For the mission of the church to succeed, the church needs ordained and lay pastoral leadership. As the Apostles represent the ordained, so another gospel entity can help understanding lay pastoral leadership. Not himself one of the twelve apostles, St Luke in Chapter 10 told how Jesus instructed seventy-two others and sent them out in pairs to all the towns and places he himself was to visit. St Luke was told of the joy with which they returned to Jesus who chose at that point to temper their enthusiasm. He said, “Don’t be glad because the evil spirits obey you; rather be glad because your names are written in heaven.”
It is likely many of the seventy-two were there encouraging the general enthusiasm of crowds who cried “Hosana” and waved palms when Jesus entered Jerusalem just a few days before Good Friday. In the weeks that followed some of the seventy-two might have gone to Galilee with the apostles to meet Jesus there. More than five hundred saw him at once. Afterwards Peter and the apostles returned to Jerusalem. Ten days later they emerged from lockdown fully enthused and empowered. The seventy-two could finally let free their own enthusiasm. With about three thousand to be baptised, the twelve apostles would have needed all the help available. One thinks that members of the first “seventy-two” were on hand.
Then as today those ordained for service do well in collaboration with lay pastoral helpers.
Among the ordained are those with a lifelong promise given to and received by the local Bishop. This is his clergy. To their number may be added ordained members of religious orders resident in his territory. Lay pastoral leadership programmes offer formation to prospective candidates to make them qualified to be mandated and appointed with employment contracts. These latter are available either directly to the Bishop, or through his appointment to collaborate directly with members of the clergy.
Added to the fullness of collaborative ministry are the gifts of religious orders both of women and of men. These supply special works to enrich the mission of local churches. There are various lay associations too having their own approved constitutions, such as St Vincent de Paul Society and Catholic Women’s League. Paid employees selected according to qualifications and references serve in church offices. Many others of the faithful offer themselves as volunteers, people serving on pastoral councils, administration committees, and others happy to go on service rosters.
All must hold in their minds and hearts that the mission of the church is to go out and make disciples.
The sense of the faithful is that all those mentioned above be united among themselves and with their Bishop, as he is with the other Bishops. The Apostle St Paul reflects this shared sense of the faithful in his first letter to the Church of Corinth: “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit gives them. There are different ways of serving, but the same Lord is served. There are different abilities to perform service, but the same God gives ability to everyone for their particular service. The Spirit’s presence is shown in some way in each person for the good of all.” 1 Corinthians 12: 4 – 7
