The Role of Priests in the Church - Term Paper Example

Pope Paul VI (Optatam Totius,1965) made a declaration that priestly training should conform to the needs of the locality and region without compromising on the universal laws. It is a divine vocation and priests are the messengers of God. The need, the nature and the importance of priestly vocation should be made clear to the priests. They should love their vocation and not come into it out of compulsion or coercion. The spiritual training in the seminary should help them to live in an intimate and unceasing union with the lord. Practices of piety should be zealously cultivated. This profession is not to receive honors but to dedicate their life to the service of God, the pastoral ministry and humanity. They should lead a simple life in a spirit of self-denial. Things should be given up knowingly and willingly. The burdens and responsibilities of the job should be clearly known before coming into this vocation. The virtues that a priest needs for ministering in the Church are sincerity of mind, a constant concern for justice, fidelity to ones promises, refinement in manners, modesty in speech coupled with charity. The Pope no more has any jurisdiction over the Church in England. While the selection procedure, the basic training and practices remain the same, the priests today look at this traditional occupation as a profession. This essay would examine the changes that have taken place in the Church. It would also determine what sort of theological training is necessary for a priest to shoulder his responsibilities. Before understanding the role of priests, it would help to know the attitude and beliefs of the people towards religion and Christianity. Religion is on the decline and the pews are empty. A report by The Childrens Society (2003) states that spirituality has a very positive effect on the well being of the young people. The report found that three fourths of the young people who pray daily have a sense of purpose in life compared to the 40% who never pray. Fifty percent of those who never pray even consider committing suicide. The Reverend Baroness Richardson of Calow, Chairman of the Commission on Urban Life and Faith has rightly said, "Spirituality is too often taken for granted, but when it is absent, the results clearly show a negative mark on young peoples well-being”.  Religion and spirituality of urban young people can definitely enhance their well-being, but what exactly is the reason of their turning away from religion and spirituality? One of the reasons could be the temptations of materialism but more importantly it is the dwindling conditions in the Church. The Church today is unable to meet the requirements of the contemporary society. The priests now take the traditional occupation as a profession. Priests are supposed to be teachers, sanctifiers and Shepherds all encompassed into one within the Church. They are expected to have a clear sense of identity and mission within the contemporary culture. They have been called to share the ministry and mission of Christ. They have to build faith and commitment within the society. Theological Education for the Anglican Communion (TEAC) is of the conviction that all Anglican Christians should be theologically alert and sensitive to the call of God (TEAC, 2005). The holy scriptures have to be read keeping in mind the present and the future needs of the society. Ministering the church would require the basic concepts to be clear. They should have a clear and concise concept of their role as the minister. The theological education should be adequate. They should have the qualities of effective leadership. They are the agents of change and guardians of the society. The present situation at the Church and the seminaries in England belie these basic requirements. The condition is nowhere near what it ought to be. The number of priests and seminaries in England are falling. As per the religion correspondent Gledhill of The Times (2002), there is a crisis of people coming in to this vocation. The total no of priests has come down to 5600, 2000 down from 1971. In fact the Church was in a dilemma how to divide 224 aspiring priests between its seven seminaries (Davies, The Times, 2002). The declining number of people opting for this vocation reflects the sunken prestige of priesthood in the recent years. In the last thirty years, a lot of changes have taken place in the Anglican Church. There has been a great development, and greater participation in worship by the whole congregation. Lay people lead the prayers, read the lessons, and help to administer the Holy Communion. The clergy have a specific but not universal role. While the pre-Reformation traditions are still followed – incense is used, Blessed Sacrament is reserved, confessions are heard, but the clergy are now allowed to marry. It is expected that further relaxation in celibacy rules could perhaps draw more people in this vocation. Sex abuse scandals are also responsible for affecting recruitment. In the current scenario the theological training, the recruitment, training, and the deployment of ministers in the Church of England have to undergo changes to carry out effective pastoral work. First, the situation calls for the right awareness of the vocation. The priests were ordained to be shepherds of the soul but the thought of the salvation of the souls does not seem to exist any more. Young people have to be motivated to come into this vocation. Today the average age of people joining priesthood is around 33 years, mostly after having experienced some other profession in their life. More often than not the reason is frustration of some kind. A person who joins this vocation out of failure in some other line of activity, cannot do justice to the requirements of the Church. The image of the vocation itself has to be cleansed. The recruitment process normally requires two years of theological training after an initial screening. These two years of theoretical training is insufficient. They should be exposed to the practical problems of the seminary. Instead of internship after the formal training, the period of training could be extended to three or even four years with practical exposure to pastoral work. The courses are ill-equipped to make them the right ministers for the Church. The instructors at the training colleges themselves lack the necessary technique and wisdom to enlighten the future priests. Training is misdirected. The need of the day is competent theological training. These colleges that impart theological training were built in the nineteenth or the early twentieth century and have been carrying on the same traditions year after year. The academic staff were once students of the same college. The future clergy is trained for a type of ministry that is becoming obsolete. According to me the very idea of a theological college gives an impression that it is just another profession where one receives training. Spirituality cannot be taught. Most of the growth and development has to come from within. This alone can be lasting. Their own development is essential to be the shepherd of the souls. The culture of teaching has to be totally revamped. One can preach what one practices but the priests of today reel under the college influence for quite some years before they are ready to take responsibilities. Theological colleges give an exposure of a world much different from what lies outside the walls of the college. These future priests have to realize that they are the future ministers established by the lord himself to be the shepherds. They should understand that