The Spirit is there at the incarnation and at the inauguration of Jesus' public life at the Jordan. The Spirit launches the new community of Jesus' disciples on mission at Pentecost. Her intervention persuades Peter to open up the Church to the gentiles. Her charisms contribute to the building up of the community. The missions of Jesus and of the Spirit seem to be in a dynamic, dialectical relationship.
Sociologists speak about the institutional and the charismatic aspects of a community.
While the institutional structure stands for order and tradition and looks back to its foundational roots, the charismatic inspiration is expressive of the prophetic dimension, claiming a certain freedom from institutional structures. The Spirit is not only challenging the rigid structures to change but is also creative of newness and future oriented. Such charisms are actually embodied in persons who feel specially chosen by God and animated by the Spirit. Theologically and pastorally attempts are made to subordinate the mission of the Spirit to the mission of Jesus, by insisting that the Spirit is also the Spirit of Jesus. The term filioque in the Creed may be used to justify such a subordination.