Priesthood of All Believers

Mennonites fall under the bracket of those denominations who confess the 'priesthood of all believers.' I remember growing up every week in the bulletin at my home church there was the contact information for the pastor, all the elders, and just underneath that it said: "Ministers: All the congregation". It's one of those things you don't notice until you understand what it means. The idea of your whole congregation being part ministers or priests in the church implies that everyone who is a member contributes to the life and ministry of the church, that it's not one leader, bishop, priest, synod, dominee or whatever that 'runs' the church. This is the policy of the Mennonite Church, this is also the policy of the Congregational Church.

In that vein, on Saturday Thomas and I gave a young woman, Thato, a crash course in worship leading. By 'worship leader' I refer to the one who facilitates the service, introducing the call to worship, hymns, prayers and etc. I can tell you it's a nerve-wracking job if you've never done it before, but I believe that Thato will be more than capable. She performs her debut on Sunday the 18th, the day I'm preaching, so we'll see how it goes!

The idea of getting different people involved with worship in the church, I believe, contributes to this idea of the priesthood of all believers, making the congregation generally conscious that each person can serve the church, that we are all called to contribute our gifts to the church community.