mutual ministry

Question

hi, what is "mutual ministry". is there something like "mutual ministry committee" in the local church?thks!

Alan.es · Accepted Answer

A little more context would help make it clearer but with the growing shortage of priests in the developed world much more emphasis is being placed upon the 'mutual ministry' of laity and the priesthood.

Lay members of the congregation are taking on some of the duties traditionally performed by the local parish priest.

i haven't heard the term 'mutual ministry committee' but it has a similar meaning maybe to 'pastoral council' where parish finance and organisation is the reponsibility of a group of elected lay members in cooperation with the local clergy.

Keroro · Answer

does it mean that lay members serve each other, or lay members and priest serve one another?

Marius Hancu · Answer

It's a recognized notion, defined here:
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/19625_14838_ENG_HTM.htm

Alan.es · Answer

I can only talk about the Roman Catholic Church though the link Marius has put up suggests that similar ideas are round in the Episcopalian church too. The Anglican church has had similar ideas too.

The idea of the priest as the only 'minister' to the members of a parish was fairly strong until Vatican II though this was incorrect. The ministers of the Sacrament of Matrimony have always been the couple themselves with the priest as official parish witness. Vatican II reasserted the idea that ministry was a commitment for all Christians, priest and laity alike.

Everyone had a duty to care for their fellowmen everywhere. The priest was only unique in being able to celebrate the Eucharist. All other responsibilities were mutual - laity to laity or laity with priesthood whereas many had come to see the whole idea of ministry as only priest to laity - unidirectional and irreversible.

Though as I've said this was promulgated in Vatican II, many priests were reluctant to give up their role as it had developed and many laity reluctant to challenge the authority of priests and to take up the responsibilities. However many others were eager and ready to challenge the autocracy of the parish priest. This difference still remained and has only now started to be absorbed as the numbers of priests is in critical decline in the Western World.

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