Accompaniment – foundational tool or optional extra?
 

I am more than ever convinced that we are not meant to ‘walk alone’ in ministry, nor should we depend only on the more informal gatherings of friends and colleagues, but that we should also have a regular accompaniment as a foundational tool of our life and work, writes Paul Campion

When I began in ministry words like accompaniment and pastoral supervision were not used at all, mentoring was in its infancy, spiritual direction was mainly considered for those in different church traditions and coaching was for those in other forms of employment. How life has changed!

My first church was in Balham, south west London, and I was completely new both to ministry and to living in a multi-cultural city context. In those days we were assigned ‘senior friends’, who were generally neighbouring ministers asked to provide some support to those of us new to ministry. My senior friend was a wonderful colleague, and most of our meetings took place over an energetic game of squash followed by a relaxing coffee. It was very informal, but also deeply valuable.

Then for many of my 43 years of local church ministry I had no formal or structured accompaniment. I enjoyed great relationships with ministerial colleagues and friends from college, and I also had family members who were ministers, so I had no shortage of support, but nothing was formalised.

It was only in my final few years that I sought out more formal accompaniment, and my primary motivation in this was to ensure that my years leading up to retirement were the best I could possibly give in ministry, so that if at all possible I might end well in my full time role as a local church minister.

It turned out that those final years were the famous years of the pandemic and its aftermath, which along with other specific challenges meant that I was stretched in every way. The accompaniment which I had initiated proved to be invaluable throughout that time and certainly helped me to finish well.

I have no doubt that my earlier years of ministry would have been significantly more effective if I had viewed accompaniment as a foundational tool rather than an optional extra. The regular and disciplined process of meeting with another person whether for mentoring, pastoral supervision, spiritual direction, coaching or any other form of accompaniment is invaluable to facilitate healthy reflection, preventing harmful habits, maintaining spiritual alertness and fostering servant leadership.

Kate Lichfield, author of Tend my flock and writing from an Anglican perspective has wise words for ministers of every denomination and network:

‘All ministers need the discipline of regular opportunities to reflect upon the outworking of their call to ministry, their spiritual journey and life of prayer, with a trusted spiritual director, soul friend or companion. We are not meant to be self-sufficient in our ministry, and sharing with another person can provide the opportunity for new insights, spiritual renewal and inner transformation.’[1]

Her book was first published in 2006, so well before pastoral supervision became established as a form of accompaniment, but the heart of her message is as important today as it was then.

In my current work as a pastoral supervisor, I am beginning to see the difference which these regular sessions are having in the lives and ministries of those I am supporting. I am more than ever convinced that we are not meant to ‘walk alone’ in ministry, nor should we depend only on the more informal gatherings of friends and colleagues, but that we should also have a regular accompaniment as a foundational tool of our life and work.

Those who are working in Baptist ministry as Newly Accredited Ministers have mentors as part of their NAMS contract, and this often helps to set in place the habit of accompaniment which then continues further into ministry with pastoral supervisors, spiritual directors or other forms of accompaniment. However, accompaniment is not just for the early years of ministry, nor just for navigating difficult seasons of ministry, but is rather a foundational tool for the whole of ministry such that it becomes embedded in the way we think and work.

I think it is important also to ensure that all those who are working in a clearly defined leadership role in a Baptist church or missional setting receive accompaniment which is appropriate to their needs. In the church where I was minister before I retired, I was careful to ensure that our families, youth and children’s workers and our pastoral worker were all connected with someone outside of our congregation who would offer mentoring, supervision or similar support on a regular basis.

The Ministries Team has been working hard in recent times to bring together a list of those who are qualified and available to serve in various forms of accompaniment, and my contact details as Accompaniment Coordinator are available here.

The list is being continually updated, as is the information on the website, so look out for significant further developments in the coming months.

Paul Campion, Accompaniment Coordinator

[1] Kate Litchfield, Tend My Flock – Sustaining Good Pastoral Care (Canterbury Press, 3rd Impression 2014)
 

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