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Theology and Function — The Ministry of the Word in the Uniting Church in Australia
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 February 2009
Extract
Recent ecumenical discussion on ministry has tended to emphasise the sign-value of the ordained ministry. This is particularly so in statements concerning episcopacy, but also with respect to presbyteral and diaconal ministry. Close attention is being paid to ‘sacramental’ aspects of ordination and ordained ministry in both ‘Catholic’ and ‘Protestant’ circles. And certainly there is good reason to examine the subject of ministry in terms of sign-value, if not in terms of ‘sacramentality’. But the question is being asked, shyly by some and more stridently by others: We can see what ministers represent, we can even see the sign-value of bishops, but what are they supposed to do?
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- Copyright © Scottish Journal of Theology Ltd 1986
References
page 109 note 1 Cf. The Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission, The Final Report, 1981, ‘Ministry and Ordination’, paras. 13 and 16; Faith and Order, Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry, 1982, ‘Ministry’, paras. 12, 14 and 38; Anglican-Reformed International Commission, God's Reign and Our Unity, 1984, para. 80.
page 109 note 2 Cf. Eagan, J. F., ‘Ordained Ministry in BEM — A Theological Critique’, Ecumenical Review, July 1984, pp. 266 and 269Google Scholar; and Wainwright, G., ‘Reconciliation in Ministry’, in Thurian, M. (ed.), Ecumenical Perspectives on Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry, 1983, pp. 134fGoogle Scholar.
page 110 note 3 I have discussed this at some length in my ‘The Development of the Understanding of Ministry in the Australian Church Union Negotiations, 1957–71’, Ph.D. Thesis, University of St Andrews, Scotland, 1985Google Scholar.
page 110 note 4 The Basis of Union may be found in, Regulations and Interim Constitution, Including the Basis of Union, Uniting Church in Australia, 1979, pp. 7–14.
page 111 note 5 McCaughey, J. D., Commentary on the Basis of Union, Melbourne, 1980, p. 66Google Scholar.
page 112 note 6 UCA Assembly Commission on Liturgy, Ordination of a Minister of the Word, 1983, p. 12. Since the writing of this paper, the Assembly has revised the ordination vows in such a way as to make more clear the kind of work for which the ordinand is called and gifted. The original thrust, and most of the original wording has been retained in the revision. See, Minutes of the Fourth Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia, 1985, pp. 861.
page 113 note 7 Ibid., p. 8.
page 113 note 8 Cf. Ordinal and Service Book, Church of Scotland, 1954, pp. 14f.
page 114 note 9 Robb, N., ‘Three Questions for a Minister’, Trinity Occasional Papers, Vol. III, No. 3, December 1984, p. 92Google Scholar.
page 115 note 10 J. D. McCaughey, op, cit., p. 67.
page 116 note 11 Uniting Church in Australia Assembly Commission on Doctrine, Ordination — A Statement for Study and Comment, 1982, p. 4, Q.26.
page 116 note 12 Ibid., p. 3, Q.19.
page 117 note 13 The Joint Commission on Church Union, The Basis of Union — As Revised 1971, Melbourne, 1971, p. 7.
page 118 note 14 The Basis of Union explicitly acknowledges certain unanswered questions concerning ordination, the diaconate, and the participation of ‘lay’ members in preaching, administering the sacraments, and exercising pastoral care (para. 14). It also leaves open the question of episcopal ministry (para. 16).