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CHRISM:Theology Resource Book (Bedford CHRISM 1999)
This booklet was produced by a working party of CHRISM members and is the outcome of two years' prayer contemplation and discussion. The task group of five ordained MSE's included a health scientist an IT manager an accountant a food technologist and a civil servant.

More of a discussion starter than a theological sourcebook its content reflects the theological concerns of CHRISM's members. The major sections are -

  1. Reviewing the working environment
  2. Human Resources
  3. The nature of work
  4. Is there any work an MSE should not do?
  5. Is there any place in which an MSE should not work?
  6. Ministry and Management
  7. Should politics matter?
  8. Work place ethics
  9. Work place ministry
  10. Ordination and ministry in secular employment
  11. How does the ordained minister manage this ministry?

The booklet is short on answers and long on questions as one would expect. But the questions are valuable because they set a theological agenda which any PSE needs to work through -

Reviewing the working environment Why are things in your workplace as they are ?
What is the purpose of the work place (mission statement) ?
How far does the image match reality ?
Are mistakes permitted recorded remembered differently by those in the incident ?
Human Resources How do we measure human resources ?
What is the place for ambition power use of people use of gifts ?
To what end is power used ?
Who are the lost and disadvantaged in [the] workplace ?
Who has control over their destiny ?
Change - who pays ? who benefits ? what terminology is used (rightsizing headcount ... ) ?
The nature of work What opportunity does [the] work provide for self-expression ?
What [to] do if [the] job does not allow self expression or originality ?
Is there compensation (financial conditions of service) ?
Is there any work an MSE should not do?
Would most people prefer to have some work than none ?
What principles should the MSE rely on or draw from ?
Should [the MSE] criticise the organisation which employs [him/her] ?
Should [the MSE] attempt to change things ?
Is there any place in which an MSE should not work?
Note: there were many assertions in this section only one question -
If [the MSE] thought about opting out what effect would going / staying have on the situation ?
Ministry and Management How can a manager minister to people s/he manages ?
How can a manager minister within structures ?
What do we mean by - authority ? accountability ? responsibility ? empowerment ?
Do we manage material things but lead people ?
How do we resolve different perspectives ?
How do we balance the how with the what ?
Should politics matter?
How much should the MSE [in] addressing work issues challenge social economic and political pressures ?
Are institutions more often changed from within or in response to outside constraints ?
Is there a requirement to protest about anything which fails to meet kingdom values / standards ?
How far do you go ? -- Do you risk your job ?
Work place ethics Where does our value system come from ?
How do we engage with internal decisions which are influenced by external constraints ?
How does an MSE deal with the tension ... when the question 'how will this organisation survive' has to be answered ?
How does an MSE deal with the tension ... when the question 'SHOULD this organisation survive' has to be answered ?
What are the values and assumptions which form the prevailing culture of the organisation ?
How can we cope with the realisation that sometimes the MSE can do nothing ?
Work place ministry How can ministry happen in the work place ?
Doing theology in my work place - can I see it ? can I see it in another ? what should I do about that ? how can I express it ?
Ordination and ministry in secular employment Why be ordained in secular employment ?
Why not be ordained in secular employment ?
How does the priestly person affirm priestly things being done by other people ?
Can there be a theology of ministry in secular employment without a theology of work ?
How does the MSE name 'secular' sacraments ?
How does the ordained minister manage this ministry?
Note: there were many assertions in this section only one question -
What do MSEs bring to the worshipping community ?