For For readers asking how ministry belongs to every church member rather than to a professional clergy; not for those wanting a defence of ordained ministry.
Should I read this?
For the general reader
3 of 5worth your time
For the researcher
3 of 5worth your time
Difficulty
2 of 5moderate
A short reading of Paul arguing that every member of the church has a ministry, against the split between clergy and laity.
How it proceeds
Philosophic2 of 5
Scriptural4 of 5
Experiential1 of 5
Sociological4 of 5
Historical2 of 5
Independent intensities, 0–5 — what the work is made of, not how good it is.
A short book by John Howard Yoder published by Brethren Press in 1987. It grew from an essay of the same title published in 1969 as No. 17 of the Concern pamphlet series. Reading Paul's letters, Yoder argues that the New Testament gives every member of the church a gift and a ministry, and he questions the division of the church into clergy and laity.
