The People - The Church

There are many questions and concerns about the role of the people in the Church. What is the role of lay people? What is the role of ordained or commissioned leaders and ministers of the Church. For the Church to function properly these roles must be clearly understood from a scriptural perspective.

First and most important, the people have been chosen by our Lord Jesus Christ and formed by the Holy Spirit; they are his most prized possession - the people are the living stones of the Church - they are the holy priesthood of the Church (1 Peter 2:4,5). The people are the Church.

Paul makes clear the importance of the role to which the people are called. In his second letter to the Corinthian Church he says that his people have been appointed as his "Ministers of Reconciliation" and "Christ's Ambassadors" to a hurting broken world. It is through his people that he chooses to work out his mission to the world. (2 Corinthians 5:18-20)

The second important point we must always understand is the purpose of leadership and the relationship between leaders and laity. Scripture records a very practical model which Jesus used in teaching his disciples. In a very 'hands on' way Jesus taught his companions, then in their turn the first apostles discipled others. This is the pattern of relationships that has been given for the ministry of the Church.

Leaders are ordained (chosen and given by God) to fulfil an appointed task. Christ has called and gifted some to equip the Church for its service to the world (Ephesians 4:11-13). Others have been appointed to the governing roles of overseer (bishop), elder (presbyter) or deacon. Their task is to give proper oversight to a church and to ensure that its worship life is conducted properly. However, the leader is called to shepherd the people with loving care and to be responsible for their spiritual welfare. The leader is to be a servant to the church.

Paul calls the Church 'the body of Christ' and in his first letter to the Corinthians he uses the analogy of the physical body, the whole of which suffers if any part is injured. In the body all members have a vital role and no member, not lay person or ordained minister, is more important that another, except the head who is Christ.

In the CEEC we believe that you have a vital role as a member of the Church and you are called to discover the unique potential that God has created in you to serve as his minister. Please read the Rules of Association documents and Constitution of the Church or contact us to find out more.