Whatever Happened to the Laity?

Graham, Elaine

dc.contributor.author	Graham, Elaine	*
dc.date.accessioned	2016-05-25T13:02:07Z	en
dc.date.available	2016-05-25T13:02:07Z	en
dc.date.issued	2015-02-07	en
dc.identifier.citation	2015 Annual Chester Cathedral Lecture	en
dc.identifier.other	NA	en
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10034/610708	en
dc.description.abstract	The preoccupation of many of the churches over recent times with questions of gender and sexuality in relation to who is and is not permitted to be ordained has taken place at the expense of other, equally fundamental questions about the nature of the church’s ministry overall, and to the roles, responsibilities and training of the laity. It is time to turn our attention to the question of the role of the laity and the work they do as members of the Church in the world. Throughout Christian history, people have been asking the same question: what about the laity? Who are the laity? Whatever happened to the laity? Why is it that despite successive waves of innovative, exciting debate towards a theology of the laity from the mid-twentieth century is a theology of the laity still such a neglected area? Why has theological reflection on the laity been afforded such low priority – and even when it has taken place, why has it not proved of lasting and sustainable impact?
dc.language.iso	en	en
dc.subject	Laity	en
dc.subject	Church of England	en
dc.subject	Practical Theology	en
dc.subject	Ecclesiology	en
dc.title	Whatever Happened to the Laity?	en
dc.type	Presentation	en
dc.contributor.department	University of Chester	en
dc.internal.reviewer-note	Presentation	en
or.grant.openaccess	Yes	en
rioxxterms.funder	x	en
rioxxterms.identifier.project	x	en
rioxxterms.version	AM	en
html.description.abstract	The preoccupation of many of the churches over recent times with questions of gender and sexuality in relation to who is and is not permitted to be ordained has taken place at the expense of other, equally fundamental questions about the nature of the church’s ministry overall, and to the roles, responsibilities and training of the laity. It is time to turn our attention to the question of the role of the laity and the work they do as members of the Church in the world. Throughout Christian history, people have been asking the same question: what about the laity? Who are the laity? Whatever happened to the laity? Why is it that despite successive waves of innovative, exciting debate towards a theology of the laity from the mid-twentieth century is a theology of the laity still such a neglected area? Why has theological reflection on the laity been afforded such low priority – and even when it has taken place, why has it not proved of lasting and sustainable impact?