One of the first books I remember buying and reading after entering college and preparing for parish ministry is titled Everyone a Minister. I am still captivated by that title and realize that some 24 years into ministry this is a principle which we have not lived out fully enough in our congregations and the denomination as a whole.  I don’t know if the book is still available, but the title is relevant enough to be provocative and in tune with the purpose statement of The Unity of the Brethren as it ever was:

The Unity of the Brethren lives to bear witness to the risen Christ and the Kingdom of God, by word and deed, to all people.  That witness includes:
 1. Proclaiming the good news of Christ through preaching and teaching the Word of God, and in celebrating the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and in welcoming believers into the fellowship of faith, the church;
 2. Encouraging each member to strive for a pure, Christian life;
 3. Affirming the presence of Christ in fellowship;
 4. Challenging each member to consider the call of Christ to various areas of Christian service; and
 5. Equipping each member for obedient, responsible Christian growth and ministry; and providing, as appropriate, training, commissioning, and/or ordination.
 In summary:  Our purpose is to share the Gospel of Christ, locally and worldwide, and to build up believers in faith and obedience. [emphasis mine]

 What do we mean by member? Jesus in His ministry had no members, just disciples, followers.  Either you denied self, took up the cross and followed Jesus or you didn’t; remember there were those who could not or would not follow for whatever reason. There was no catechism, confirmation, membership class, signing of the membership book or transfer of membership - just discipleship. Either you followed Jesus or you didn’t as simple as that.

Paul talked about members - members as parts connected to the body that had a function and purpose. So we need to think of member as body part - a role to perform, a duty to carry out (I do not think warming a pew is what Paul had in mind; see 1 Corinthians 12). Every body part has a function, something to do; it can not just sit there or be unless it is paralyzed, broken, or maimed or disabled.

If we truly believe what we say in our purpose statement, then we should have some 2,250 disciples (remember, everyone a minister not a member) out and about carrying out the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ.  There is no distinction between clergy and laity; in fact that is a false dichotomy.  The primary role and function of clergy is to cast vision, lead and equip; it is a role and function, not status or higher position.  All of us have the role of disciples to follow, serve and do and make more disciples.

About the time you are reading this, we will be very close to the 61st Convention of The Unity of the Brethren.  The three days we spend together will be focused on # 4 & # 5 of our purpose statement.  Discipleship and ministry and mission of Jesus will be the focus; not church membership.

When it comes to church as the body of Christ, membership has no privileges other than to serve in Jesus’ Name - to carry out one’s function in serving the greater whole and especially those outside of the Body of Christ.

Some questions to consider as you seek to carry out your role as a disciple of Jesus and not just a member of a congregation.
 

1.	What is Jesus calling me to do?
	Where is Jesus calling me to go?
2.	Who are the recipients of this ministry?
	What are they like?
	What do they need?
	Where are they?
3.	Who else can I recruit to minister with me?
4.	What might the community of faith provide?
5.	How does the body of Christ need to pray for what I have been called to do?

The challenge as we go in and out of convention this summer is simply this: everyone is a minister, let us serve in His name, whatever Jesus calls us to do and wherever the Spirit takes us.