What do you think?
Rate this book
On Priesthood: Servants, Shepherds, Messengers, Sentinels and Stewards
Messenger, sentinel, steward ... these three words have been used to describe the work of a priest in the Church of England since Cranmer wrote the original ordination rite in 1550. Two more, servant and shepherd, were added in 1980. Taken together, these five metaphors provide a rich and resonant set of ideas through which to explore the nature of Christian ministry.
In this short, lyrical book, Bishop Stephen Cottrell explores each one; based on actual addresses given to ordinands on the night before their ordination, it is refreshing, challenging and accessible.
Anyone considering ordination or already in ministry will want to read this book for the fascinating exploration of the five metaphors he considers.
In this short, lyrical book, Bishop Stephen Cottrell explores each one; based on actual addresses given to ordinands on the night before their ordination, it is refreshing, challenging and accessible.
Anyone considering ordination or already in ministry will want to read this book for the fascinating exploration of the five metaphors he considers.
180 pages, Hardcover
Published March 1, 2022
50 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Cottrell
129 books25 followersThe Right Reverend Stephen Cottrell is Church of England Bishop of Chelmsford, and a prolific and much-loved author. He is a co-creator of the Emmaus course and a co-author of the Pilgrim course.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 10, 2024
Interesting, but not very practical or inspiring.
August 22, 2020
Great book to read if you’re contemplating ordained and lay ministry.
May 5, 2020
For those considering a priestly vocation, this is absolutely REQUIRED reading. Cottrell has an easy-going style that contains several vital points about the service an ordained minister may and is called upon to provide.
August 27, 2020
This book is great. Up until now, the book I had enjoyed most about priesthood was Ramsey's. Stephen Cottrell's book is like a modern, updated Ramsey, but with a very different flavour. My favourite chapter was on the priest as Sentinel, but I found the whole book helpful, challenging and insightful. I am currently exploring ordination and was recommended this book by the DDO of the diocese I serve. It has been very helpful in terms of my exploration. My favourite line of the book was the quote from Fr Derek Allen - "Find enough time to sleep, enough time to pray, then do what you can." Which I think is pretty good advice whether you are entering the priesthood or not! There is so much wisdom in this book and lots that I have to take away and consider and think about. I am thankful to Stephen Cottrell for writing it - it is a book that blesses.
November 1, 2022
A commentary by a Church of England bishop on his view of the call of the priesthood. It is meant to be a “small catechism” of sorts for people in the ordination process. He uses the ordination service - the “ordinal” - aa his main base for his commentary, He posits that the call of a priest involves five different characteristics: being a servant, a shepherd, a messenger, a sentinel, and a steward. His main argument is that regardless of eventually ordination to the full priesthood a priest never stops being a deacon for the notion of service to others, and seems to want to protect that ministry from being perceived as somewhat less a priest though, of course, and he notes this, there are things that someone who eventually is ordained as a priest can do which deacons do not (at least in the Episcopal Church). He repeats the notion that priests never stop being a deacon throughout the book.
Perhaps his best commentary is on page 74:
“Before people can respond to the gospel they have to hear it and understand it and see it demonstrated as a saving reality. Remember: the Holy Spirit only speaks in local dialects. So everyone who wishes to tell the story of Christ must learn the languages of the different cultures of the parishes they serve. We must come alongside people in the networks day inhabit, rather than expecting them to come to us. We must search them out, we must serve them, washing their feet and remembering that as a priest we never stop being a deacon. We must develop new communities of faith and new opportunities for people to hear about and discover faith. We must, as I have already emphasized, demonstrate its usefulness in our own lives and in the life of our communities. And in order to offer a faithful translation we need to know both languages well: the language of the gospel and the language of the culture.”
He takes pains to demonstrate that the ministry of the priesthood does not mean that the priest does everything. In fact, he emphasizes that the priest is basically a coordinator of all the ministries that go on within the parish. But he seems to think this is not management and that in church vocations one should avoid management terminology. In this sense, he talks about leadership but leadership is, of course, a variable of management. Being a steward of resources is management that exercises leadership.
He spends little time addressing how to approach pastoral care, social and/or practical ministry. He does address evangelism, not surprising as that is apparently something attributed to him.
He spends no time talking about the spouse of the priest or fledgling ordinand and any view of how the spouse can support the person ordained/being ordained. Pretty surprising for someone who was at the Anglican Lambeth Conference this summer.
