, which may or may not lead to ordained leadership. However, it will lead to the revelation of which part of the divine dance of discipleship a person has been called to embrace.

The Right Reverend Denise Ferguson
Assistant Bishop
Diocese of Adelaide
Chair St Barnabas College Council

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RRP $34.95 + p&h
ISBN 9781922441072

God is Enough

the alpha and omega of church

Reflection

I have come to know Bishop Matt Brain since his move to Bendigo three years ago and have developed great respect for his Christ-like leadership for the Diocese. I am challenged by his humble demeanour and all-embracing care and concern for everyone he meets. As I read God is Enough, I could sense his passion for us to place our full dependance on God as we move forward as a Church in these days, and to nurture one another in that knowledge.

It is a natural impulse for me to want to fix things that go wrong, or to find a solution to a challenging situation. So, it is a discipline for me to be patient – to stop, listen and take a measured approach. In addressing some of the challenges the Church faces – a decline in acceptance and changing technology and social behaviour – Christians might naturally lose heart and become discouraged. Or we might seek to devise ways to become more attractive and acceptable only to become more isolated and worn out as we do so.

Bishop Matt, in Part A of this book, encourages readers to see that we have the ultimate resource – God himself: the provider of the gifts we need and the founder of a community (the Church) bound together in love, which has the capacity to demonstrate the character of Jesus and influence others by the way we live. We are shown some of the common pitfalls congregations face as they work through daily life together and we’re presented with some descriptions of why we may have hope as congregations, churches, and the Church.

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