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DIOCESE OF NEWCASTLE The Ministry of Deliverance The Ministry of Deliverance is not something that is encountered by most of us very often. It is, however, something that most clergy will be required to deal with on at least one occasion during the course of their ministry. Quite often, the phenomena appear puzzling, bizarre and certainly to those experiencing them, disturbing. Every Diocesan Bishop in the Church of England is required to appoint one or more persons to assist with the Ministry of Deliverance. In the Diocese of Newcastle there is a team of people appointed by the Bishop, who have accumulated very considerable experience in this ministry. What should I do if someone is disturbed and comes to me for help? The first priority is to listen and to calm anxiety. Whether you believe everything that you hear is not too important at this stage. It is important to remember that the experience of the person who is talking to you is sacred, it is the interpretation of that experience which is open to exploration. So listen carefully, question carefully and write down some notes. Just listening to the story will help calm someone who is distressed, and assurance and prayer will relieve anxiety further. What happens next? Before considering the ministry of deliverance in this Diocese clergy must consult the priest authorised by the Bishop to conduct the deliverance ministry. Clergy should undertake only such ministry under the direction of the Bishops Advisor. The current Bishops Advisor and team co-ordinator is : Support The task of the Advisor is to support you in your ministry. Initially we will simply listen and try to work out just what has been going on. What we do next depends very much on what has been happening. On some occasions we will simply offer advice to you on how to proceed. In other instances, and always when requested by you, a member of the team will arrange to visit in person. Occasionally one visit might suffice, but it is more usual for there to be ongoing contact for some time. Occasionally, and especially when there is no connection with the church, referrals are made directly to the team. Further information / reading The Church of Englands Report entitled, A Time to Heal has a chapter devoted to the ministry of Deliverance and this is an excellent introduction. It clearly sets this ministry within the wider ministry of healing in the church. For those who want to read further, the standard current text remains Deliverance (2nd edition) which is edited by Michael Perry (formerly the Bishops Adviser in the Durham Diocese) and published by SPCK. The Churches Fellowship for Psychical and Spiritual Studies has produced an excellent leaflet for those who experience such phenomenon. Entitled, Deliver us from Evil and available either from the Bishops Adviser or directly from the organisation: Email: gensec@cfpss.freeserve.co.uk The House of Bishops has produced Guidance for Good Practice in Deliverance Ministry (Revised 2012) which those authorised to conduct this ministry are required to follow. The House of Bishops has produced Guidelines for the Professional Conduct of the Clergy. Every ordained person in the Diocese should have a copy of this document, and use it as the basis for Good Practice in ministry. This is particularly significant in responding to the anxious, troubled and often vulnerable people who are frequently encountered through the Ministry of Deliverance. Prayers For protection : Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Prayers For a house : A blessing : Further useful prayers can be found in the Common Worship volume of Pastoral Services in the section entitled Prayers for Protection and Peace (page 94ff) |
