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Another exciting piece of the emerging church is that, for the first time perhaps, we’ve stopped emphasizing and idealizing the top. We are beginning to recognize actual operative gifts and real ministry to God’s world as in the early church (Ephesians 4:11-13, 1 Corinthians 12:4-30), instead of just being preoccupied with getting formally ordained or academic certification—not that there isn’t a place for such things. I probably would never have had the access I did if I had not been ordained and “certified,” especially in my young years.
But the first question is not just, “Is she trained in theology?” or “Is he ordained?” The first question can also be “Can she do the job?” and “Is he changing lives?” or “Is it working?” Most of us were ordained without ever having led a single person to conversion, transformation, or even spiritual health. What evidence did any bishop have that we were gifted for ministry? It was too often a decision for security and status, a sincere career move, but not really a recognition of any actual gift for service.
We are beginning to support lay leadership—competence itself being more important more than role, office, costume, or title. In that light, the very terms “layman” or “laywoman” begin to be a real misperception and misnomer of what is happening.
Adapted from the webcast What is the Emerging Church? (CD, DVD,
MP3)
The Daily Meditations for 2013 are now available
in Fr. Richard’s new book Yes, And . . . .
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