The Role of Clergy:

Another area of change in the fact of North American religion has to do with the role of clergy. During the era of North American Religion (the era that most people over 40 grew up in), clergy tended to have three roles: chaplain, scholar, and part of the authority structure of the town or community. Note that neither “leader” nor “congregational leader” is on the list.

As the era of North American religion draws to a close, however, and as we seek to shape a new era, clergy take on roles that have strong leadership components in order to equip congregational disciples to identify and make progress in facing the most pressing problems and deepest challenges. Furthermore, clergy are teachers of the faith and mentors in faith development for the larger faith community.
As we move further into a new era, more and more ministry will be carried out by well equipped disciples freeing clergy to equip, train and mentor those whose lives are being molded and transformed by God’s Spirit.

In the new era, the church will begin to more closely reflect the Biblical (particularly Acts 2) norm of ministry – believers tending to believers thereby living out the principle of “the priesthood of all believers.”