Faithful Stewards of God’s Grace

“Faithful Stewards of God’s Grace” is the title of the document on the Lay Pastoral Ministry in the Church in Australia, published by the National Conference on the New Evangelization, Proclaim 2018, that is promoted by the Episcopal Commission for Evangelization.

The text—writes Bishop Michael McCarthy, chair of the Episcopal Commission for Church Ministry—“describing the ministry and the mission of the Church” is presented as a “working document” that “provides a solid theological and pastoral underpinning for lay pastoral ministry” on the journey towards the Australian Church’s 2020 Plenary Council.

After the creation, in 2012, of the “Catholic Council for Lay Pastoral Ministry” intended to facilitate the dialogue between the dioceses and a “national approach,” and after a study on the local reality, the Council has now produced these national guidelines to “promote and enable attitudes and practices of collegiality” in Australia, where the first Catholics arrived in 1788.

Starting from that date, the document, composed of five chapters, seeks “to identify the complexities involved in lay pastoral ministry,” “to understand the place of lay pastoral ministry within the common vocation of discipleship, and how it relates to other forms of ministry,” “to describe in a practical way the lay pastoral ministry,” and it “proposes recommendations that will enable a shared vision to be fulfilled in practice.”

The aim of the document is not “to prescribe what roles should be encompassed by the term ‘lay pastoral ministry.’ Yet it does seek to be an aid/guide in the development of a shared vision, a common understanding, and recognition of lay pastoral ministry at national and local levels.”

A lay disciple “becomes a lay pastoral minister when his or her vocation for formal public ministry in the Church is adequately discerned; his or her gifts are identified and formed through education and practice; and he or she is authorised by the competent authority to a role or office appropriate to his or her gifts for service” to be carried out “in close mutual collaboration with the ministry of bishops, priests, deacons, and consecrated persons.” The document also offers a series of “recommendations” so that this “shared vision” may be reflected “in practice.”