In
the Diocese of Oakland, a Lay Ecclesial Minister is called and
authorized to particular leadership in the local Church, in
collaboration with the pastoral ministry of the ordained. S/he is a
fully initiated faithful Catholic who exercises parish leadership,
responding to a discerned call, authenticated by competent ecclesial
leadership. (Definition approved by Bishop Allen Vigneron in 2007.)
The
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website on
Lay Ecclesial
Ministry
refers to their 2005 statement
Co-workers in the Vineyard
of the Lord
in
addressing the questions What is lay ecclesial ministry? Who are lay
ecclesial ministers? (See Co-Workers, pp. 10-11):
“The
term lay ecclesial ministry reflects certain key realities. Lay
ecclesial ministry is:
-
Lay
because it is service done by lay persons. The sacramental basis is
the Sacraments of Initiation, not the Sacrament of Ordination.
-
Ecclesial
because it has a place within the community of the Church, whose
communion and mission it serves, and because it is submitted to the
discernment, authorization, and supervision of the hierarchy.
-
Ministry
because it is the work by which Christians participate in the
threefold ministry of Christ, who is priest, prophet, and king and
continue his mission and ministry in the world.
Lay
ecclesial ministers are women and men whose ecclesial service (lay
ecclesial ministry) is characterized by:
-
Authorization
of the hierarchy to serve publicly in the local church
-
Leadership
in a particular area of ministry
-
Close mutual
collaboration
with the pastoral ministry of bishops, priests, and deacons
-
Preparation and
formation
appropriate to the level of responsibilities that are assigned to
them
The
following understandings should be kept in mind:
-
The term “lay
ecclesial minister” is generic.
-
“Lay ecclesial
minister” is not itself a specific position title. It is not used in
order to establish a new rank or order among the laity.
-
It
is the responsibility of the bishop, or his delegate, in accord with
the norms of canon law, to identify the roles that most clearly
exemplify lay ecclesial ministry. Application of the term may vary
from diocese to diocese.”
