DO YOU NEED A MINISTER? (Or "full time worker"?)
by Donald Norbie Today when one thinks of a church he immediately pictures a minister or a priest as the leader. People will ask, "Who is your minister?" or "...pastor?" And many are attracted to a church by the personality of the minister. If a church has problems the minister is blamed and a replacement is scouted. A minister is a clergyman. The term clergy today, according to Webster, means "men ordained for religious service, as ministers, priests, rabbis, etc." A minister is "authorized to carry out the spiritual functions of a church, usually Protestant, conduct worship, administer sacraments, preach, etc. For most people church and clergy go together like husband and wife. You cannot have the one without the other. Who will conduct the services, baptize and administer the Lord's Supper if there is no minister? The question arises: Has this always been true? ...