| Summary: | "Exploring the theological, structural, and cultural reasons for treating laypeople as the objects of ministry, R. Paul Stevens challenges the idea that a select few are called to minister to others and argues that the clergy-laity division is not only biblically wrong but practically counterproductive." "Basing his provocative argument on Scripture, Stevens shows that "calling" is first and foremost to someone before it is to do something. It is a call to salvation, a call to holiness, and a call to service issued to God's people corporately and individually. It is not a means of identifying leaders and giving them credibility. All believers are called to participate in God's mission to the world, and Stevens here encourages Christians to rediscover what it means to live as the people of God in everyday life." "This perspective has serious implications for our understanding of ministry and demands the revision of existing attitudes and practices in many churches and theological institutions. For too long people's daily lives have been separated from the communal life of the church. Effectively eliminating "the laity" as second-class citizens in the church, Stevens argues that churches instead need to recognize, support, and equip people for ministry in their homes, workplaces, and neighborhoods." "Written by a scholar and pastor well known as an active advocate for the whole people of God, this thought-provoking book - made more useful with the inclusion of case studies and study questions at the end of each chapter - offers inspiring reading for anyone interested in what the Christian life holds for the other six days of the week."--Jacket.
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