I was ordained in my home church in St. Paul. During the ordination ceremony, there was a laying on of hands that everyone participated in. Everyone there was making me a minister. The meaning of religious leadership is evolving. In today's world, I believe that the role of the ordained ministry is, more and more, to facilitate the ministry of the laity.
Professional ministers bring certain training, skills and gifts to the leadership of congregations.
All members of the congregation, through their own spiritual development and gifts are called to particular personal and shared ministries. And, indeed, professional ministers come forth from congregations. Roy Phillips of Unity Church Unitarian in St. Paul is the minister whose preaching and leadership inspired me to pursue the professional ministry. His recent book, Transforming Liberal Congregations , from which Carole read earlier, describes his vision of the ministry of the laity, a vision that is gradually becoming reality in the congregation he serves. Committee work in that church is coming to be reframed as ministry.