The grammar of ministry and mission

Abstract

Mission and ministry are both key ecclesiological concepts but both remain elusive. Ministry is necessarily set within the wider context of sacramentality but it can be defined in such a way that clericalization of the laity is implied. However, ordained ministry is representative so all remain part of the laos. Mission has recently become an all-embracing concept much as ministry was hitherto. The recent Church of England report Mission-Shaped Church has led to a lack of clarity in defining mission. As a concept it is differently understood depending on the theological starting point. Mission is defined by the nature of God and God's sending of the Church as part of the missio Dei. Mission includes evangelism, witness and service and these are integral to a full understanding of the term. Both ministry and mission are related to diakonia and also imply participation in God expressed by the term deification.