I'd say true, in a qualified sense. Ultimately, Christian ministry is building the community of God on earth, and calling people into that community is necessarially relational.
One qualification I'd make is that a focus on 'relational ministry' can be come an excuse for not challenging structural injustices with the grace of Christ. Those two aspects of ministry oughtn't be held in tension, but I worry that they often are.
Another qualification would be holding in memory the contributions of ministers of the gospel who don't often engage in direct, face-to-face ministry. I think of the folks at my home church who clean the sanctuary each week, who organize the sermon tapes and print the bulletins, and I'd hate to see us set up a hierarchy of ministry wherein the ministers who get the most official face time with other people are considered more ministerial.
Julie, thanks for your comment. I checked out your blog, I like what you have to say, but I expected as much since someone who appreciated Don Quixote can't be too bad!
I see what you're saying. Do you think that organizing sermon tapes, cleaning and so forth are ministry in and of themselves or is it the relationships involved that make them so? Is it imperative that the ministers recognize that they are doing these things unto someone?
It is easy for me to say that of course these ministries are hightened if experienced with others, working toghether even mentoring people to take over the ministry - discipling. What I wrestle with in my maxim is whether ministry in itself requires relationship to people or can you minister to an institution? Is ministry a relationship to the living or can it also be a service to the dead?
I'd say true, in a qualified sense. Ultimately, Christian ministry is building the community of God on earth, and calling people into that community is necessarially relational.
ReplyDeleteOne qualification I'd make is that a focus on 'relational ministry' can be come an excuse for not challenging structural injustices with the grace of Christ. Those two aspects of ministry oughtn't be held in tension, but I worry that they often are.
Another qualification would be holding in memory the contributions of ministers of the gospel who don't often engage in direct, face-to-face ministry. I think of the folks at my home church who clean the sanctuary each week, who organize the sermon tapes and print the bulletins, and I'd hate to see us set up a hierarchy of ministry wherein the ministers who get the most official face time with other people are considered more ministerial.
Julie, thanks for your comment. I checked out your blog, I like what you have to say, but I expected as much since someone who appreciated Don Quixote can't be too bad!
ReplyDeleteI see what you're saying. Do you think that organizing sermon tapes, cleaning and so forth are ministry in and of themselves or is it the relationships involved that make them so? Is it imperative that the ministers recognize that they are doing these things unto someone?
It is easy for me to say that of course these ministries are hightened if experienced with others, working toghether even mentoring people to take over the ministry - discipling. What I wrestle with in my maxim is whether ministry in itself requires relationship to people or can you minister to an institution? Is ministry a relationship to the living or can it also be a service to the dead?