An Entrepreneurial Approach to Priestly Ministry in the Parish: Insights From a Research Study in the Diocese of Durham

Abstract

Abstract
The objective of this doctoral research study is to explore the experience of a sample of entrepreneurial priests in the Diocese of Durham with a view to producing appropriate and informed suggestions for future practice in relation to the exercise of entrepreneurship by parish priests in the Church of England. Building on my own experience of being a priest and an entrepreneur, an understanding of the entrepreneur set out by John Thompson and Bill Bolton (2004), and beginning with the social, cultural, theological and ecclesiological case constructed by the Mission-Shaped Church report (2004), and upon which its recommendation of identifying ‘mission entrepreneurs’ rests, this thesis argues that the concept of entrepreneurship offers the Church of England a helpful lens through which to view priestly ministry and an understanding of an approach to priestly ministry in the parish that is well-fitted for the current mission task in England. The thesis argues that an entrepreneurial approach to priestly ministry is consistent with Anglican self-understanding as set out in the Articles of Religion, the Book of Common Prayer and the Ordinal. It also argues that an entrepreneurial approach to priestly ministry is consistent both with the nature of the Trinitarian God and with human collaboration with God’s activity in the world. Research findings are based on thematic analysis of data generated through online testing and qualitative interviews with a sample of entrepreneurial priests in the Diocese of Durham. This thesis finds that entrepreneurial priests appear to adopt an entrepreneurial approach to parish-based ministry in spite of the institution of the Church of England rather than because of it. In addition, this thesis finds that when faced with challenges related to church buildings, entrepreneurial priests adopt an innovative approach that has the potential to generate social and spiritual capital. Further, this thesis finds that entrepreneurial priests instinctively work with others and that creating appropriate partnerships with outside agencies has the potential to generate significant social, cultural, spiritual and financial capital for the church and the wider community. The findings result in ten suggestions for future practice in relation to the exercise of entrepreneurship by parish priests in the Church of England.