they have the special grace of the Almighty. They are the ministers of Christ among people. This can never be taught; this realization can come only with practice, dedication, and devotion. He has to attain the Holy Communion before he should be allowed to work in the Parish. Christian theology needs the support of the insights and beliefs of other religions. It is essential to include the beliefs of other religions during the training of priests. Pastoral theology or practical science is essential in various fields to carry out effective pastoral work. It is the practical implications of the laws of God and the Church. It teaches how to handle the situation and the people. The history of the church, dogmatic theology, ethics, apologetics, and political theology are as essential as aggressive evangelism, preaching, church management, the expression of worship, structures, sociology, pastoral and personal needs, church growth, and church planting. Apart from these, which are necessary to impart their duties, they also need to have the right type of self development. Spiritual, human, pastoral and intellectual development of the priests can help them deliver their duties efficiently. These are not four different areas to be segregated but at different moments, different strands become important depending upon the situation. Psychology needs to be made a part of the theological training. Today the fast paced society is in need of counseling at every step and from a very early age in life. They reel under stress and even hospitals and schools have counselors/psychiatrists attached to them. In the earlier days after confession, the priests also performed the role of a counselor. Today this role appears to be taken over by small time ‘spiritual counselors’ mushrooming all over the internet. There are counselors who even claim to heal spiritually over the phone. Under hypnotism they coerce the client to speak out and claim to have healed him. They use names like ‘regression’ and ‘rebirthing’ and assure healing at all three levels – mind, body, and soul. There are spiritual degrees and diplomas available on the internet for a small fee, which grants them the right to practice as healers/counselors. Marriage counselors can be found in abundance today. There are more counselors in England today than are people training for priesthood. These counselors preach that they are their own healers and worship themselves. This goes against the gospel and Christianity. Hence, the priests need to take up this role seriously because nothing can heal better than spirituality. Alcoholics Anonymous, a worldwide organization has established the role of spirituality in healing the alcoholics. The Church of England values its financial independence and the funds are those that have been received from the past as well as direct donations to the Church. This independence is a theological necessity. With the overall population of England shrinking, the number of colleges and seminaries shrinking, people turning away from religion, the contribution to the Church is not sufficient to maintain them. In addition, the priests are inadequately trained to manage the Church. There can hardly be any growth seen in any of these institutions. The future priests need to be trained in being able to raise and maintain funds. With gay marriages being legalized in England, and the Anglican Seminary allowing homosexuals to live together, the situation is even more grim than ever before. Numerous sex scandals of priests dot the daily news, which is alarming. Personal and vested interests, corruption have become common place. Priests are ordained and function as ministers but they live on earth as ordinary human beings. He dwells with them to save them from sins. He has to manifest the teachings and be an example to the people. Just as it is difficult to train a person to become a priest by theoretical education, it is equally difficult to bring a person out of sins by teaching. The virtues should reflect in the priests; every action of his should be sufficient to teach others. The role of the priests is definitely tougher than what it used to be. The society has undergone a sea change. Economic and social conditions have changed; customs and values have changed. The theological training detaches them from the world outside. As a result, when they come out, they feel at a loss, they feel strangers and it takes them a while to adjust to the world and its ways. They are unable to relate to the people around. They themselves experience loneliness and this could lead to frustration and depression. If the priests have been trained with practical exposure and have experienced the Holy Communion, they would never feel at a loss. They would always feel the hand of the God Almighty guiding them at each step. Only then would they be able to devote themselves to the cause of serving the humanity. They would know that God could cause to grow compassion and charity in them. This can come through faith. In today’s world preaching the gospel will not affect the people’s minds. Practical application of the truth of the gospel in specific circumstances can being a person out of the situation. This would have a lasting effect. Today a modern city parish would also comprise of non-Christians. Preaching the gospel to them would never attract them but when they can see its practical application, they can be drawn to the faith. He has to foster a community feeling in his parish. A sinner cannot be remedied by confession alone. He has to realize and accept his sin. The sinner alone can forgive himself. By the sacrament of penance, the priest has to learn to teach the sinner to unite with God. Acts of thanksgiving and gratitude should form a daily part of the priest, which itself serves as an example to teach without preaching. God’s will has to be stressed on in every event of life. They should be taught to practice to do unto others what you want others to do to you; as every man receives grace he must administer to others. The priests have a special responsibility to the sick, the poor and the dying. This consciousness has to remain right from the time when they join the training. According to the New Testament all priests are the representatives of God and hence all are brothers. This feeling of brotherhood and fraternity is required of everyone. As the situation has changed, the education, training and duties of the priests have to conform to the pastoral needs of today. Every individual is different and so is true for priests. Not everyone is capable of doing everything. Hence, a priests duties and responsibilities should also be in accordance with his mental abilities and capabilities. He should be made conscious to lead a mentally and spiritually healthy life. Most importantly, they should realize that they have been selected to be the Shepherds who are capable of teaching others. They should be prepared to know and do the Will of Him. For the Churches to prosper, the priests need to have faith on the gospel of Christ. All these require a competent, committed, dedicated, and sincere clergy. Reforms in selection and training can help the future priests to be able to better serve the people of God. Reference: "Bishops in crisis talks over shortage of priests.(Home news)." The Times (London, England) (May 25, 2002): 1. British Council Newspapers Database. Thomson Gale. British Council India. 10 March 2006 Optatam Totius (1965), Decree on Priestly Training, Pope Paul VI, 11 March 2006 TEAC (2005), The Anglican Communion Official Website, 11 March 2006 The Childrens Society, God is Good for you? 11 March 2006 Read More