By Most Rev Prakash Mallavarapu
Archbishop of Visakhapatnam
In the present day Church what is glaringly visible is the “pyramidical” structure, with Pope and bishops on the top and lay faithful at the bottom and in the middle are the priests and religious. In this structure there is the hierarchical ministry, graded in a way: what a bishop is entrusted with and what he does while exercising the Episcopal office a priest or lay person cannot do. Naturally, certain authority is given into the hands of the bishop.
Similarly, the clergy and religious have a place, authority, role, etc. But, here we need to remember that journeying together as “God’s flock” calls for a proper understanding of this hierarchical ministry and understand some of the related matters like authority, service, participation, collaboration, co-responsibility, charisms and gifts, etc. See what the Holy Father, Pope Francis is saying: “…in as much as the Church is nothing other than the “journeying together” of God’s flock along the paths of history towards the encounter with Christ the Lord, then we understand too that, within the Church, no one can be “raised up” higher than other persons. On the contrary, in the church, it is necessary that each person “lowers” himself or herself, so as to serve our brothers and sisters along the way.” (Address of the Holy Father, 17th October, 2015). When authority is seen as service, “ministry” then, bishops, priests, and religious will be ministers serving the flock in the given local Church, diocese or vicariate/deanery or parish. It is because of this it is said the “top” is at the base or in touch with the base.
The bishops, priests and religious, lay leaders, catechists, those who lead the pious associations and ecclesial movements are in communion with the rest in the flock of Christ, serving in a particular capacity. The journeying together or walking together as “People of God” will truly be a journey together; if one is among others and goes along with the rest in the flock! Does this mean a dismantling of hierarchical structure in the Church? No, it is only to re-discover the importance of ‘God’s flock” walking together with no one “raised up” above others or ‘lowered” below others. But, different services to be rendered by different sections in the Church for the good of the whole flock is what is to be facilitated. And every section in the Church has a space to “speak” as well as “listen” to others in order to know “what the Spirit is saying to the Church” and strive to respond to the Spirit in a fitting and appropriate manner!
Mission to be fulfilled should determine the dynamics of the ongoing journey of the Church
The whole Church is entrusted with the saving mission of the Church but not every member in the Church is blessed with the same mission. This is where we need to understand the vocation of every Baptized member in the Church and the particular vocation within this vocation. In the apostolic times this is already acknowledged and frequently the community was reminded of the same. Using the imagery of the human body with different parts doing their part and the image of a building or a temple where so many bricks or stones and other materials form integral parts of the structure the message is conveyed, each one is differently blessed.
In today’s Church as well, this point should be borne in mind by everyone, we are not above or below but we are together each having his or her own place. There are reminders or even warnings from different quarters about the need to avoid domination or the use of authority to dominate and command. Clericalism or too much of democracy, like a lay parliament, should not also be there in the daily journey of the Church. This can be facilitated by creating opportunities and by providing space for the contribution of different sections of the People of God, the Church. To bring about this kind of atmosphere in the Church, it has to be a “decision” to be a different way of being Church. This demands one’s readiness to change! We as a Church need to be more and more a Community and less and less an institution!
“Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, and all guile, insincerity, envy, and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation if indeed you have tasted that that Lord is good. Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like into a spiritual house, to be a holy Priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1Pet 2: 1-5,9-10)