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Ministry A-25 Ministry Page 1 of 2 A-25 Christian ministry is activity outreach and filled the liturgical, thinking, what would your response those for whom “occupational” motivated by Christian faith. The term teaching and disciplinary needs of the be? Would you name the pastor? If so, ministry is part of their response to ministry comes from the idea early church's life together. When they you'd be like many other people. Since their unique vocation. There is a expressed by the Greek word couldn't do everything that needed the days of the reformation, the idea of difference in how people are called to diakonos meaning one who serves. doing, they ordained the seven, who the ministry of the laity has not ministry. In a sense, all people are sent All who serve in the name of Christ became known as deacons. Acts 14 received consistent attention. This by God in Christ to ministry. In share the Christian ministry. tells that Paul and Barnabas appointed understanding of ministry says that ministries that require ordination, elders. There is evidence of an order people who minister continue the licensing or commissioning, the sense History and of ministry by A.D. 120: bishops, ministry of Jesus Christ and are sent of being sent is reinforced by the part elders (or presbyters) and deacons. into the world to serve God. of the Body of Christ known as Background So from the very outset, the church Each of us--every man, woman and denominations. In the United Church The Gospels show Jesus as one who is valued people whose lives were occu- child who bears the mark of baptism-- of Christ, it is the association (or in sent in ministry by God. In Mark 9:37 pied in ministry. More and more, shares in this ministry. Each is sent to some cases the conference for the (TEV) it says, “Whoever welcomes people who provided leadership to the serve on behalf of God. association) which acts in behalf of me, welcomes not only me but also church and its people did so as Unfortunately, in the centuries since the denomination to ordain, the one who sent me.” In turn, Jesus occupation. By the Middle Ages, Martin Luther’s revolutionary concept commission and license people to sent others to ministry as we see in ministry was tightly identified with was shared, the church has struggled particular kinds of ministry. Ordained Luke 10:1 (TEV): “After this the Lord the clergy. The laity, the people who with what have been called the ministry sets apart people who are chose another seventy ... and sent did not have an occupation of “twinned evils” of clericalism and called to, and prepared for, providing them out two by two ....” ministry, were structured out of anti-clericalism. The first pastoral oversight in preaching and The Gospels also show Jesus as one ministry. inappropriately exalts the status of the liturgical observances, teaching, who serves. When the disciples were The Reformation helped change ordained; the second is a reaction to counseling and congregational life. wondering about greatness in that. Martin Luther's teaching on the that disproportion which results in a Licensed ministry and commissioned ministry, Jesus commented, “I am vocation of all believers made it clear degradation of the meaning and ministry are occupational lay among you as one who serves” (Luke that people didn't have to be members importance of ordained ministry. ministries that are recognized and 22:27). He recommends that the of a holy order in order to be in The antidote to these distortions lies authorized by the association. Part of disciples become servants, too: ministry. Luther's understanding of in the understanding and ownership by what people who minister as “Whoever wishes to be great among vocation was similar to the New all Christians of their vocation as occupation do is help others see their you must be your servant” (Matthew Testament idea of vocation (klesis). ministers of the church. As members own vocation of ministry and develop 20:26). These and other passages Paul's vocation was apostle; Paul's of the Body of Christ we are each their own gifts for ministry. underscore the servant quality of occupation was tentmaker. Martin called to this vocation, sometimes The local church reinforces and ministry. Luther reminded all the people of God called “baptismal ministry”. We are enlivens the sense of God’s people While the New Testament gives this (the “laos”) of their vocation, or call to sent into the world to continue Jesus' being sent to ministry as vocation. clear understanding that we are each faithfulness, regardless of their ministry that brings good news to the This can happen through worship and called, as Jesus was called, to ministry occupations. He spoke of “the poor, proclaims liberty to the captive, study. Some churches have special and servanthood, it also lays the ministry (or priesthood) of all recovery of sight to the blind, sets free rituals to elect, appoint and send groundwork for a misinterpretation of believers.” the oppressed and announces that God people to ministry within the ministry as occupation. saves God's people (Luke 4:18-19). congregation. They dedicate officers Jesus chose the 12 (Matthew 10:5) Common Practices The life of the church helps us discern or have a special service at the and the 70 (Luke 10:1) and sent them our vocation and helps equip us for it. beginning of the school year, “Who ministers at your church?” If to serve. Acts 1-6 shows how the 12 Claiming the ministry of all recognizing ministry in the church you answered this question without ministered through missionary believers does not deny that there are school. Most churches do relatively Ministry Page 2 of 2 A-25 little to underscore the need to send needs to challenge the potential in its need to be seen in relation to ministry. Questions people to ministry in the world of members and find ways to inspire and We are responsible for sustaining and daily tasks and situations. The more support them in ways that will help supporting one another in these • What is ministry? people feel sent, the greater the their gifts blossom. ministries, and we are responsible for • What are some of the characteristics likelihood that people will recognize Some gifts can be developed naming and affirming the importance of ministry? that they are in ministry. While through study, training, experience of these ministries, along with the churches sometimes talk of and discipline. That's why churches ministries we do in the life of the • Who sends people to serve in “equipping people for ministry,” few plan training sessions for new church church. Of course these, too, should ministry? talk of sending people out for ministry school teachers or let someone who be experienced and affirmed as • What is the difference between where they are daily. has never taught help in a class with ministry. We should enable one ministry of vocation and of another to appreciate the varieties of an experienced teacher. There are occupation? ministries being done in our midst. many ways churches call forth the • How does or could your church Developing Skills We are called, nurtured and gifts of their members, but the training underscore the sense of ministry as sometimes remarkably transformed as for Ministry often takes place outside the church, vocation? just where the ministry takes place. So we join our gifts with others in the God has not only called us to it is that Kristi develops skills in Body of Christ to bear Christ's own • If you were to write a paper on ministry, God has endowed us with running a meeting at the PTA and ministry in vocation and occupation. ministry, how would it differ from resources to carry out ministry. God's applies them as district coordinator of what is written here? graciousness and initiative are seen in Bread for the World. Issues Facing the gifts given to us--talents, abilities, Some people's gifts are their quiet skills, knowledge, temperament and presence, their ability to sense what the Church attitudes--that enable us to respond the “right word” may be. Often people • We often look for gifts of with faithfulness in ministry. We have don’t think of their personal traits as occupation, and call them out, but to accept these gifts, figure out what “gifts”: they’ll say, “Oh, I guess that’s we don't so often do it for gifts of they are and how we can use them in just how I am” or, “people say that vocation. How can we do both? ministry. Sometimes it's easy to about me, but really I don’t do recognize the gifts--they are just there. • Nothing says that ministry as anything special.” The use of the term Everybody knows Ellen can sing and vocation is less than ministry as “gifted” in educational settings is she loves to. People who have been to occupation, but often people feel misleading in the church. Some people a church supper know Jeff makes that way. What understandings help may mistake the idea of gift with great bread, and they are delighted to you see all kinds of ministry as unusual talents which call for training call out Jeff's gifts. It's easy. They may equal in God's sight? What gets in and practice. It is not a special few, say, “Well, Jeff, I'm really looking the way? but all who are God’s people who are forward to the supper on Thursday.
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