According to retired professor of philosophy and theology, Joseph Martos, in his book, Deconstructing Sacramental Theology and Reconstructing Catholic Ritual, priestly training in patristic and early medieval times was a kind of apprenticeship where one learned liturgical duties in service to a community. The heart of ministry was caring about and for others.
In 451, the Council of Chalcedon, clearly
connected ordination to ministry in a community: "No one may be raised to
the order of presbyter or deacon at large without being specifically appointed
to a church in a city or village or to a shrine or to a monastery." Martos
observes: "there is ample evidence that prior to the interpretation of
ordination as a bestowal of power in the twelfth century, women were ordained
in positions of responsibility in monasteries, and in the ancient church
deaconesses as well as deacons were ordained." (p. 248)
Ordination in the future "could be open
to men and women, married and unmarried, heterosexual and homosexual. ..who are
judged by those whom they serve as having the qualities needed to perform
the duties to which they are called. Ordination to a broad array of diverse
ministries could be a possibility such as: “religious educators, youth
ministers, church musicians, parish administrators, pastoral counselors, social
workers, and others who receive their professional training before their
ministry, who must maintain a high level of professional and ethical conduct
during their service in the church, and who depend for their livelihood on the
income they receive for their service." (p. 149)
The
Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests (ARCWP) provides a preparation
program for a renewed priestly ministry that is rooted in our baptismal
equality. We do not attempt the traditional model of Catholic Seminary, but rather provide a wholistic, academic and spiritual approach to ordained ministry that is inclusive, liberating, empowering, mystical and prophetic. Conscious of our vocation to live God’s
loving presence in the world in vibrant faith communities and ministries, we, who are on the
“edge of the inside” of the church, work for justice and equality for all, especially
those on the margins of our church. (David Brooks used the phrase"On the Edge of Inside" in an article he wrote for NY Times, I applied it to our RCWP Movement.)
Mary Theresa Streck and I are co-founders of
People's Catholic Seminary which offers online, contemporary theological,
spiritual and pastoral programs for anyone interested in a 21st century
approach to ministry rooted in Gospel equality and responding to the life-changing
issues as opportunities of grace in our times.
I
believe that expanding ordination to diverse ministries, as Joseph Martos
suggests, is an innovative, wholistic approach that could express a community's
public affirmation of ministry as loving service to the people of God. This idea
brings us full circle to the early and medieval church's understanding of ordination as a divine
call to loving service in an ecclesial community.
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