Anyone who has been involved in the work of Commissions on Ministry or their predecessor Boards of Examining Chaplains will find no surprises in this recent move by the Diocese of Sydney. For quite a long time, but intensively since the 1970's, ministry has narrowed in the imagination of aspirants for ordination and, I believe, in the minds of many laity, to the celebration of the holy mysteries.

It has become the practice in most parishes to find increasing numbers of lay persons assisting at the altar, all arrayed in Almy albs. (This development must be very good for their business.) Aspirants began showing up at the COM's with a kind of glaze in their eyes professing a vision of themselves celebrating the Eucharist. And it became, at about the same time, commonplace for these aspirants to declare that they had discovered that they "have gifts for ministry," leaving the COM wondering what ever happened to the notion of vocation.., a call from God. (This is neither sarcasm nor an exaggeration. During my six years as chair of a COM in a large diocese, we saw sights better not described in public.)

Moreover, it became the case for large parishes to have six or eight lay eucharistic ministers at the altar while three to five priests sit in the congregation with no liturgical role. This is a commonplace in the Diocese of Washington, notably at the Cathedral and at large parishes such as St, Columba's. Roman Catholics have forbidden lay persons to assist at the eucharist if ordained persons are present and not engaged, illustrating that they, at least, have a more developed theology and ecclesiology in the matters of ministry.

So why all these dressed up lay ministers? Veterans of COM's, if they are honest, will admit that virtually all our attempts to develop a meaningful theology or practice of lay ministry have been miserable failures. So we compromise by giving the laity liturgical roles in greater and greater numbers. And they love it. The lay ministers pomp around on Sunday morning more than even the ordained clergy used to do.

And there are parishes where this has gotten entirely out of hand. Laity at St. Stephen and the Incarnation parish in Washington have been lobbying for lay presidency at the eucharist for years.

Much of this confusion arises from the church's failure to articulate a coherent theology and praxis for the priesthood and diaconate. The ordained clergy cannot make a clear case for the functions of their orders, and in their generosity and sentimentality, they try to spread the gifts around.

Neither can we make a case for lay ministry. We just endlessly repeat the Baptismal formulae about ministry and never get any consensus as to what that means in practical terms.

My surprise is that anyone is surprised at what is evolving in Sydney. They are only a little way ahead of the rest of us. When you have no real identity as an ordained person it is not long till the rule is: All have run; all shall receive prizes.

This is not a healthy state of affairs.

Phillip

Phillip's comment here is spot-on.

I am happy to second Jared's "Amen."

I can't imagine where Phillip Cato picked up the preposterous notion that "laity of St. Stephen and the Incarnation Parish have been lobbying for lay presidency at the eucharist for years." Speaking as a member of that Washington congregation for nearly 50 years, I can assure you that no more than one or possibly two members hold such a view and even they, I suspect, would limit such presidency to persons licensed by the bishop, in other words, as Richard Norris would have it, a form of priests.

In the development of our liturgy, however, St. Stephen's leaders, clergy and lay, seek to emphasize visually and ceremonially that the eucharist (and baptism as well) is an act of the entire congregation, not simply that of the priest presiding. During the Great Thanksgiving all those present gather around the altar, and during baptisms all gather around the font. Ceremonies rooted in sound Catholic theology, I'd say.

What many at St. Stephen's have favored, and what perhaps makes Cato nervous, is extensive use of nonstipendiary priests, clergy who make their living in some other way than being on the congregational payroll. Moreover, with the authorization of the bishop, St. Stephen's has operated and flourished without an on-site rector for a number of years. Our six priests are led by the Rev. Frank Dunn, who is titled "senior priest" and works half-time for the congregation. Leadership of the congregation is exercised jointly by the senior priest and senior warden. Ultimate authority is of course in the hands of the Bishop of Washington, who is our rector.

Sure, when we worship there are lots of lay people exercising liturgical responsibilities in the sacred space. But they hardly "pomp around." The priest presiding wears alb, stole, and chasuble, but unusual among Episcopal churches, everyone else--thurifer, crucifer, eucharistic minister, all the rest of the altar party--is in street clothes.

Reaction from Forward in Faith (Ackerman's group),

http://www.forwardinfaith.com/artman/publish/article_467.shtml
Forward in Faith regrets the recent decision of the Synod of the diocese of
Sydney with regard to lay and diaconal presidency at the Eucharist, both of
which are clearly contrary to the foundational documents of Anglicanism. It trusts that the Archbishop of Sydney will use those powers available to him to ensure that such innovations are not set forth, in order that further
division is not thereby introduced into the life of the Communion.

Um, I believe the "Archbishop of Sydney" supports the innovation. Perhaps Gafcon needs an enforcement arm.

The role of a presbyter is in his or her eldership. It does not consist in his or her authority to 'celebrate' the Eucharist. The scripture does not require any presidency at or celebration of the Eucharist but, rather, that it be done decently and in order, with understanding and faith.

To allow other believers (deacon or otherwise) to break the Eucharistic bread does not deny to presbyters their role as elders, teachers and shepherds of God's people.

--Brian McKinlay

I have just written my perspective on this here:
http://www.liturgy.co.nz/blog/sydney/167

Bosco Peters+