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The early church was a vibrant group of people who had very little sub- committees or designations in the community. There were people set apart for specialized roles in the faith community- apostles, deacons, catechists, etc. but for the most part, all participated in the life and faith of their communities. All the people were priests and ministers in the faith community. All were called to serve.
The church, in its long history lost some of the emphasis of the people, through their baptism, being called to be the body of Christ in the world. In recent years there has been a growing interest in lay ministry. People of God are called to discover the gifts they have received in baptism and to use them for the building up of the church and the world. Many are passionate about how God might use their gifts and are looking for guidance in developing and using their gifts for ministry.
There is also a movement to deepen one’s faith, to dig deeper into theological and biblical reflection and to grow more in one’s understanding of God, faith and creation. Recent congregational studies under the missiology teachings of Kelly Fryer have been seen to be a visible reminder of the need for the laity to develop the tools for ministry and mission in the world.
Ministry is God acting through people for the life of the world and, as such, must be given the tools to do ministry in and for the world. There is a need to reaffirm the ministry of the laity in their daily lives and work and also in their faith communities. Thus, the movement to build an intentional program of continuing education for the laity has been developed for our synod.
What is Multiplying Ministries?
In the Manitoba Northwestern Ontario Synod, it is an intentional program of continuing education for lay people and rostered ministers alike. There are three ways that our synod will promote continuing education and educational opportunities that enhance our faith.
We are developing a section on the website that will become a registry of continuing education opportunities in our community and around the world. For the time being it will contain links to institutions and agencies that provide educational opportunities, but as these groups or institutions become aware of this opportunity to post events, we hope the website will expand. If you know of any opportunities, please send the link from the institution to the synod office and we will explore whether it fits with our promotion and programs of the synod.
The second area we are promoting as part of the Multiplying Ministry emphasis is in the area of congregational continuing education opportunities. If your congregation is hosting events, workshops and educational opportunities that you think others across the synod would enjoy or would assist them as they dig deeper in their faith, I hope you will use the Multiplying Ministries emphasis to promote your programs and events. An example of this might be a youth workshop on how to develop programs for young people. The workshop might enhance your own congregational leadership but it would also assist other congregations in need of such skills. The synod website is providing a framework for the promotion of such congregational initiatives.
The final emphasis within the Multiplying Ministry framework is that of an intentional certificate program of lay training. The Certificate in Lay Ministry program will provide a means for the Manitoba Northwestern Ontario Synod (MNO Synod) to equip, evaluate, validate and formally recognize lay ministry in the synod. This is an informal, non credit program taught by rostered ministers and laypeople within our synod and around the ELCIC. This program will begin in September 2007. Take a look at the program content on our website under “Certificate in Lay Ministry”.
How To Become Involved in this Program?
