New Wine, Loose Threads: Prayer Ministry Beyond Canon and Consent
In many New Wine Anglican churches, the openness to Spirit-led ministry creates a participatory atmosphere. Lay people are often encouraged to pray with and for one another, and this can be seen as an expression of the priesthood of all believers.
However, when individuals begin to minister regularly outside the discerned structures of licensed Lay Ministry or ordained oversight, a quiet shift can occur - one that risks forming an informal hierarchy of spiritual influence. This echoes C.S. Lewis’s warning in his famous essay “The Inner Ring”, where the existence of an unspoken circle of insiders can subtly erode integrity and accountability.
Lewis describes how an informal network can exist, and in a New Wine context, this would be where those seen as spiritually significant or especially gifted can be part of an informal network without office, and recognition within that informal “inner ring” without responsibility. In a church context, this can lead to certain individuals becoming de facto lay ministers, not through discernment or commissioning, but through social proximity or perceived charisma. The result is often a blurring of lines: between vocation and visibility, between calling and clique.
This dynamic also raises serious safeguarding concerns. When prayer ministry is offered by those outside formal structures, without clear oversight or training, the church becomes vulnerable - not only to spiritual confusion, but to emotional or pastoral harm. Without proper boundaries, consent protocols, or accountability, well-meaning ministry can become intrusive or even manipulative. Safeguarding is not just about preventing abuse; it is about creating a culture of safety, clarity, and trust for all who come seeking prayer.
Canon law in the Church of England requires that all public ministry - including prayer ministry - be exercised under the oversight of the incumbent and within authorized structures. Informal or unsupervised ministry risks breaching both ecclesial order and safeguarding responsibilities. In New Wine Anglican contexts, where lay participation in prayer ministry is often encouraged, it’s vital to remember that Canon Law is not suspended by charisma or spontaneity.
To honour both the movement of the Spirit and the dignity of the Church’s ministry, there exists a proper protocol for lay participation which ensures that all who minister do so within a framework of discernment, training, and oversight. This protects the vulnerable, affirms those called to serve, and resists the quiet pull of the inner ring. True spiritual authority is not claimed - it is entrusted. And the Church flourishes not through hidden circles, but through visible, accountable service rooted in love.
So to recap on safeguarding obligations: All ministry - especially involving vulnerable individuals - must comply with national safeguarding policies. These includes: (1) ensuring lay ministers are known, trained, and accountable (2) avoiding unsupervised or spontaneous prayer ministry by individuals not formally recognized (3) maintaining clear boundaries and consent protocols
When prayer ministry is offered by those outside these structures, even with good intentions, it can undermine the discerned authority of licensed ministers, create confusion about who is acting in a pastoral role and importantly, breach safeguarding expectations, especially if vulnerable individuals are involved.
Canon law exists not to stifle the Spirit, but to protect the dignity of ministry and the safety of the flock. It ensures that all who minister do so with clarity, accountability, and communal trust.
In many New Wine Anglican churches, the openness to Spirit-led ministry creates a participatory atmosphere. Lay people are often encouraged to pray with and for one another, and this can be seen as an expression of the priesthood of all believers.
However, when individuals begin to minister regularly outside the discerned structures of licensed Lay Ministry or ordained oversight, a quiet shift can occur - one that risks forming an informal hierarchy of spiritual influence. This echoes C.S. Lewis’s warning in his famous essay “The Inner Ring”, where the existence of an unspoken circle of insiders can subtly erode integrity and accountability.
Lewis describes how an informal network can exist, and in a New Wine context, this would be where those seen as spiritually significant or especially gifted can be part of an informal network without office, and recognition within that informal “inner ring” without responsibility. In a church context, this can lead to certain individuals becoming de facto lay ministers, not through discernment or commissioning, but through social proximity or perceived charisma. The result is often a blurring of lines: between vocation and visibility, between calling and clique.
This dynamic also raises serious safeguarding concerns. When prayer ministry is offered by those outside formal structures, without clear oversight or training, the church becomes vulnerable - not only to spiritual confusion, but to emotional or pastoral harm. Without proper boundaries, consent protocols, or accountability, well-meaning ministry can become intrusive or even manipulative. Safeguarding is not just about preventing abuse; it is about creating a culture of safety, clarity, and trust for all who come seeking prayer.
Canon law in the Church of England requires that all public ministry - including prayer ministry - be exercised under the oversight of the incumbent and within authorized structures. Informal or unsupervised ministry risks breaching both ecclesial order and safeguarding responsibilities. In New Wine Anglican contexts, where lay participation in prayer ministry is often encouraged, it’s vital to remember that Canon Law is not suspended by charisma or spontaneity.
To honour both the movement of the Spirit and the dignity of the Church’s ministry, there exists a proper protocol for lay participation which ensures that all who minister do so within a framework of discernment, training, and oversight. This protects the vulnerable, affirms those called to serve, and resists the quiet pull of the inner ring. True spiritual authority is not claimed - it is entrusted. And the Church flourishes not through hidden circles, but through visible, accountable service rooted in love.
So to recap on safeguarding obligations: All ministry - especially involving vulnerable individuals - must comply with national safeguarding policies. These includes: (1) ensuring lay ministers are known, trained, and accountable (2) avoiding unsupervised or spontaneous prayer ministry by individuals not formally recognized (3) maintaining clear boundaries and consent protocols
When prayer ministry is offered by those outside these structures, even with good intentions, it can undermine the discerned authority of licensed ministers, create confusion about who is acting in a pastoral role and importantly, breach safeguarding expectations, especially if vulnerable individuals are involved.
Canon law exists not to stifle the Spirit, but to protect the dignity of ministry and the safety of the flock. It ensures that all who minister do so with clarity, accountability, and communal trust.
The New Wine Practice Guide (2025) states: “We have an expectation that prayer ministry would be offered at every possible opportunity.”
New Wine’s theology supports lay involvement in prayer ministry, and many Anglican churches affiliated with the movement do include non-licensed individuals in ministry settings. However, this must always occur under proper oversight from the incumbent, with clear safeguarding, and without undermining the integrity of licensed ministry.
Safeguarding training is mandatory for licensed lay ministers, but for non-licensed individuals involved in prayer ministry, oversight must ensure they’ve completed appropriate training—even if not publicly listed. Displaying safeguarding status on church noticeboards is not required, but clear internal records and visible team identification are strongly recommended.
Safeguarding training is mandatory for licensed lay ministers, but for non-licensed individuals involved in prayer ministry, oversight must ensure they’ve completed appropriate training—even if not publicly listed. Displaying safeguarding status on church noticeboards is not required, but clear internal records and visible team identification are strongly recommended.
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