1. Institute for Leadership in Ministry
Lay Ministry
Institute for Leadership in Ministry
November 21, 2015
Jeannine Leichner

2. Let Us Pray Lord of our heart, give us vision to inspire us.
Lord of our heart, give us wisdom to direct us.
Lord of our heart, give us courage to strengthen us.
Lord of our heart, give us trust to console us.
Lord of our heart, give us love to mission us.
Lord of our heart, give us grace to root our lives in you.
Amen.

3. Overview Foundations of Lay Ministry
Meaning and Purpose of Lay Ministry
The Call to Lay Ministry
The Calls within the Call
Lay Ecclesial Ministry

4. Your Experience Why did you become a lay minister?
What natural talents or skills do you bring to your ministry?

5. Before Vatican II There was no lay ministry
Laity played a passive role
Clear separation between
clergy and laity
Image of Church was
often understood
as a pyramid
Pope
Lay people

6. Since Vatican II New People of God
(The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, #9)
All share in the ministry of Christ through Baptism and Confirmation
“Baptism and confirmation empower all believers to share in some form of ministry…Through baptism and confirmation lay men and women have been given rights and responsibilities to participate in the mission of the church.”
Called and Gifted: The American Catholic Laity, p. 5, 6
The Bishops of the United States

7. Lay Apostolate
Primary role and responsibility of lay people is service to the world
“The laity, however, are given this special vocation: to make the Church present and fruitful in those places and circumstances where it is only through them that she can become the salt of the earth.”
The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, #33

8. Lay Apostolate Another role for lay people: Service to the Church
“Besides this apostolate which belongs to absolutely every Christian, the laity can be called in different ways to more immediate cooperation in the apostolate of the hierarchy, like those men and women who helped the Apostle Paul in the Gospel…”
The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, #33

9. Reflection How would you complete the sentence: Lay Ministry is …..
What are three things that you consider to be essential for a lay minister?

10. Lay Ministry A gift and a call “You did not choose me, but I who chose
you and appointed you to go and bear
fruit that would remain,…”
John 15:16
A call from God and a call from the Church
The call to lay ministry involves
a commitment to serve
in a public way
in cooperation with ordained ministers
for the good of the community

11. Lay Ministers: Called to Collaborate
Collaboration: working together with others toward a common goal.
Some qualities or attitudes needed:
Attitude of service
Attitude of openness
Ability to put needs of the group or activity above personal needs
Abilty to work in harmony with others
Ability to listen to others
Ability to work through conflict

12. Lay Ministers: Called to Collaborate
Lay Ministers collaborate with
the pastor/priest
other parish leaders
others in their same ministry
other ministries and members of organizations

13. Lay Ministers Called to be persons of prayer
“therefore all in the Church, whether they belong to the hierarchy or are cared for by it, are called to holiness.”
Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, #39
Reflection
How do you like to pray?
How has prayer supported you in carrying out your ministry?

14. Lay Ministers Called to ongoing formation Called to humility
Gain greater understanding and appreciation of the call to ministry, their role and how it fits into the larger picture
Develop a deeper spirituality
and a more mature faith
Called to humility
Called to sensitivity to needs

15. Lay Ministers Called to witness Called to be responsible
In their ministry
In their lives
Called to be responsible
Preparation
Carrying out ministry
Called to share the joy
of the RISEN LORD!

16. Lay Ecclesial Ministry
A call to leadership in the Church
Works in close mutual collaboration with ordained ministers
A major life choice discerned personally and with the pastor or other Church representatives
Authorized and supervised by the bishop or his delegate
Requires a special level of competence

17. What will you do to grow as a lay minister?
Reflection Questions
1. What did you hear today that will help you become a better lay minister?
2. The primary role of the laity is in service to the world. In what way does your ministry help members of your community carry out their mission of service to the world?
3. What are some ways you can communicate joy in the risen Lord through your ministry?
Response
What will you do to grow as a lay minister?

18. Closing Prayer We bless you Lord for our calling,
for nurturing in each of us a disciple’s heart,
a heart that rejoices at your coming,
a heart sustained by your Spirit,
a heart encouraged by fellow disciples.
May there grow in each of our hearts
the disciple’s commitment to serve,
the disciple’s willingness to learn,
and the disciple’s joy in becoming
an instrument of your grace. Amen