Reformátusok Lapja, 1970 (70. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1970-05-01 / 5. szám
12 REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA and Holy Spirit, moving toward His coming Kingdom . . . • Calls for the church to “struggle against racism, poverty, environmental blight, war, and other problems of the family of man” and to “minister to the deep yearning of the human spirit for fullness of life. . . RACIAL OPENNESS ASSURED Among the provisions assuring racial openness is the stipulation that the post of presiding bishop (the bishop elected at the national level) would be held alternately by persons of different racial origins. A preliminary plan submitted by a fifteen-member drafting committee had called for the first presiding bishop to be black. Delegates changed the proposal to specify (1) that the presiding bishop would be elected to a four-year term and would be elegible for reelection to one additional term, and (2) that his successor must be of a different racial background. There is no stipulation as to the race of the first presiding bishop. The Office of Bishop . . . the plan notes, “has been a principal symbol and agency of unity and continuity in the church and in its doctrine and ordered ministry from apostolic times.” In the Church of Christ Uniting, all bishops would be equal in collegial relationships whether they served at district, regional or national levels. PASTORAL SERVICE EMPHASIZED Functions of bishops would emphasize pastoral service and would include helping to initiate new forms of mission, being “shepherd for the ordained ministers and their families,” regular visiting in parishes, creative preaching and teaching, working “to interpret prophetically what God is doing in the world,” supervising and administering, and providing leadership in worship and sacramental life. Their administrative duties, which would be approximately equivalent to those of judicatory executives could be delegated so that the bishops could give sufficient attention to pastoral work. Presbyters . . . normally would have duties including preaching, celebrating the Sacraments, teaching the gospel, and leading in mission. They could serve as pastors, associate or assistant pastors of parishes, missionaries, evangelists, educators, chaplains, administrators, or leaders or members of task groups. The placing of presbyters would take into account personal and educational qualifications. Some presbyters might earn all or part of their incomes outside the church. Deacons . . . the plan explains, are to be “primarily representative of those who are involved directly in the vocations of the world,” but their work would include such historic functions as care of the poor, the sick, and others in need. The dia- conate “will not be treated as the initial stage in the preparation of presbyters” and often would be made up of persons earning their living in nonchurch employment. Deacon’s work in the church would include specialized, experimental and exploratory ministries. They could be leaders or members of task groups, social workers, or educators. They would assist the presbyter in administering the Sacraments. Ministry of the Laity . . . is stressed throughout the plan. “The laity,” it declares, “has fundamental responsibility for the Christian mission. Men and women of all ages are the church as they are involved in the daily affairs and crises of industry, government, education, societal relationships, cultural development, recreation, and family. They have more than one place of ministry. Through their decisions, relationships, and actions they carry out the church’s mission in the world, including their witness to Christ’s power in daily life.” Lay members “will share responsibility with the ordained ministry for preaching the Word, teaching the gospel, leading in worship, assisting in the administration of the Sacraments, providing pastoral care and discipline, and leading in mission.” STRUCTURE OUTLINED Highlights of the proposed structure of the Church of Christ Uniting include these: The Parish . . . normally would consist of several congregations—possibly including diverse elements of the central city, changing urban neighborhoods, suburbia, or several communities in a rural marketing area. It would include congregations of “a general and inclusive community of Christians who gather at a particular place,” and task groups of “persons drawn together by a common vocation or concern.” Task groups ordinarily would continue for limited times (they also could be formed at district, regional, and national levels). The parish would meet annually to elect members of a parish council which, like all other governing bodies, would have a ratio of at least two lay members for each ordained minister. The District . . . would be made up of parishes and would serve an area large enough to meet current needs efficiently and flexible enough to adapt to future requirements. Some districts might be larger than others. Districts would develop strategy for mission in their areas and would assist the parishes in such matters as arranging cooperative projects, receiving and allocating resources, and providing for communication among parishes and between parish and regional and national levels. The Region . . . would be made up of districts and sometimes could encompass a multistate area. Regions would provide programmatic resources for the districts, oversee the work of districts.
