The 'Free Range' and the 'Priest'

Why accountability is important as we reimagine ministry in the 21st century

When I started my own ministry in 2016, I already knew what I wanted to call it: Free Range Priest.

To me, it spoke of breaking out of what I felt were stifling institutional models of church - and how to serve it - and getting back to the essence and excitement of the disciples in the early church.

There was a vibrance to the name that just spoke to me, and eventually led to my tag line: ‘cage free ministry’ (thanks to my awesomely clever husband…).

But in those early days, not everyone was so enamored of my name.

A colleague surprised me one day, when out of the blue she said: ‘Free Range’ is disrespectful of the authority of the church. It makes it sound like you’ll do whatever you want; that you’re not accountable to anyone’.

I was fascinated that this was her response - and a little put out, too, if I’m being honest!

And I realized she had a point about accountability.

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