Ministry (literally, "a service") is central to the life
and mission of the church, as it was to Jesus himself.
"For the
Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as
a ransom for many"
(Mark 10:45).
But it is exercised outside as well as inside the church.
First, there is the service rendered by every
human being to meet the need of another. It is the sort of ministry that
is required of every human being in a position to help another, simply because they share
a common humanity.
Second, there is the service performed by those who are specially qualified by
reason of education and training, and whose competence is verified by society through
certification or licensing.
Third, there is the service rendered by every Christian to meet another's need. By
baptism every Christian is called to follow the example of Jesus who came to serve and not
to be served.
Fourth, there is the service performed by those Christians who are specially qualified
by reason of education, training and spiritual formation, and whose mandate to provide the
service is conferred by the church, whether a parish or a diocese.