At the end of the book is a copy of a sermon he delivered for a bishop ordination, in which he makes a culturally relativistic mistake when he says on pg. 161:
“People treat us – and they mean it well – as if we are something special. When you arrive at a church a parking space will be ready for you. Someone will be waiting to greet you and to carry your bag. Someone will be on hand should you need to pass them your staff or take off your mitre. You will have PAs, secretaries, chaplains, drivers, advisers, gardeners, caterers. You will not have to make phone calls. Someone will put you through. You will not open your post. You will not fill your own diary...”
Quite frankly, diocese are so wildly different in terms of resources that it’s impossible to make a direct correlation between what one diocese has an assume that another has the same level of resources.
It is, however, an admiral or aim to have a manual, of sorts, for a person about to be ordained to give some systematic thought to the process of ordination and what that persons life will be once they are ordained. In this sense, it’s a good read for folks who are ordain. But it would be a good read for those who are actively involved in the church Regardless of whether they are ordained so that they understand the mindset of someone who has gone through holy orders.
Perhaps his best commentary is on page 74:
“Before people can respond to the gospel they have to hear it and understand it and see it demonstrated as a saving reality. Remember: the Holy Spirit only speaks in local dialects. So everyone who wishes to tell the story of Christ must learn the languages of the different cultures of the parishes they serve. We must come alongside people in the networks day inhabit, rather than expecting them to come to us. We must search them out, we must serve them, washing their feet and remembering that as a priest we never stop being a deacon. We must develop new communities of faith and new opportunities for people to hear about and discover faith. We must, as I have already emphasized, demonstrate its usefulness in our own lives and in the life of our communities. And in order to offer a faithful translation we need to know both languages well: the language of the gospel and the language of the culture.”
He takes pains to demonstrate that the ministry of the priesthood does not mean that the priest does everything. In fact, he emphasizes that the priest is basically a coordinator of all the ministries that go on within the parish. But he seems to think this is not management and that in church vocations one should avoid management terminology. In this sense, he talks about leadership but leadership is, of course, a variable of management. Being a steward of resources is management that exercises leadership.
He spends little time addressing how to approach pastoral care, social and/or practical ministry. He does address evangelism, not surprising as that is apparently something attributed to him.
He spends no time talking about the spouse of the priest or fledgling ordinand and any view of how the spouse can support the person ordained/being ordained. Pretty surprising for someone who was at the Anglican Lambeth Conference this summer.
At the end of the book is a copy of a sermon he delivered for a bishop ordination, in which he makes a culturally relativistic mistake when he says on pg. 161:
“People treat us – and they mean it well – as if we are something special. When you arrive at a church a parking space will be ready for you. Someone will be waiting to greet you and to carry your bag. Someone will be on hand should you need to pass them your staff or take off your mitre. You will have PAs, secretaries, chaplains, drivers, advisers, gardeners, caterers. You will not have to make phone calls. Someone will put you through. You will not open your post. You will not fill your own diary...”
Quite frankly, diocese are so wildly different in terms of resources that it’s impossible to make a direct correlation between what one diocese has an assume that another has the same level of resources.
It is, however, an admiral or aim to have a manual, of sorts, for a person about to be ordained to give some systematic thought to the process of ordination and what that persons life will be once they are ordained. In this sense, it’s a good read for folks who are ordain. But it would be a good read for those who are actively involved in the church Regardless of whether they are ordained so that they understand the mindset of someone who has gone through holy orders.
February 17, 2024
My Priest lent this book to me to read because we had a discussion recently on the role of “priesthood” and whether this distinction is still necessary in today’s church.
This book answers some of my questions, though not all.
I think it would be helpful if the book could explain that the word “priest” came from an Old English word which has its origin in “presbyter” - meaning, elder. Thus it is important to note the difference between OT priesthood, being a mediator between God and men, and NT priesthood, which is an elder responsible for the shepherding of His people. Although the title is the same, the roles are quite different.
Apart from the above missing point, I think the book overall is worth reading, especially for Anglicans to fully appreciate the rich tradition that we inherited. The commentaries on the Ordinal is very helpful for someone who’s never heard of it. I’d recommend this book, and it is quite easy to digest.
This book answers some of my questions, though not all.
I think it would be helpful if the book could explain that the word “priest” came from an Old English word which has its origin in “presbyter” - meaning, elder. Thus it is important to note the difference between OT priesthood, being a mediator between God and men, and NT priesthood, which is an elder responsible for the shepherding of His people. Although the title is the same, the roles are quite different.
