Date of Award

4-1976

Document Type

Paper

Degree Name

Master of Divinity (MDiv)

Department

Seminary

Abstract

"We are all parts of Christ's body, and it takes every one of us to make it complete, for we each have difficult work to do." Romans 12:4, The Living Bible.

As Christians we are the body of Christ. Our calling as individuals and our mission as a church will be accomplished only so well as each of us, as parts of the body, are functioning in ministry. We each have God-given gifts and we are called to use these gifts in service to each other and the world. This concept of lay ministry and its importance in the life of the church needs strong and continuing emphasis. Our Christian communities should mean love and support for its members, but it should also provide a challenge to serve and the expression of a certain level of expectation. As part of this, the church must both encourage Christian commitment and develop methods to sustain and nurture it as well. Here the major role of the clergy is to call and equip lay people for service. Both clergy and lay people must learn to trust the ministry to the laity through the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit. We need to be able to take risks, admit and forgive failures and learn from mistakes.

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