Education Posts Melded Under Docker
Episcopal News Service. December 22, 1983 [83231]
NEW YORK (DPS, Dec. 22) -- The Rev. John T. Docker has been appointed Coordinator for Ministry Development. Formerly the offices of Mutual Ministry and the Council for the Development of Ministry were separate and headed by Docker and D. Barry Menuez, respectively.
In announcing this change, Menuez, Executive, Education for Mission and Ministry, stated, "for the first time the management responsibilities for lay and clergy ministry will be in one office. John Docker will continue as Coordinator for Mutual Ministry Development but will add the Council for the Development of Ministry to his responsibilities." The Office for Ministry Development, as it is now called is accountable, according to Menuez, "for helping to shape the for helping to shape the vision of ministry for the Episcopal Church by creating and maintaining a national system for the development of total ministry through work with the Council for the Development of Ministry and by promoting the theological understanding and practice of the mutual ministry. The office works in partnership with parishes, dioceses and provinces."
The Council for the Development of Ministry is a Council of the Church, formed by General Convention, to create a structure and provide services in order that the Episcopal Church at all levels of its organization, will better recognize current ministry development needs and opportunities, and better utilize resources for meeting them. Membership consists of a representative from the Board for Church Deployment, the Board for Theological Education, Church Pension Fund, Council of Seminary Deans, House of Bishops' Committee on Ministry, House of Bishops' Committee on Pastoral Development and Standing Committee of Education for Mission and Ministry of Executive Council, and representatives from each province who work with diocesan ministry commissions.
As Coordinator for Mutual Ministry, Docker works with the Total Ministry Task Force, a group that deals with issues concerning the development of Total Ministry at the parish and diocesan levels.
Docker came to the Episcopal Church Center staff in August, 1982. Before that he was program director of the Diocese of Bethlehem.