Ministry: Leadership in the Community of Jesus Christ

Edward Schillebeeckx, O.P Professor of Theology, University of Nijmegen

In the early Church

one could be ordained

a priest or deacon

in an absolute manner

only if a local Community

supported him/her.

If local support

was withdrawn

their appointment

was null and void.

Only someone called by a particular Community

to be Pastor/Leader

authentically received Ordination.

Ordination

was an appointment

as a Minister

to a Community

which called a fellow-Christian

and indicated him/her

as its Leader.

Hands laid on one

without being asked

by a particular Community

were null and void.

The source

of Power for Ordination

came from the Community,

not some external force.
(Courtesy of John Chuchman)