What do you think?
Rate this book
On Being a Priest Today
This important book on priestly identity embraces the many contemporary varieties of priestly male and female, paid and unpaid, parish and work–based, catholic, evangelical, charismatic. Examining the “root,” the “shape,” and the “fruit” of priestly identity, On Being a Priest Today is essential reading for priests, priests in training, and everyone considering the ministry. Part One “roots” a priest's human and church life in the theological convictions derived from the Christian understanding of God as being for and with others. Part Two explores the “shape” of priestly life in relation to worship, word, and prayer, each supported by the three key virtues of love, faith, and hope. Part Three examines the “fruit” of priestly life by focusing on three fundamental features of priestly holiness, reconciliation, and blessing. With its applicability to various denominations, this exciting book offers welcome new perspectives on what it means to be a priest today.
224 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2002
19 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 14, 2024
A wonderful book about contemporary priesthood. This book at its best feels like a conversation between two authors with different perspectives which brings into focus some of the complexities of being a priest within contemporary society.
March 3, 2023
A great reflection for any person on a spiritual journey. I loved that it handled concepts gently but was very deep and touched things that I did not know how to put words to before
June 7, 2025
Very helpful!
October 18, 2016
On being a priest today by Rosalind Brown and Christopher Cocksworth
This book is paints a picture of what priestly ministry is - not just in a traditional stipended parish priest context, but for all the spaces and places an ordained person may find themselves ministering in our world today. While the book may appeal to those in ministry or church leadership positions already, the book seems to be aimed at those about to enter into ordained ministry as it draws heavily from the many ordination liturgies from the Anglican and other traditions throughout the world and throughout history. The book, while published in 2002, does not seem to have dated greatly.
The book looks at the root, shape and fruit of the priestly ministry, with the first section, “root” looking at a sense of calling that is founded upon the theological consideration of a God who is with and for others. The second section looks at the “shape” of the priestly ministry looking at worship, word and prayer that is sustained by faith, hope and love. The third section focuses on the “fruit”, in particular, holiness, reconciliation and blessing.
While this book is obviously set within an Anglican context, and especially for priests, it did feel quite generalistic and I could of been reading about book on ministry in any tradition - references to being a “priest” aside. The book does not really go into the particulars as to what, if anything, would distinguish the life of a priest from the life of a Baptist pastor. I guess I was hoping for something that would speak directly to those particulars, but will have to look elsewhere for them. Even the section on worship did not spend any significant time on the Eucharist in relation to ordained ministry.
In the first section, where the New Testament letters and other early church writings were reviewed, they write that a presbyter “provided leadership within the churches and they probably did so in a collegial way because it is likely that each church had more than one presbyter.” If anything, this is a witness against the traditional structure of an Anglican parish. It also stated that, “Hierus, the Greek word for “priest” was reserved for Christ, the true priest of the Church, and for the Church itself, which, as a body, shared in the priesthood of its head.”
Some thoughts to remember while walking this journey.
The authors write, “ordained life is impossible without the deep love for the health of the Church that Chrysostom, Baxter, and many others spoke of and lived by despite the blows that the Church had dealt them in different ways,” and I feel that I have this deep love for the Church.
I loved the poetry used throughout the book, especially Herbert who I want to return to again. When I first read Herbet I wasn’t so connected and aware of the accent of Anglicanism and I feel that I will get more of the imagery and poetry now.
I appreciated the chapter on holiness, which I found rather practical and inspirational with really tangible thoughts such as “Chastity means that we are chaste with ourselves, not demanding more of ourselves than we can give” and “Holiness flourishes in ordered and uncluttered lives; we do not have to fill every waking moment with activity.” Something I will return to.
My favourite part of the book was the chapter on blessing. Blessing is something that I have had somewhat of a revelation on, and I feel that we do not do enough and often revert to intercession (asking God to bless) when we should be doing it. Blessing speaks of a generosity of heart and spirit, really being for the other. “ ‘The purer the heart becomes, the larger it becomes’ is the succinct reminder from John of Krondstadt, a nineteenth-century Russian Orthodox priest, that purity and blessing go hand in hand since blessing flows from a heart that God has enlarged, that God has swelled with love. Given the magnitude of God’s love and blessing, priests are called to bless people, participating in the joy of the blessing that is already ours in Christ.”
