- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Preface
- Part 1 - Terms of Reference
- Part 2 - Common Provisions
- Section 1 - Ministry in Cooperative Ventures
- 211 The ministry of the whole people of God
- 212 The ministry of word, sacrament and pastoral oversight
- 213 Locally Provided Ministry
- 214 The ministry of deacons and of self supporting appointments
- 215 Authorised lay workers
- 216 Parish councillors
- 217 Collegiate appointments
- 218 Letter of appointment
- 219 Code of Ethics
- Section 2 - Parish life, order and mission
- Section 3 - Worship
- Section 4 - Financial matters
- Section 5 - Property resources
- Section 6 - Dissolution procedures
- Section 7 - Amendments
- Part 3 - Guideline agreements
- Part 4 - Guideline papers
- Part 5 - General information
- Part 6 - Checklists
- Index
Green Pages
211 The ministry of the whole people of God
211.1 Preamble
Understandings of the gifts of ministry require contemporary expression just as much as these gifts need to be exercised in ways appropriate to a changing church and world. The Partners continue to seek new understandings separately and together and see the following exposition as a contemporary expression undergirding their cooperation.
211.2 Ministers
The Partners believe it is the privilege and calling of every member to engage in ministry. Such ministry is committed to the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ in every way and particularly through
- the offering to God of our working, family, social and political life
- loving service and witness in the community and church
- prophetic word and action.
This ministry belongs to the whole church and not exclusively to any individual or special order within it.
211.3 Diverse gifts
Every member is called to seek and share the fullness of life lived in Jesus Christ. Each one's call may be to a different service in care for others, evangelism, preaching, administration, social work, striving for social justice, and responsible and loving stewardship of the creation.
All bring and offer particular gifts and graces, and may be ordained or commissioned to particular functions and offices at a service of public worship.
211.4 Ordination
- Some are set apart for ordained ministries of word, sacrament and pastoral oversight building up the body of Christ.
- Others, though set apart for this same ministry, will exercise their ministry in diverse ways, often along with a secular calling.
211.5 Commissioning
Beside such ordained ministries there are also those exercised by commissioned lay officers, representative and elected, who carry out particular functions. They share in the spiritual care, nurture and government of the congregation, and in the conduct of public worship, including in variously prescribed ways, the celebration of Holy Communion.
(See 215, 411, 425)