Apart from the above missing point, I think the book overall is worth reading, especially for Anglicans to fully appreciate the rich tradition that we inherited. The commentaries on the Ordinal is very helpful for someone who’s never heard of it. I’d recommend this book, and it is quite easy to digest.
June 4, 2020
This is a wonderful book meditating on the five roles at the heart of the Declaration in the service for ordination of priests. Challenging and inspiring in equal measure perhaps it’s real strength is the constant reminder that it is from lives rooted in prayer, sabbath rest and our own deepening faith that ministry flows and that we serve God’s church in God’s strength in order to invite people into the fullness of life offered by Christ. For anyone exploring ordination, curious about priesthood or already walking the path of that calling this is a great read. The only thing I would have liked to see more of was an exploration of the deacon role as it’s own distinct ministry as well as how it provides the foundation for priesthood.
May 5, 2020
Bishop Stephen Cottrell examines the important and resonate words: servants, shepherds, messengers, sentinels and stewards used in the addresses given to ordinands on the night before their ordination. Cottrell explores these words with wisdom and great relevance to the ministry of a priest. He carefully relates them to scripture and his own long experience in ministry.
Those considering ordination or already ordained, will find the book a thoughtful and helpful look at their vocation. It doesn't give much coverage to ministry outside of parish ministry.
Those considering ordination or already ordained, will find the book a thoughtful and helpful look at their vocation. It doesn't give much coverage to ministry outside of parish ministry.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2023
When I first mentioned to my vicar that I felt called to ordained ministry, he recommended this book and John Pritchard’s. They both tell you how hard ordained ministry is. And they both tell you you are always first and foremost a deacon. Was I put off? By no means. Serving God by serving others is my calling, tending Christ’s flock until he comes. Representing him, helping people to receive God’s grace. Stage 2 panel next month! Unbelievably excited!
April 9, 2021
A fantastic exploration of the key characteristics of priesthood. Cottrell writes lucidly and concisely and presents a thought-provoking and intriguing picture of what it means to be a priest in the modern age. Essential reading for anyone feeling a calling to ordained ministry, and highly recommendable to anyone interested in the Church of England.
August 30, 2022
Beautiful, insightful, full of ancient wisdom yet bang up to date.
This book is an inspiring read for anyone in ordained ministry, or about to enter it. I just feel so encouraged that the future of the Church of England is in the hands of someone as prayerful, wise and pragmatic as Stephen Cottrell.
This book is an inspiring read for anyone in ordained ministry, or about to enter it. I just feel so encouraged that the future of the Church of England is in the hands of someone as prayerful, wise and pragmatic as Stephen Cottrell.
July 2, 2021
I’m a huge Stephen Cottrell fan and have read many of his books. This one though, stands alone. Much ‘heavier’ than many but still one to be absorbed and reflected on. A book not to rush but to savour and return to.
April 17, 2020
Helpful, accessible, winsome and inspiring.
July 19, 2020
Accessible and though provoking reflection on what a Priest should strive to be. With humility and humour Cottrell offers an insightful commentary on ordained ministry in the Church of England.
December 3, 2020
As with many of Stephen Cottrell's books, this is small but mighty! I definite must read for aspiring priests and current priests alike.
May 6, 2021
Took me awhile.
I'm not usually into "learning" books.
But I was asked to read this one.
Considering ordaination, this has been useful and informative.
I'm not usually into "learning" books.
But I was asked to read this one.
Considering ordaination, this has been useful and informative.
August 7, 2021
Very good
Be amazed. The promise Priests Make at their ordination and what they mean are astounding. If they manage these they are truly people of god
Be amazed. The promise Priests Make at their ordination and what they mean are astounding. If they manage these they are truly people of god
August 26, 2021
Very inspirational read which movingly articulated the calling to priestly ministry.
December 14, 2024
A easy and thoughtprovoking book on what it means to be a priest. An essential read for anyone considering the priesthood.
December 30, 2020
Incredibly helpful and informative. It has helped to guide my exploration of vocation and it is reassuring that my perceptions align with the Archbishop of York's. Would highly recommend for those considering ordination, or those who want to better understand priests.
December 18, 2023
I read this at the beginning of the discernment process and remember thinking it was the most readable of all the books I was recommended. It makes much more sense now I'm at a theological college. Must have worked!
October 21, 2025
As one discerning the priesthood in the Episcopal Church, this book from our Anglican brother in the Church of England was an absolutely amazing, inspiring, motivating, and needed.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews