Lisa Green and Laura Goodwin have offered to facilitate a conversation on ways to "Bridge the Lay-Clergy Divide" after many participants at the annual faith formation leaders gathering identified it as a challenge in their ministry as faith formation leaders.  Lisa and Laura bring their perspectives having served God's mission on both sides of the divide, first as lay church professionals before responding to a call for ordained leadership.

The lay-clergy divide is part of many denominations.  In their 2005 document "Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord," (http://www.usccb.org/upload/co-workers-vineyard-lay-ecclesial-ministry-2005.pdf) the US Conference of Catholic Bishops explored ways to foster a mutually life-giving and respectful collaboration between lay and ordained ministers. We thought excerpts from this document could catalyze our conversation:

• Baptism initiates all into the one priesthood of Christ, giving each of the baptized, in different ways, a share in his priestly, prophetic, and kingly work. And so every one of the baptized, confirmed in faith through the gifts of God’s Spirit according to his or her calling, is incorporated into the fullness of Christ’s mission to celebrate, proclaim, and serve the reign of God.

• Pastors and other supervisors should look upon lay ecclesial ministers as valued co-workers in ministry. They should allow, encourage, and support their initial and ongoing formation for ministry. 

• The local community should be helped to recognize the value of their ministry and be encouraged to provide personal and financial support. through recognition and affirmation for their ministry and contributions to the parish that make possible just compensation, financial assistance for formation, and subsequent compensation commensurate with increased competency acquired through formation.

In preparation for our conversation, please reflect on these statements, and on your own call to ministry and current setting. Take a look at the Cycle of Discipleship graphic below and see where you and other members of your leadership team might fit. What is currently helping and hindering your call, and what sort of formation (human, spiritual, intellectual, pastoral) and collegial support do you need? We look forward to hearing your stories.