While on a spiritual retreat this weekend (Danny a more detailed review of Cursillo will follow after Andrea is safely off to her weekend and way from internet access) is was again struck by the interesting place the DCE (Director of Christian education) profession has in the LCMS or the larger Christian community for that matter. Unlike many church bodies, the Baptists for example, the LCMS did not turn to a youth pastor concept in response the the youth ministry movement of the mid 20th Century. Rather than formulating a division of the pastoral ministry, the LCMS developed a division of the teaching ministry in creating the DCE. As a modified teacher, the DCE is more based in education ministry than the pastoral ministry of the Baptist youth pastor. Training events put on in the larger Christian community for youth ministry are always just a bit of a variance for the generalist DCE to recontextualize for their own ministry.
Now why I say that we as DCE's are stuck in the middle grows out of my reflection in trying to figure out my place in the scheme of things on this spiritual retreat, and the parallels to the LCMS church polity. The standard categories used to distinguish shepherd from the flock, are clergy and laity. I cannot say that I find myself very comfortable with either being applied to myself. I am a DCE not a pastor and as such, though IRS would put me in the clergy category, LCMS does not. On the other hand I am in ministry, not in the sense of Luther's priesthood of all believers, but in the professional, vocational, called sort of way. So there I sit, listening to both pastoral and lay talks on this weekend, wondering where do I fit, where does the DCE fit. The LCMS gives a vote to congregations in convention in two forms, one vote from the clergy per congregation and one vote from the laity per congregation, and once again there is the DCE (and other church workers) wondering about their place in the whole scheme of things.
I have heard and read arguments that would restrict all ministry to the pastoral office. That would go so far as to claim that there is not other proper Biblical office. I have heard and read arguments that place all church professions on an even footing, almost entirely removing any clergy/laity distinction. I find both views to be lacking and unsatisfying. And I remain in the middle wondering. No answers thus far, just questions.
2 comments:
In the strict sense you're laity unless you've taken holy orders. I think this might extend to monastic vows as well. Some people are "called" to be deacons, etc, but they're not therefore clergy.
This might not be very "Lutheran" of me, but here's my take. Lately I've been more concerned with ministry than with labels. You wanna call me laity? OK. You wanna call me a pastor? Fine. I just want to tell you about Jesus. Sure, I've got a piece of paper that says I'm a DCE (it happens to be framed and hanging on the wall in my office), and the training that accompanies it.
God calls people into ministry (Eph 4:11). Are there any labels there? No, there are ministries. Everyone has their own gift, by the Spirit, to do different types of ministry. We, as humans, and particularly modern society, like to put labels on things. Don't get me wrong, I think making a distinction between someone with a formal theological education and someone without is necessary, if only to make sure our teachings are correct and in line with scripture. To limit ministry to ONLY a pastor or ONLY laity is foolish. Certainly different ministries require different education/training, just as some personalities work better in one area than another.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that we need leaders educated properly and doing ministry. What you call them isn’t important, it’s what they do that matters. We can be fed (at events like Cursillo, Conferences, Workshops, etc) by talks aimed at both “pastor” and “laity”. As a professional church worker we need to be in touch with both sides, taking what we need where we find it. Understanding the pastor makes it that much easier to work with him. Understanding the laity is vital to ministry. You can’t serve someone if you don’t know who they are.
I’ve heard the “people have died for that name, so use it” talks, but right now that’s not where I’m at. My job is to tell people about Jesus.
Post a Comment