Lay presidency
Encyclopedia
Lay presidency is a form of celebrating the Lord's Supper
(sometimes called the Eucharist
) whereby the person presiding over the sacrament
is not an ordained minister of religion. Similarly, when the celebrant is a deacon rather than a presbyter, the term diaconal presidency is used.
Most independent Christian
churches
have a form of lay presidency as part of their communal worship. Mainstream denomination
s have been less inclined to allow lay people to preside over the sacrament, preferring to use ordained ministers or priests for this role.
One area of conflict for Evangelical Christians in mainline churches is that, while the sacrament is a "symbolic preaching of the gospel", only authorized and ordained minister
s may preside, whereas non-ordained people are not allowed to do this, despite the fact that they are allowed in some cases to preach the gospel
. What this situation does is elevate the importance of the sacrament over the preaching of the gospel - in other words, the symbolic preaching of the gospel is more important than the literal preaching of the gospel. Evangelical elements in some mainline churches, for example the Diocese of Sydney within the Anglican Church of Australia
, are seriously considering introducing lay presidency because of this problem.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
and Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
authorise lay and diaconal presidency in certain extraordinary circumstances, within a finite time period and location.
In the United Methodist Church
lay presidency is the norm. While many are ordained as presbyters (Elders) most "clergy" in the UMC are "commissioned" or licensed "local pastors." These laypersons while called "clergy" in the Book of Discipline are nonetheless not ordained. These lay persons are only allowed to celebrate the sacraments in their appointments. This action by the UMC is certainly a violation of Wesley's original intent for the Methodists in North America. It was his opposition to lay presidency that led him to ordain Vassey and Whatecoat in 1784. In 1996 the UMC abandoned its transitional Deacon position and made all recent seminary graduates "commissioned" Elders. There is no precedent for this ecclesiology in the history of the Christian Church. These "commissioned" Elders are licensed to be "local pastors" but are still considered lay persons by the UMC's ecumenical partners. This status remains for three years before one is officially ordained a presbyter. In some Annual conferences over 50% of the clergy are non ordained lay persons. There is a move to restructure the orders of ministry in the UMC at the 2008 General Conference
, but most observers believe it will fail and the UMC will continue to have most of its clergy drawn from lay persons.
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
(sometimes called the Eucharist
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
) whereby the person presiding over the sacrament
Sacrament
A sacrament is a sacred rite recognized as of particular importance and significance. There are various views on the existence and meaning of such rites.-General definitions and terms:...
is not an ordained minister of religion. Similarly, when the celebrant is a deacon rather than a presbyter, the term diaconal presidency is used.
Most independent Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
churches
Church Body
A local church is a Christian religious organization that meets in a particular location. Many are formally organized, with constitutions and by-laws, maintain offices, are served by pastors or lay leaders, and, in nations where this is permissible, often seek seek non-profit corporate status...
have a form of lay presidency as part of their communal worship. Mainstream denomination
Religious denomination
A religious denomination is a subgroup within a religion that operates under a common name, tradition, and identity.The term describes various Christian denominations...
s have been less inclined to allow lay people to preside over the sacrament, preferring to use ordained ministers or priests for this role.
One area of conflict for Evangelical Christians in mainline churches is that, while the sacrament is a "symbolic preaching of the gospel", only authorized and ordained minister
Minister of religion
In Christian churches, a minister is someone who is authorized by a church or religious organization to perform functions such as teaching of beliefs; leading services such as weddings, baptisms or funerals; or otherwise providing spiritual guidance to the community...
s may preside, whereas non-ordained people are not allowed to do this, despite the fact that they are allowed in some cases to preach the gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
. What this situation does is elevate the importance of the sacrament over the preaching of the gospel - in other words, the symbolic preaching of the gospel is more important than the literal preaching of the gospel. Evangelical elements in some mainline churches, for example the Diocese of Sydney within the Anglican Church of Australia
Anglican Church of Australia
The Anglican Church of Australia is a member church of the Anglican Communion. It was previously officially known as the Church of England in Australia and Tasmania...
, are seriously considering introducing lay presidency because of this problem.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is a mainline Protestant denomination headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The ELCA officially came into existence on January 1, 1988, by the merging of three churches. As of December 31, 2009, it had 4,543,037 baptized members, with 2,527,941 of them...
and Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada is Canada's largest Lutheran denomination, with 152,788 baptized members in 624 congregations, with the second largest, the Lutheran Church–Canada, having 72,116 baptized members...
authorise lay and diaconal presidency in certain extraordinary circumstances, within a finite time period and location.
In the United Methodist Church
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
lay presidency is the norm. While many are ordained as presbyters (Elders) most "clergy" in the UMC are "commissioned" or licensed "local pastors." These laypersons while called "clergy" in the Book of Discipline are nonetheless not ordained. These lay persons are only allowed to celebrate the sacraments in their appointments. This action by the UMC is certainly a violation of Wesley's original intent for the Methodists in North America. It was his opposition to lay presidency that led him to ordain Vassey and Whatecoat in 1784. In 1996 the UMC abandoned its transitional Deacon position and made all recent seminary graduates "commissioned" Elders. There is no precedent for this ecclesiology in the history of the Christian Church. These "commissioned" Elders are licensed to be "local pastors" but are still considered lay persons by the UMC's ecumenical partners. This status remains for three years before one is officially ordained a presbyter. In some Annual conferences over 50% of the clergy are non ordained lay persons. There is a move to restructure the orders of ministry in the UMC at the 2008 General Conference
General Conference
In the United Nations system of specialized agencies such as the International Atomic Energy Agency or UNESCO, General Conferences are the recurring meetings of Member States. General Conference sessions are usually held yearly or biennially at the headquarters of the Agency...
, but most observers believe it will fail and the UMC will continue to have most of its clergy drawn from lay persons.