Contemporary Theological Reflection on the Laity : Towards a More Active Participation in the Mission of the Church

Abstract

This article exposes the theological reflections of some contemporary theologians regarding the laity in the Roman Catholic Church. Basing on their contributions, it argues that the laity are disciples and ministers particularly from the point of view that every baptized Christian is called and sent to contribute to the building up of the Church and fulfilling the mission of the Church. By investigating what constitutes the mission of the Church, it establishes that the laity and the clergy, being constitutive members of the Church, partake in one mission but through different ministries. The article, further, examines the inappropriateness of regarding secular character as a special character of the laity and indicates that the way forward is to widen the understanding of secularity. For a more active lay participation, it opts for an integral ecclesiology and maintains that the clergy and the laity, being partners in mission, need to work in collaboration. It also suggests that the ministry of the laity should look at that of Christ as its paradigm.