We still read the headlines announcing with numbing regularity the crimes of the day. And we still fear for the moral and physical safety of our children, families, and friends in a society in which it appears anything can be had for a price. But we shouldn't let cynicism get the better of us. Important events do offer an opportunity for us to reflect on the deepest meaning of our lives, our churches, our society. Crossing the threshold into a new millennium has inspired many of us to ponder how our lives might become new, how irruptions of rejuvenating grace might lift our tired eyes to the horizon of divine possibilities.
Christians know better than that.
The articles in this issue of Quarterly Review wrestle in a variety of ways and at different levels with the question of the meaning and shape of the church's identity and ministry in the new millennium. Baptism is nothing less than ordination to ministry for all Christians, not just for clergy. While celebrating the continued emphasis on the ministry of the laity, Frank claims there exists serious confusion about the meaning and scope of ordained ministry in the denomination. To enhance the church's witness and service in the world, a clearer definition of ordained ministry is needed. For Ronald Sider, any definition of ministry that does not combine Wesley's emphasis on personal and social holiness is inadequate.