Representational presence in the context of isolation: The missiology of priests in The Society of St Wilfrid and St Hilda.

Abstract

This thesis seeks to establish the missional self-understanding of priests in The Society of St Wilfrid and St Hilda (The Society). The overarching argument of this thesis is that the participant-priests have a missiology of representational presence that operates within a context of isolation. This is argued by viewing the participant-priests within the wider contexts of a historical narrative of isolation, in addition to a recent shift in missional approach within the Church of England, as represented by the Mission-Shaped Church report.
The participant-priests’ missional approach can be characterised by a cumulative scale of presence. While this approach addresses a shortcoming within Mission-Shaped Church, the missiology is underdeveloped by the participant-priests, thus preventing it from being gifted to the wider Church of England. The development of this missiological approach is therefore proposed.
The project’s data suggest that the participant-priests’ narrative of isolation is false and self-serving while having a detrimental effect on the missional practice of priests in The Society. The thesis argues that this narrative is perpetuated by both The Society and the wider Church of England and therefore proposes that the current practice of Alternative Episcopal Oversight be adjusted to bring both conservative Evangelicals and traditionalist Anglo-Catholics under the same bishop based on geographical area rather than church tradition. Finally, this thesis points to signs of life among the younger participant-priests that offer hope to both The Society and the wider Church of England.