Nancy Key

Lay ministry: perspective from a reconstituted diocese

February 09, 2009 As a newly elected deputy from the reconstituted Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin, so much is new. The verse from Isaiah, “See, I am doing a new thing” (Isaiah 43:19), was our focus for Diocesan Convention last October; daily I am reminded of the new things we are doing.

As a lay person, the expanded opportunities for lay ministry are new. Some of the groundwork for the ministry of laypersons was established during the years between General Convention 2003 and 2007 when Remain Episcopal responded to the attempts of diocesan leadership to remove the diocese from the Episcopal Church. During those four years, a group of clergy and laity worked diligently, prayerfully, and strategically to reclaim the presence of our wonderful, big tent Episcopal Church in the Diocese of San Joaquin. We lay people had a strong leadership role. Together with a few loyal clergy members, we formed a spiritual community. I found that sometimes “ministry” means clearly speaking one’s viewpoint – even an unpopular viewpoint. During those very difficult years, my understanding of Jesus the Christ matured and grew and filled me with the spirit. I began to understand that the vows I made at my baptismal, renewed with every baptism, meant that the only proper response to a call to ministry was “Here I am, Lord.”

Sometimes one’s ministry isn’t exactly what one has bargained for. You could say Remain Episcopal failed to convince many in the diocese to stay within the Episcopal Church, and the necessary legal actions consume far too many of our resources, people and fiscal alike. But what we didn’t know during these years is that this clergy and lay partnership, this infrastructure of creative people filled with God’s gracious love, would become the foundation for our diocese going forward as proud Episcopalians. And that we would be called to a different, and new, ministry.

At San Joaquin’s Special Convention in March 2008 many of us whose ministry had been to stand tall for our beliefs were elected members of the Standing Committee, Diocesan Council and Deputies to General Convention. I was elected Deputy. See, I am doing a new thing, is a refrain claimed by so many of us. What an awesome responsibility!

My role as a deputy is another dimension of my ministry as a layperson. Along with others in our diocese, I am eager to participate in this General Convention, for my voice and others to be heard, to help form polity that allows us to see the face of God in every being.

Our diocese has entrusted us as deputies to make decisions that will guide our Episcopal Church for the next three years and beyond. My response can only be the same as it has been when called to other ministries in my church: I will, with God’s help.