The Church's Future...
Hello to All, I trust you are enjoying the season of Epiphany. I hope that God is revealing Himself to you in a variety of ways, as we journey towards Lent.
I just finished a book that spoke of re-imagining/re-thinking the structures of the church. Written by an Anglican who lives in Britain, this book outlined what the author saw as an imminent problem emerging in Anglicanism. He observes the current Christian climate in the UK and says that the Christian population is dwindling, and the attendance at public worship is becoming smaller and smaller. Looking at the statistics, this is true, particularly regarding the Church of England. http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/11080
As a result, this author suggests that the church needs to re-think its conception of the ministry. Fewer and fewer people are entering the quest for holy orders, which may be reflective of the church population receding on the whole. The lack of ministers, he thinks, will ultimately dwindle down to nothing and the church as we know it (meaning in structure; his case being episcopal) will not be able to continue.
His proposal to remedy this is quite radical. He basically suggests that the proposition of the 'priesthood of all believers' must be taking to its extreme end: every member of the church is as if he/she was a priest, holding the same calling, privileges, and office. To be fair, he does suggest that the 're-thought' church would continue to have those with the labels of priests, bishops, and deacons, but the authority of the ordained would not be any different than the authority of the lay-person. Everyone would be on an equal level with each other regarding all things required of the gathered community.
His dream is that all the members of the body of Christ would participate equally in the life of the church. An ambitious proposal, a radical proposal, but a viable proposal?
Some questions:
What do we think about the meaning of the term: 'The priesthood of all believers'?
What does this proposal say about the ministerial office?
What does this say about the sacramental aspects of the worshiping community?
I have been thinking about this a lot lately, trying to work through some decisions being made about a church that I am connected to. It is in need of some change (think small congregation, not enough money to support, but definitely needs to continue being a light to its community), we are just not sure what that change needs to be.
Joseph
I just finished a book that spoke of re-imagining/re-thinking the structures of the church. Written by an Anglican who lives in Britain, this book outlined what the author saw as an imminent problem emerging in Anglicanism. He observes the current Christian climate in the UK and says that the Christian population is dwindling, and the attendance at public worship is becoming smaller and smaller. Looking at the statistics, this is true, particularly regarding the Church of England. http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/11080
As a result, this author suggests that the church needs to re-think its conception of the ministry. Fewer and fewer people are entering the quest for holy orders, which may be reflective of the church population receding on the whole. The lack of ministers, he thinks, will ultimately dwindle down to nothing and the church as we know it (meaning in structure; his case being episcopal) will not be able to continue.
His proposal to remedy this is quite radical. He basically suggests that the proposition of the 'priesthood of all believers' must be taking to its extreme end: every member of the church is as if he/she was a priest, holding the same calling, privileges, and office. To be fair, he does suggest that the 're-thought' church would continue to have those with the labels of priests, bishops, and deacons, but the authority of the ordained would not be any different than the authority of the lay-person. Everyone would be on an equal level with each other regarding all things required of the gathered community.
His dream is that all the members of the body of Christ would participate equally in the life of the church. An ambitious proposal, a radical proposal, but a viable proposal?
Some questions:
What do we think about the meaning of the term: 'The priesthood of all believers'?
What does this proposal say about the ministerial office?
What does this say about the sacramental aspects of the worshiping community?
I have been thinking about this a lot lately, trying to work through some decisions being made about a church that I am connected to. It is in need of some change (think small congregation, not enough money to support, but definitely needs to continue being a light to its community), we are just not sure what that change needs to be.
Joseph
posted by Joseph | 9:59 AM
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