THE SITUATION

Right at the beginning we acknowledge that in the last 30 years, through the various renewal movements, the Asian Church has seen the emergence of various forms of lay ministries. These movements continue to increase the participation of the lay faithful in the mission of the Church in manifold ways. Though the number of such committed laity are not very large, it is already an indication of the Church of the third millennium as that of the laity.

The sharing from different countries on lay ministries reflect that there are some efforts being made everywhere in Asia to involve lay people in the mission of the Church. However, the percentage of lay people actually participating in Church activities is relatively by far too small. It is also noted that the levels of lay involvement in Church mission vary from country to country.

In the secular fields of Asia today many gifted and talented catholic men and women are effective agents of change in their fields of competence. The Church has not succeeded enough to find sufficient personnel to serve the gospel in such fields despite the pronouncements made in the various Church documents regarding the dignity and the indispensable role of the laity in the mission of the Church.

The Church organizations and committees mostly rely on the rich and influential section of the community; the poor who make up the majority, have little chance to contribute their mite in these structures.

While some countries can freely pursue and develop ways and means of lay participation, in other countries there are political and cultural constraints for organizing religious activities.

VISION

According to Vatican II, there is a common dignity of the members in the Church and  all vocations, though distinct, are equally important in building the Body of Christ (LG.32). “Lay vocations and charisms, ministries and contributions are complementary, and strengthen the unity and enrich the resourcefulness of the Church, because the same Spirit is always the dynamic principle of diversity and unity in the Church” (CL.20).

All states of life and ministries of the baptized Christians, empowered by the Spirit, contribute to the one and same mission of the Church of Christ.

“Communion and mission are profoundly interconnected with each other. Communion gives rise to mission and mission is accomplished in communion” (CL.32)

Therefore in the renewed Church of Asia we visualize that:

• The mission of the Church can be accomplished only through a mutual partnership of all the sections of the faithful. Both, the clergy and laity, need to be convinced that they are sent together as a community of disciples, to collaborate together responsibly in fulfilling the mission of Christ in this Asian continent.

• Furthermore, lay ministries are meant to help the Asian lay faithful to rediscover the one Christian vocation and grow in faithfulness to it.

• The lay faithful have the primary responsibility, by the virtue of their status in the world, to bring gospel to the secular realities of life.

• Effective lay ministries, like all other ministries, are not mere products of human efforts or skills, but of the power of the Holy Spirit.

• It is very crucial for the future of the Church in Asia to enable the laity through adequate formation, to come to the forefront of the Church's mission together with the clergy.

1. Ongoing Formation

Local Church must design and develop formation programmes for the laity, which will lead them to awareness of their Christian dignity, gifts and roles and equip them with the skills they need to fulfill their missionary role within their life context.

The local Church need to find ways and means to affirm, support lay initiatives wherever they are found and giving the necessary pastoral guidance to bring them to maturity.

Theological-pastoral reflection done by clergy and laity together, is the way to clarify roles, grow in the spirit of partnership, mutual trust and make the various expressions of ministry serve the local needs effectively.