The experiences I gained as a youth minister and in campus ministry have informed my understanding of the term ‘Church’ and the lived reality that it describes. These ministry experiences serve as a constant source of reflection and theological questions for me: What is the role of the ‘lay’ person in the Church? What is it that distinguishes a minister (lay or ordained) from a baptized disciple? How do ministers and disciples differ in their participation of the singular mission of the Church – evangelization? ...
In my last post, I described the Church as communion. The same Spirit who knits the Church into a communion of persons and through whom we are able to encounter Jesus Christ also works through this ecclesial communion for the sake of mission.[1] In this two part series, I’ll spend some time discussing the Church’s mission. In this first part, I’ll define the Church’s mission and explore some of its essential aspects. In the second part, I’ll address the application of mission to our lives...
