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	October 2002
		Kenny's Catch... Transforming Priesthood: A new theology of mission and ministry by Robin Greenwood. SPCK Fourth impression 1999, 238 pp. RRP $58 reviewed by Charles Kenny
			Transforming Priesthood offers a major theological appraisal of the present and future role of the parish priest in Britain. In the past 10 years the growth of local ministry teams has been an outstanding feature of the Church of England. This has led to some problems due to different degrees of tolerance to change and different understandings about the nature of the priesthood of ordained clergy. Greenwood reviews inadequate models of Anglican priesthood held from 1900-1970. He then moves on to look at the demands of the present and the challenge of mission and ministry in our modern world. Context of eternity One thoughtful footnote comes from one of the commissioners recording what a parish wants of a priest: ...people said that they wanted 'their own vicar'. This enthusiasm for the minister is a tribute to the hard work of his predecessors in carrying out a role which is universally respected. Most of all, people seem to appreciate a pastoral ministry &endash; 'knowing that someone cares about them and appreciates them'. They see a role for a person who is committed to 'enhancing community life' particularly in our fast-changing society. They respect someone who has time to reflect on the direction [rural] society is taking, who can see over the horizon and help plan intelligently for the future. They respect someone who is dedicated to the things of the spirit and who is available to help them see the troubles of the present in the context of eternity.' p.195 Greenwood's final chapter is entitled 'Priesthood: The Presiding Ministry'. The priest presides at the Eucharist by virtue of presiding at church life, rather than by being a priest per se… [T]he only ministry in the church is that which Christ through the Spirit, shares with his Body, the church. Apart from a local church community, the ordained minister is nothing and possesses nothing. p. 152/153 All those hoops Greenwood argues for a relational understanding of ministry and priesthood which models itself on the Trinitarian God. In local Ministry Team Parishes it is the team with the help of the parish council which presides over the parish . It can be argued, 'why ordain one individual in the team rather than give that person a special licence for Lay Presidency from the Bishop?' The point I make was put more picturesquely by a member of a Collaborative Ministry Parish who said to me of X 'Why did they make him jump through all those hoops before they would let him take Communion for us?' Greenwood sees the situation otherwise... [A]ny local community which is normally focused in its ministry by a local layperson [or persons] should not be left in the position of importing a priest from elsewhere for the celebration of the Eucharist. In such cases the bishop with the people's consent and advice should ordain as Eucharistic president such persons as are focusing and distributing the ministry of the local church. p. 167 A timely book to be studied