THE PEOPLE'S WARDEN'S POINT / Mileva Saulo
The Ministry of the Laity

When I first joined the Episcopal Church in San Francisco in the ’70s, I was immediately struck by the involvement of people in all kinds of service. I can still hear the words of the Rev. Fordyce Eastburn, a parish sage, emphasizing the importance of not what we do on Sunday, but the importance of what happens on Monday. It was in these classes that I also became aware of the Catechism (yes, Virginia, the Episcopal Church has a Catechism), or an Outline of our Faith, in the Book of Common Prayer (BCP, p. 845-862). One of the questions raised is "Who are the ministers of the Church?" (BCP, p. 855). I was amazed at the answer! The ministers are the laity, the clergy, and the bishops. Think about that! The laity is first. The Catechism goes on to ask, "What is the ministry of the laity"? The ministry of the laity is to:

• Represent Christ and his Church;

• 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.

What does all of that mean within the context of the Church? Verna Dozier, a nationally known leader in lay ministry, suggests in her 1988 book, The Calling of the Laity, that "there are two churches: The Church, the institution, and the Church, the People of God. The institutional Church has two orders, clergy and lay. In the Church, the People of God, there are varieties of gifts and functions." She is quick to point out that the two are not identical. The institution is the earthen vessel in which the treasure is kept. It is not the treasure. Dozier suggests that there are several implications that follow:

• Dozier writes, "What happens on Sunday morning is not half so important as what happens on Monday morning. The worship of the Church is to nourish and strengthen (comfort means "with strength"), stir up and cheer the ones wearied in the struggle."

• The laity are the key agents in the ministry of reconciliation; the clergy are the support system. The call of the clergy is to equip the saints.

• There are no second-class citizens in the household of God. Religious authority comes with baptism, and prayer, worship, Bible study, and our life together nurture it.

Please take time to reflect and pray about the treasure that you are and the talents and gifts given you by our God. During this Eastertide and in preparation for Pentecost, ponder the story in Luke of Jesus’ returns to Galilee and how he framed his ministry. How does Luke’s Gospel speak to you in 1999? . … He is in the synagogue on the Sabbath, and is handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah… where it is written: The spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for he has anointed me. He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to the captives and to the blind new sight, to set the downtrodden free, to proclaim the Lord’s year of favor! (Luke 4: 18-19, The Jerusalem Bible).