Members of the congregation work with leaders to create ministry

When the primary work of the faith community is shared between lay leaders and professional clergy, lay ministry becomes a partnership. The distinctive skills and experiences of clergy and lay participants combine to form the congregational ministry. The church, synagogue, or mosque becomes the vessel for discovering and living out ministry both within and beyond the congregation. The congregation maintains an integrated ministry structure that relies on the expertise of clergy and lay leaders.

Thinking theologically

In an ideal setting, these partnerships are rooted in shared theological underpinnings and visions for ministry. Episcopal priest and educator William Barnwell compares the theological grounding with learning a foreign language. At first, the student learns the grammar, vocabulary and key phrases; he or she may even be able to hold a simple conversation. The language isn’t really mastered, however, until the student begins thinking and dreaming in it. In the same way, once fluent in theology, all ministry partners are heading in the same direction. The partnership then launches new initiatives and creates ministries.

Ministering "with" rather than "to"

Ministry happens largely through congregationally endorsed and supported programs that develop from these partnerships. Clergy minister with their congregations rather than to them. Partnerships can be within the congregation or with the broader community. They may be one-time events (the youth serving in a soup kitchen) or permanent relationships, as with the Lutheran Social Services network.

The best partnerships have clergy working with people to discern God’s call for them, creating ministries that enable them to serve and fulfill that call—both individually and as a congregation. Members of the congregation, co-creators and nurturers of that mission, maintain a strong sense of their purpose in the world and the vital role of the congregation in fulfilling that mission.

Implications for congregational leaders

Collaborative ministry draws on the best skills of clergy and congregations. Developing relationships and discovering ministry together can be time consuming, which may be difficult for congregations pressured to produce results. In transient communities, the time investment can be quickly squandered should a key lay participant or clergyperson move.

Channels of authority and responsibility between lay and clergy leaders can be blurred in this understanding of lay ministry. If not carefully managed, implementation can be complicated and messy. Since congregants take an active role in creation and oversight of ministries, there is the possibility of division between lay people who are engaged in congregational life and those who are not.

In some faith traditions where clerical and lay roles are not distinctly different—Judaism, Islam, Quakerism—or in those settings where clergy are in short supply, partnerships are usually between a paid staff member and a volunteer.

Collaborative ministry moves away from an authoritative hierarchical model to a partnership. The leader focus is on people rather than tasks, on leaders as spiritual coaches not just administrators. Support systems are important to connect people to the congregation. Roles must be clearly defined and all must be committed to the partnership.

Trusting partnerships develop over time. Leaders of congregations may have to move gradually into collaborative ministry. To build and expand a congregation’s theological knowledge, education, and small-group work may be needed before moving into ministry development.

Go to "Collaboration with Clergy" resources.