If you meet George Herbert on the road, kill him Book

Justin Lewis-Anthony has written an excellent, intelligent, thoughtful meditation on the "problemataa" (my neologism) of contemporary Church of England clergy. Despite the provocative title Lewis-Anthony writes with compassion and the understanding of an experienced practitioner.

Equally, the focus extends beyond the clergy of England: a similar situation holds true in Australia (where I exercise my priesthood), not least, arguably, because of the Australian church's English heritage, however much it is trying to establish an authoritative identity of its own.

Lewis-Anthony's thesis is the English church has laboured under a misdirected and false reliance on the mythois of parish ministry that owes its genesis to an ahistorical and idealised view of the kind of rural ministry George Herbert practised - for less than three years! Herbert's world no longer exists. It hasn't for well over a century - probably longer. Yet the model of parish ministry and the expectations and assumptions of parish folk remain largely unmoved.

Lewis-Anthony offers sound critique and parallels it with intelligent proposals for finding solutions to the problems he outlines, making this book excellent reading not only for clergy and their families, but also for parishioners perplexed by their incumbent's inability to emulate Superman or out-Jesus Jesus. Read it.