Introduction
We live in a world of merger, collaborative partnership and collaborative ministry, where cooperation at all levels have become very vital to make institutions, business conglomerates and nations unite together to solve problems and challenges in common. The purpose of this collaborative relationship and partnership is to promote mutual openness, understanding and collaboration and foster a the spirit of joint effort towards common goals for the common good, and work together for a new socio-economic and religious order, where human dignity and human life matters more than material possessions. The Church is established by Christ as a communion of life, love and truth; and also used by Him as an instrument for the redemption of all; and as light of the world and salt of the earth. Collaborative ministry in the body of Christ is therefore a communion of life, love, truth and goodness for the salvation of souls.
Christ’s faithful according to the Code of Canon Law and Vatican II
Christ’s Faithful are those who, since they are incorporated into Christ through baptism, are constituted the people of God. For this reason they participate in their own way in the priestly, prophetic and kingly office of Christ. They are called, each according to his or her particular condition, to exercise the mission which God entrusted to the Church to fulfill in the world (Canon 204 par. 1). By divine institution, among Christ’s faithful there are in the Church sacred ministers, who in law are also called clerics; the others are called lay people (Canon 207 par. 1). Therefore, Christians are called upon to work for the common good and the promotion of a more just society by actively participating in the economic, political, social and cultural life of the society.
They are the faithful people of God “who share in the priestly, prophetic and kingly office of Christ, and to the best of their ability carry the mission of the whole Christian people in the Church and in the world.” (Lumen Gentium 31). Christ’s faithful, conscious of their own responsibility, are bound to show Christian obedience to what the sacred Pastors, who represent Christ, declare as teachers of the faith and prescribe as rulers of the Church (Canon 212 par. 1). Clerics on the other hand are to acknowledge and promote the mission which the laity, each for his or her own part, exercises in the Church and in the world. They are always to do their utmost to foster among people peace and harmony based on justice (Canons 275 par. 2 and 287 par. 1)
The Status and role of the Laity
The status and role of the laity is absolutely important for the growth and development of the Church and Society in the 21st century. In fact, each passing day should challenge the Laity to reach higher and higher and to excel in their performances, while improving effectively in their responsibilities. By reason of their special vocation, it belongs to the Laity to seek the Kingdom of God by engaging in the temporal affairs and directing them according to God’s will. The Lay apostolate is a positive participation in the saving mission of the Church itself, and the Laity are called upon in a special way to make the Church actively present and operative in all activities of human endeavors, and where only through them the Church can become “the salt of the earth and the light of the world.”
Benefits of building a Collaborative Relationship in the Ministry
God is a God of relationship. He constantly invites us into a relationship that is authentic, true and real (ATR). We must make efforts not to leave God out of our relationships by merely looking and seeking for human solutions even in the midst of our painful situations for healing as we walk in the centre of His will. Therefore, making time to focus on positive human collaborative relationships in the ministry is important, and learning how to improve upon it is absolutely vital. It is good for us to respect, cherish and care about the way we relate with ourselves, with our neighbors, with nature, God and the society.
Therefore, collaborative human relationships at all levels with the self, others, church, society and God are naturally most essential to life and the building of God’s kingdom on earth. It accompanying benefits are as follows:
Ø It supplies love and affection and builds faith and confidence
Ø Provides emotional support, encouragement and loyalty
Ø Guarantees stability and security
Ø Supplies positive companionship and friendship
Ø Satisfies material, spiritual, psychological needs and fulfillment
It can be an elevating and enriching experience if pursued positively, but also can be as difficult and most horrifying as we make it if lived negatively, causing discomfort, division, heartache and frustration. The power lies within us to make our choice and we have to look in the right direction. What is our choice today?
Challenges of Collaborative Ministry
Everybody – Clergy and Laity have the task of evangelizing. In fact, a Christian who is not evangelizing is a Christian on early retirement. The following are some of the basic challenges of collaborative ministry:
· Intimacy with God is our greatest and most rewarding pursuit in our collaborative efforts for effective ministry
· We must have in common a sense of faith
· Willingness to face the future that is different from the past
· Change is needed and openness to new ways of organizing parish life and mission
· Since our ministry makes demands on us, which requires full collaboration for effective evangelization in areas of education, health, catechesis, faith, pastoral and liturgical formation, different structures for organizing effective parish should be strengthened
· There is a greater need of sharing resources, responsibilities and activities between clergy and laity and neighboring parishes to foster good communion and mission
· Faith sharing groups (Small Basic Christian Communities, Bible Study Group, Teaching and Catechetical ministries) should be encouraged as they are one of the valuable ways parishes develop and grow
· Clergy and laity should work together to produce quality liturgy and atmosphere congenial for worship in parishes. This requires regular meetings and practice.
· Deep concern for vocations must be shown, together with quality formation of our Seminarians. Engagement of the young people in evangelism is also a top priority.
· Better communication is needed everywhere between laity and priests, parishes, deaneries and diocese. Communication is simply sharing of information, experience, ideas, feelings, problems and prospects for the development of the Church and Society. It is a process of active and creative listening, speaking, observing, questioning, reflecting, assimilating and the application of these to daily common human and pastoral concerns.
Conclusion
We must admit that organizing parish life and mission is never an easy business. So for our parishes to become vibrant, dynamic, welcoming and inclusive, especially in liturgy and prayer, there is the need for the recognition that we all share responsibility for the faith and life of our parishes. This means more collaboration, cooperation and communion. The Clergy and Lay faithful today, more than ever before need to acquire strong Christian Convictions, in the face of current trend of secularization, religious indifference and religious pluralism where so many believers cross one another. As Christ’s Faithful full of faith and vitality, we should be intensely committed to Christianizing and transforming the modern world. So we are challenged to take up responsible and effective witness to Christ in the world. We must remember that people don’t want to know how much we know, until they know how much we and Jesus care for them in the world. The Clergy, Religious and Laity should always be encouraged, supported and appreciated as they work with the Bishop in the promotion of the kingdom values.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Ø How can the Church help to invest more in training the Clergy and Laity in foundational Courses of Theology, Catechetic, Bible Knowledge, Traditions of the Church and Catholic Social Teachings so that their faith becomes stronger?
Ø What should our new approach and strategy be in fostering cooperation, collaboration and shared responsibility between Priests, Religious and the Lay faithful in parishes and the Diocese?
Rev. Fr. Michael Adefemi Adegbola, Director Media Service Centre Kaduna, Nigeria 2011
very fgood atricle congrats
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