The Future Role of the Lay Preacher,

Abstract

""All preachers are equal, but some are more equal than others". The Ministry Tomorrow report and related statements have caused many to wonder if the day of the lay preacher is now over. Realistic appraisal of the way the churches operate suggests that this is by no means the case; the question then becomes: 'What kind of lay preacher do we want to encourage?-and can we expect?' The quality of the church tomorrow will depend to no small extent on the way lay preachers, supplementary and full-time min~sters work together. In many instances men will fulfil basic~y the same function, and differ only in the degree to which they have been trained for it an~ the .time the-y: can dev<?te to it. One trusts that demarcatiOn disputes Will not anse among Baptists, but rather a spirit of co-operation-each serving to the best of his ability for the common good. The co-operation may ~!lean that ministers 'Yill need to c~ange some of their practices (e.g. fraternals Will need to be m the evening), and any genuine increase in sharing the work of the ministry can come only when the ministers take the initiative, and welcome the lay preacher as an equal partner and in no sense a priori inferior in calling or ministry. But who is a lay preacher?"