Total Ministry: Ministry of all the baptized
We all have a unique collage of life experiences, talents and spiritual depth. Each is, in fact, a walking gift package with the choice to use those gifts in concert with God to further God’s work of redemption and reconciliation of the whole creation.
The Episcopal catechism states that being “made in the image of God” means that we are free to make choices: to love, to create, to reason, and to live in harmony with creation and with God. (BCP 845)
Discovering our gifts leads us to discover what is unique about our call from God. Our deepest joy comes from using the gifts God has given us to do the divine work in the world. We have a sense of doing what we were created to do.
The awareness of our own giftedness affects our outlook on daily living. When we are conscious of our call to ministry and of our particular talents, tasks, relationships and responsibilities move from being “work” to being creative opportunities for reconciliation. Christians are called to intentional ministry in their families, their vocations, in their time of re-creation and in their local communities.
Total Ministry supports the Ministry of All the Baptized when congregation leaders model the use of gifts, by discerning giftedness in others, and by empowering and celebrating the gifts of each.
We are all commissioned, or ordained, for ministry by virtue of our baptism. The word “ordained” simply means ‘under orders.” Every baptized person is accountable to God.
We all “promise to follow and obey him as our Lord” as part of our baptismal vows. In Total Ministry we are all called to use our God given gifts and talents in the on-going formation and care of our worshipping community.
Total Ministry is not new. Saint Paul helped to establish churches by working with the leaders who emerged naturally in the life of each budding Christian community. The Holy Spirit empowered their natural abilities and “on the job training” was sufficient for their formation.
The Christian communities that came into being through the preaching of the Gospel were given the scriptures, creed, ministry and sacraments.
The community was responsible, with the bishop, for recognizing the spiritual gifts and needs of its members and for calling into service from its members the leaders it needed to further its life and mission.
The Holy Spirit endowed each community with all gifts necessary for its life and mission, and that sufficiency is to be recognized and supported.
How it Works
Each congregation is unique in their mission, composition and the gifts the Holy Spirit provides. There are, however, four basic steps all have in common as they develop as a Total Ministry congregation.
- The congregation identifies and calls forth those who are leaders within their community in a variety of ministry areas (i.e., preaching, pastoral care, administration, youth, Christian Education, outreach, sacramental ministry)
- A Total Ministry Team is formed of those called forth and trained in a number of academic, theological, scriptural, and other areas
- The team is commissioned for ministry in their worshipping community by the bishop
- Those persons identified with sacramental and diaconal ministries may be ordained as to serve the congregation
Further, the congregation agrees that they will begin the process again calling out another “generation” of ministers in order to sustain a ministry team that is vibrant and focused. Team members commit to be in a continuing education program.
