Posted on July 19th, 2008
Have all been called or only those who become bishops, priests, or deacons? Are there enough of these who wear the collar to build and maintain God’s Church? Can those who remain within the laity allow God’s work to be done by the few labeled as “ministers”?
In the Communion that we left last year, there were approximately 18,500 registered and active clergy representing about 1% of the total Episcopal Church in America. I don’t know about AMiA’s statistics yet, but for us here at All Saints Anglican Church, Fr. Lance and I as clergy represent about 1% of our congregation. Let us suppose that Leah and at least one other from our parish goes on to ordination - that would bring us to 2%. So let us draw a weak conclusion that 1% to 2% in the overall Church of God has been called to be deacons, priests, or bishops. 2% to do the work of God in the vineyards that God has told us in Scripture that has too few laborers in the harvest.
So where am I going with this thought? To few; so much work; a task assigned with no hope of success; and did God plan poorly? Hum, let us think about this. Is the problem with God or my understanding? Since the beginning of time and up to now the problem has never been with God; so the problem must lie with me - again!
We know the answer to the question even though we may not remember the details of the answer. God is indeed in charge and His Plan will succeed. I know we have heard it a hundred times but a quick look at the 1979 Book of Common Prayers Catechism on page 855 tells it all.
Q - Who are the ministers of the Church?
A - The ministers of the Church are lay persons, bishops, priests, and deacons.
Statisicially speaking, 98% to 99% of the ministers of the Church are laity. It is true that some of the laity needs to be called to ordination and be ordained to do some very specific tasks but most of the work of God has been assigned to the laity.
Simply put, a bishop defends the faith; a priest administers the sacraments; and a deacon becomes a servant of those in need. These are both very specific duties and a small portion of the overall Plan. 1% to 2% cannot under any stretch of the imagination reach a fallen world. Well, maybe with today’s technologies, the whole world can be reached either visually or by voice, but the day to day hands on ministries will not be staffed and the needs will not be met!
This brings us back to the 98 to 99% - the laity; before baptism, all members of the human race. But once baptized; still members of the human race but now Christians and members of the Church Militant - Now called by God for a specific purpose in His Master Plan.
Each one called for a specific and at the same time general purpose. Our Baptismal Vows remind us of the general ones.
Scripture talks about the more specific purposes called gifts:
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles , second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 1 Cor 12:27-28 NIV
This is not a complete list by any means but you get the idea. God calls each and everyone of us and in the process takes a very personal role in being with us, nurturing us, and walking with us as we surrender to His Will.
Again, let us return to the Catechism and concentrate on the text book answer for the Laity.
Q - What is the ministry of the laity?
A - The ministry of lay persons is to represent Christ and his Church; to bear witness to him wherever they may be; and, according to the gifts given them, to carry on Christ’s work of reconciliation in the world; and to take their place in the life, worship, and governance of the Church.
This all can be reduced to the following: We are the Hands, Eyes, Ears, and Feet of the Risen Christ. If the 99% leave it to the 1% then the Kingdom will not be advanced and the Great Commission of going into all the world falls short.