There is a challenge to be pure, and have an air of lightness of heart in order that we might bless others by our very presence.
Overall this was a book that I enjoyed reading, no doubt will read again at some point in my life and one that I made many highlights in (Kindle version).
This book is paints a picture of what priestly ministry is - not just in a traditional stipended parish priest context, but for all the spaces and places an ordained person may find themselves ministering in our world today. While the book may appeal to those in ministry or church leadership positions already, the book seems to be aimed at those about to enter into ordained ministry as it draws heavily from the many ordination liturgies from the Anglican and other traditions throughout the world and throughout history. The book, while published in 2002, does not seem to have dated greatly.
The book looks at the root, shape and fruit of the priestly ministry, with the first section, “root” looking at a sense of calling that is founded upon the theological consideration of a God who is with and for others. The second section looks at the “shape” of the priestly ministry looking at worship, word and prayer that is sustained by faith, hope and love. The third section focuses on the “fruit”, in particular, holiness, reconciliation and blessing.
While this book is obviously set within an Anglican context, and especially for priests, it did feel quite generalistic and I could of been reading about book on ministry in any tradition - references to being a “priest” aside. The book does not really go into the particulars as to what, if anything, would distinguish the life of a priest from the life of a Baptist pastor. I guess I was hoping for something that would speak directly to those particulars, but will have to look elsewhere for them. Even the section on worship did not spend any significant time on the Eucharist in relation to ordained ministry.
In the first section, where the New Testament letters and other early church writings were reviewed, they write that a presbyter “provided leadership within the churches and they probably did so in a collegial way because it is likely that each church had more than one presbyter.” If anything, this is a witness against the traditional structure of an Anglican parish. It also stated that, “Hierus, the Greek word for “priest” was reserved for Christ, the true priest of the Church, and for the Church itself, which, as a body, shared in the priesthood of its head.”
Some thoughts to remember while walking this journey.
The authors write, “ordained life is impossible without the deep love for the health of the Church that Chrysostom, Baxter, and many others spoke of and lived by despite the blows that the Church had dealt them in different ways,” and I feel that I have this deep love for the Church.
I loved the poetry used throughout the book, especially Herbert who I want to return to again. When I first read Herbet I wasn’t so connected and aware of the accent of Anglicanism and I feel that I will get more of the imagery and poetry now.
I appreciated the chapter on holiness, which I found rather practical and inspirational with really tangible thoughts such as “Chastity means that we are chaste with ourselves, not demanding more of ourselves than we can give” and “Holiness flourishes in ordered and uncluttered lives; we do not have to fill every waking moment with activity.” Something I will return to.
My favourite part of the book was the chapter on blessing. Blessing is something that I have had somewhat of a revelation on, and I feel that we do not do enough and often revert to intercession (asking God to bless) when we should be doing it. Blessing speaks of a generosity of heart and spirit, really being for the other. “ ‘The purer the heart becomes, the larger it becomes’ is the succinct reminder from John of Krondstadt, a nineteenth-century Russian Orthodox priest, that purity and blessing go hand in hand since blessing flows from a heart that God has enlarged, that God has swelled with love. Given the magnitude of God’s love and blessing, priests are called to bless people, participating in the joy of the blessing that is already ours in Christ.”
There is a challenge to be pure, and have an air of lightness of heart in order that we might bless others by our very presence.
Overall this was a book that I enjoyed reading, no doubt will read again at some point in my life and one that I made many highlights in (Kindle version).
April 19, 2017
There have been a clutch of books on the priesthood published over the past ten years. This remains my favourite, partly because of the contrasting styles of both writers and partly because of the imagination that has gone into the thinking and writing of the book.
July 3, 2023
Some good themes to consider about the vocation but the focus on 17th and 18th century poetry didn't help me get a good idea of what the vocation looks like today.
June 22, 2018
I cannot recommend this highly enough, to anyone with interest in why we have priests... especially those who may be called to that path.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews