A pioneering mission and ministry resource pack for mission-shaped poultry keepers …

Background

A recent General Synod report on clergy vocational fulfilment and ministry development has this important insight.

‘There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution here because keeping poultry, walking on the moors, line dancing and driving steam trains may be just as valuable as… a diocesan conference on leadership and growth‘From Frustration to Fulfilment’- report to General Synod.

Something to crow about

The steadily increasing numbers of clergy keeping chickens is one of the unsung growth success stories in the Church of England. (was, indeed, Mission-Shaped Perch the intended title and focus of the now famous synod report, but misheard by the Bishop of Maidstone in the original phone conversation?)

Now, at last, this resource pack has been published to support and maximise this neglected area of the church’s life.

Worship and teaching resources

Liturgy

Outline of proposed annual service of licensing for Ordained Local Poultry (OLP) and Mandated Lay Ministers.

Hymns and choruses

‘Who would true valour see, let them keep chickens’

(- omit reference to ‘fowl fiend’ in vs3)

‘All creatures of our God and King’

‘Crow Jesus crow!’

‘Thy hand O God has guided, thy flock from age to age.’

‘Lay lady lay’ (Bob Dylan adapted)

Sample sermon outlines and Bible eggspositions

‘For free range Christ has set us free. Do not submit again to the yolk of slavery.’ Gal 5.1

‘O Jerusalem, Jerusalem!’ Mt 23.16ff

‘Not a Bantam falls to the ground’ (new translation) Matt 10.29

‘Hide me under the shadow of your wings.’ Ps 17.8

Articles and theological resources in preparation

‘Ministry on the cheap? – exposing the scandal offunding for chickens in ministry.

‘Brooding on the face of the deep’ – one hen’s theological reflection on the creation story.

‘Cockerels – a wake up call for the church?’-prophetic poultry.

Poultry offering or chicken feed? – re-thinking the parish share.

Bishops, priests and poultry? – re-examining pecking orders in the early church with startlingly fresh insights.

Sunny side up! – encouraging stories of fresh eggspressions of being perch from around the vicarage gardens.

‘Thinking outside the eggbox’ – an exciting proposal for developing a new pioneer entrepreneurial Free range, Ordained, Wandering Lay Ministry(FOWL ministers).

Beak House – the inspiring story of one former battery hen’s faith journey from slavery to free range.

(Bantam Publications)

Fowl Play – ‘Godly play’ material adapted for All-Egg worship.

Chicken Run (DVD)

Essential Reading

Scott Peck The Run less TravelledBest selling introduction to chicken psychology and spirituality.

Stephen CockerelEvangelism from an Anglo-Chicken perspective. The first Episcopal chicken in the Cof E reflects on the sacramental dimension of poultry outreach.

James Fowler Stages of Poultry Faith Mould breaking study of faith development in the chicken run.

Forthcoming events and training opportunities

Leading your Perch into Growth – training day for midi size chicken coops.

‘Back to Perch Sunday’Research shows that many who used to keep chickens would come flocking back to the roost again if invited by a friend.

Taster day for proposed MA in ‘Leadership, Applied Poultry Keeping and the Pastoral Imagination’

Alpha for Chickens. To be renamed Omega (3). Complete with delicious vegetarian omelette recipes for those suppers.

Financial grants for fresh eggspressions of Mission- Shaped Perch

New CME ‘enterprise’ grants are available for getting startedwith fresh eggspressions

– eg chicken feed , straw, chicks etc. Clergy will be expected to sell the eggs to repay the grant and fund the walking boots, cowboy hats, steam train season tickets, digital projectors etc.

Order now from your Diocesan Ministry, Leadership and Training Office

Mission-Shaped Perch resource packs are available in three sizes – small, medium or large.

They come in cartons of half a dozen or dozen. Keep refrigerated until use.

The Revd David Runcorn is a freelance writer, speaker and consultant in areas of spiritual development, vocational guidance and ministry development. He is an associate minister at St Peter’s Church, Littleover, Derby. He also keep chickens…