Jesus Creed: Who does the ministry?
Two contacts in less than twenty-four hours pressed me to write this post. One the post yesterday by RJS and the other a tweet by Frank Viola. Both of these contacts led my mind back to 1973, near Brussels. I was at a monastery for a week or so with Greater Europe Mission missionaries and other “Eurocorps” college students. It was my first trip to Europe and it was also notable for me because for one week I listened to Ray Stedman, and if I remember aright he did lectures on his famous book, Body Life, as well as on his book Authentic Christianity. That week was a life-changer for me.
The foundational insight of Ray Stedman’s Body Life dealt with the questions “Who does the ministry?” Is “ministry” done by the pastor or is it done by the “laity”? (For the moment we can dispense with the whole clergy/laity discussion because in one way or another Stedman deconstructed the distinction.) I want now to offer how I have absorbed his teaching and to suggest that his vision can again become ours, but it shifts what pastors see themselves doing.
What is the primary model of what a pastor does in your church?
The major problem is this: ...
Should be a good discussion over at Jesus Creed today.
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