Recognised Local Ministers
Across Baptists Together, many people offer invaluable ministry to their local church or community but find that training to be an accredited Baptist minister is either not their calling or not possible in their circumstances. Yet we want to support and recognise those who faithfully serve their church or neighbourhood in this way as pastors, pioneers, evangelists, chaplains, or children’s, youth or families workers. Others - young adults especially, perhaps - are tentatively exploring a calling to ministry, but feel that their calling at this moment is to their particular location. For all of these, we have introduced a new category of Recognised Local Minister.
A Recognised Local Minister (RLM) is someone who:
-
can articulate a sense of calling to their local setting where they minister;
-
has gained an foundational introduction to theology and the practice of ministry;
-
has undergone a measure of testing and formation of their character and calling so that they exhibit the Marks of Ministry;
-
connects with the wider Baptist movement, mostly through their regional association.
An RLM is
‘recognised’ by their regional association because they have undergone a programme of training and formation set by Baptists Together. They are
‘local’ because their recognition is for their particular ministry and setting. And they are a
‘minister’ because they are entrusted by a Baptist church with the spiritual oversight of the church or the mission that emerges from it.
Significantly, an RLM does not have to be a church pastor! They may be a local chaplain or pioneer, for example, though their ministry must be connected to a Baptist church or regional association. We know that nowadays, ministry is practised in many forms and requires different skills according to context.
Training to be an RLM reflects this variety. Though much less rigorous than for accredited ministers, studying to be an RLM still covers the essential elements. Working with one of our Baptist colleges over a two-year period, RLM trainees study the Bible, Christian belief, mission, pastoral leadership, Baptist principles and more. The learning is pitched at (roughly) A-level standard. More specialised training modules can be included, and prior learning can sometimes be taken into account.
RLM trainees are asked constantly to apply their learning to their own situation. To this end, all trainees have a defined ministry or missional role in a Baptist context. Most start training when they are already in a church or mission role, but others are helped by their regional association to find a suitable placement.
And importantly, RLM trainees receive mentoring during their training period and join a spiritual formation group where they can reflect on what God is calling them to become, and upon their practice.
You can find more detail in our Introduction to Recognised Local Ministry.
If you would like to explore Recognised Local Ministry more, please get in touch with your Regional Minister.
Nationally Recognised Pastors
Before the introduction of Recognised Local Ministry, as described above, those who were not accredited ministers but who acted as pastors in our churches could become Nationally Recognised Pastors. Though this category is now closed to new applicants (who are instead encouraged to consider becoming a Recognised Local Minister), we still have a significant number of Nationally Recognised Pastors. A list of these may be found here.
Nationally Recognised Pastors have undertaken a programme of study aimed at enabling them to be better pastors, preachers, leaders in mission, and more. National recognition strengthens their relationship with those who are there to support them – the associations, colleges and Union. It also enables us to commend them to the Baptist world beyond their local church. However, national recognition has been limited to those who are church pastors. It has not been available to those ministering in other ways such as chaplaincy or children's, youth and families work. This is one of the reasons for the introduction of the broader category of Recognised Local Minister.
Picture by chafleks on Pixabay