Rev. Julian Reindorp reviews

Published by Administry 0114 278 0090, Sheffield 2001, 40pp. £5 ISBN 1362-3494.

Mark Greene has worked with great skill, and enthusiasm to put workplace issues at the heart of the Church's agenda - to equip Christians at work. He has provided a range of well-produced and stimulating materials including two videos. His 'Thank God it's Monday -ministry in the workplace' (Scripture Union £5.99) has just come out in its third edition.

This booklet was so much appreciated by one reader that he arranged for every Baptist minister in England to have a copy. It is excellent value and subscribers to Administry can get bulk copies for £3 each.

The seven chapters are packed with analysis and ideas - why the workplace matters; how the workplace was lost; issues facing workers today; four keys to supporting workers; 50 ways to support workers; the great opportunity; resources - including helpful questionnaires for the congregation and a worker's check list. This is the best resource of its kind available. It has been beautifully produced and is easy to read. It has all the Mark Greene virtues - racy style, lots of illustrations, and biblically based. You could give it to any member of your congregation and they would be stimulated.

I have two concerns: First, he makes clear his concern for the Kingdom of God at Work, and mentions 'transforming structures', but in reality I am left feeling he wants us all to make Christians at work rather than to make work Christian.

Second, good as this written material is, most of the key questions and dilemmas that people face at work begin where the written material ends. That's why in my book 'Equipping Christians at Work' I have focused particularly on the setting up of Christians at Work groups in a parish/congregational setting. Here issues can be teased out, new ways forward explored, and seemingly impossible situations shared.

These concerns apart, Mark Greene and all his publications are full of ideas to equip people for ministry 'in the place where many of us spend sixty to seventy percent of our waking lives'.