In May 2021 we held a Vocations Living Library.
If you would like to do something similar here is some information that might inspire you.
What is it?
A Living Library is a space some people are 'readers' and they meet people who are 'books'. The Books share their story and the Readers engage with the stories.
A place to ask questions you might have always been curious about but which you don’t want to ask people you know locally or maybe you don't know people with stories like these Books.
A place to challenge stereotypes about who is ‘suitable’ for a particular ministry
Who are events like this aimed at?
- In a vocation exploration context these events are for any who is wondering if a particular expression of church ministry is for them.
- People already in one of these ministries and feeling a little jaded or lacking in confidence, to talk with others from other contexts.
Books in Living Libraries are supported by the leadership team of the event and helped to work out a provocative or interesting title for the story they are sharing. They are also supported to work out what their boundaries are in terms of how much they want to share.
Readers at Living Libraries are supported to engage with Books respectfully.
In some Living Libraries everyone is a Book and and Reader and turns are taken as people engage with one another's stories.
Here are the provocative titles we had at our Living Library:
- Local Preacher: Rhodes Must Fall & Black Lives Matter - Does it matter to the Church?
- Worship Leading: Putting Welcome into Worship?
- Administrator: More than meets the eye
- Administrator: Administry
- Church Steward: Meet and Greet?
- Circuit Steward: The invisible senior manager
- Presbyter: Of Word and Wonder?
- Presbyter: Who Is on the Lord’s side?
- Making New Members: Past Sell-By Date?
- Deacon: Why Couldn’t We Get A Proper Minister?
- Deacon: A Call Outside Your Comfort Zone
- Children Youth & Families Worker: It’s more than playing games!
- Global Mission Partners: We Are Together
- Pioneer: A Waste of Church Money?
- Youth Rep: Brining Down the Average Age
- COP26 Campaign Worker: Should Christians be taking climate action?
- Chaplaincy: A calling; or a bolt on?
- Chaplaincy: Some will welcome your company
Please contact Alison Ransome if there is anything else it would be helpful to know to help you run a similar event in your church or circuit ransomea@methodistchurch.org.uk