Date Posted:07:01:55 03/07/05 Mon Author: Anonymous Subject: Clergy and laity In reply to:
Mike K.
's message, "Re: The Anglican church" on 09:58:01 03/06/05 Sun
>Well, it causes a clergy-laity system (ref.Rev2)
>You know, in the Church, all should be brothers, and
>as for accountability, matters should be brought
>"before the Church", not "before the higher-ranking
>ones", remember (Mt18)?
>
>In a biblical church, there is no need for hierarchy,
>only for coordination (on a level of "equals"), and
>that's what I mind.
Mike - thanks for your thoughts here. I know that in some cases, as in the Catholic church there is definitely a clergy-laity system going on. The clergy are seen as having a special relationship to God that lay people can have. They are often seen as intermediaries between God and the parishoners. I don't know how much this is the case in the Anglican church, too.
I am a United Methodist, and we use an epsicopal system. But I feel that my pastor and I are spiritually "equals." I think it is fine to have clergy and laity. The clergy are just the people who happen to feel that God is calling them to get special education so they can minister in a specific way. I don't feel called to go to seminary or become a pastor, but that doesn't make me less of a Christian. I minister in other ways and carry out my own Christian walk.
