Edward Schillebeeckx writes: 'There is no mention in the New Testament of an essential distinction between 'laity' and 'ministers'... the ministry is not a status, but a function. For the New Testament, the essential apostolic structure of the community and therefore of the ministry of its leaders has nothing to do with what is called the 'hierarchical' structure of the church. [The coming community of the church] is a community in which the power structures which prevail in the world are gradually broken down. All have responsibility, though there are functional differences...' (27) He also states: [this is not to deny the special role of] 'team leader(s) who coordinate(s) all charismatic services... I am opposed to a view which appears here and there, that any believer at all can preside at the eucharist even when leaders of the community ('priests') are present.' (28)

It would be at that point that Schillebeeckx and I would disagree. Who leads the community in sacramental offices was, I think, not a great concern for the early church; Paul could not remember who baptized whom at Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:14-16). This is, however, not a denial of pastoral leader- ship as such. It is simply saying that faithful leaders in the Christian community will model their ministry on that of Jesus, who trained his followers in every aspect of serv- ice, and allowed them the freedom to exercise those minist- ries, even when he was around. Perhaps Schillebeeckx's thinking on this question moved a little in my direction by the time his The Church With a Human Face was published five years later. There he writes: 'The early eucharist was structured after the pattern of Jewish grace at meals... at which just anyone could preside... The general conception is that anyone who is competent to lead the community [emphasis mine] in one way or another is ipso facto also president at the eucharist (and in this sense presiding at the eucharist does not need any separate authorization). The New Testament does not tell us any more than this' [again, emphasis mine]). (29)

Once the community has recognized 'who is competent to lead', such persons ought to be commissioned for their ministries. This can be done at a special service, by the 'laying on of hands' (hands belonging to representatives from the congregation, not necessarily those of the 'heavies' present!). I would encourage the commissioning, from time to time, of everyone who has a recognized ministry within the church body.

Discuss: Do you agree with the above? How can you implement this general idea in your church?