This is the age of globalisation and universality that rejects a narrow spirit of divisive narrow-mindedness in favour of openness, inclusiveness and tolerance. A recent very extensive world-wide survey which has shown a strong sense of formal belonging to religious denominations, indicates, however, that the state of institutional religious observance in Europe is very low. All churches are now experiencing difficulties in the deployment of clergy. Parishes tend to be without a priest for longer, and in some dioceses large numbers of parishes are vacant at any one time. The expectations of clergy and laity alike are changing.
People have higher expectations of one another and of the system.
Now with high standards in society in general, the constraints of modern legislation, the jostling in the market place by so many to capture the imaginations and energies of people, the churches find themselves in a new competitive and costly context where much that previously was free and easy-going now has to be paid for. The financial implications for church members and communities are clear. Resources will have to be pooled and rationalised. For example, much as it has been talked about and vaunted in this century, lay ministry will, after all the guff about it, have to become the norm in most local Christian communities. In this time, lay people, as much as clerical professionals, will be the trustees and stewards of the work of theology and the practical consequences of it.