REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS

Ministers of the Church are required to execute their commission in an appropriate manner. Apart from fulfilling direct requirements of their office they also have to respond to a number of expectations. These requirements and expectations are interwoven into a pattern for the correct execution of ministry. They must also be coordinated so as to coincide with one another. At times people’s expectations of the servants of the Church can be misdirected in such a way that they are not compatible with the basic requirements.

Some of the requirements are formulated in statutes and other regulations. Certain official obligations of a legal nature pertain particularly to bishops and priests. The requirements expressed in the orders for ordination which bishops, priests and deacons accept in their ordination vows, are of a special kind. They are basically uniform for the different commissions within the ministry. Due to the different nature of these commissions, they are given different emphases and have different practical consequences. These requirements and some justifiable expectations can be illustrated by means of a few key words in the context of the ordination vows.

Faithfulness

Ministers are required to be faithful in their commission. This means faithfulness to the Church which has given the commission, and to the Lord of the Church, Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate giver of the commission. In their ordination, the bishop, the priest and the deacon promise to perform their mission so that God is glorified, the Church built up and the will of God brought to fulfilment in the world . This requirement of faithfulness in service is based on Jesus’ own command, according to which faithfulness and trustworthiness are the first and foremost requirements of a steward and servant (Matt 24:4551; Lk 12:4148, 17:10; 1 Cor 4:2). According to this requirement, the Church expects such faithfulness of those who have received a commission within the ministry of the Church. Faithfulness does not entail unreasonable requirements, only that each one employs his innate gifts and develops his ability to fulfil the given commission faithfully.

One aspect of this faithfulness is also that bishops, priests and deacons employ their strength and other resources correctly. This in turn means that they not only have the right but even the obligation to seek such physical and mental rest and recreation as will equip them to carry out their commission wholeheartedly. It is essential in this regard that they become strengthened in their conviction that they are involved in a commission which they have not taken upon themselves on their own, but which has been given by the Church through ordination in the name of the Holy Trinity. Faithfulness places the minister in a position of dependency, not towards those who have a responsibility for elections and appointments, but towards the Lord of the Church. The bishop, the priest and the deacon have been given an apostolic commission which endures from generation to generation. They can do the work of the giver of the commission with quiet confidence.

Knowledge and insight

Theological knowledge and spiritual insight are not the same thing. Spiritual insight presupposes that basic theological knowledge is integrated in one’s personality. It must be the constant endeavour of the minister of the Church to mature in spiritual insight and live under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, through communion with God, deepened theological understanding and human clarity of vision. In these matters it is always possible for every one to take some further step. It is an obvious expectation that whoever works in a commission of the Church shall be aware of this.

In the ordination vows the bishop promises not only to persevere in the faith of the Church but also to defend it and to ensure that the Word of God is purely and clearly proclaimed in accordance with the confession of our Church and that the sacraments are rightly administered. The priest promises not only to persevere in the faith of the Church but also to proclaim the Word rightly as it is witnessed in the confession of our Church and administer the sacraments. The deacon promises not only to stand firm in the faith of the Church but also to stand on the side of those who are oppressed and need help. No one can fulfil these promises correctly without theological knowledge and spiritual insight. Knowledge regarding the doctrine and faith of the Church which has been gained through education and continued studies must constantly be deepened so that particularly bishops and priests are able to deal pertinently with theological questions. Of the bishop in particular, as the interpreter and defender of doctrine, the Church has the right to require and expect particular theological skill.The priest must also continuously recover and extend his theological knowledge for the benefit of his/her preaching and teaching, in direct contact with the parishioners. The deacon, too, constantly needs to deepen not only his basic diaconal knowledge but also his insight into the foundations of the faith.

Spiritual insight is gained when basic theological knowledge and practical experience of the conditions of the life in faith are worked upon and integrated with the individual’s personal interpretation of life. It is an important part of the ministerial fellowship that the servants of the Church in this respect assist one another in common study and exchange of spiritual experiences. They have the right to expect support from one another in order to mature as Christians and servants of Christ.

Loyalty and solidarity

Ministers are required to be loyal to the Church of Sweden and her orders, which ultimately means to be loyal to the Lord of the Church. Solidarity is expected in relation to the diocese and congregations and different categories of fellow workers. Loyalty and solidarity are closely related to one another. Loyalty is one and the same for all the servants of the Church, but solidarity varies according the particular requirements of the commission. The bishop is expected to be in solidarity with the diocese, and with fellowbishops and other leaders of the Church. The priest and the deacon are expected to be in solidarity with the parish and its agencies and fellow workers within and outside the ministry of the Church. The requirement of solidarity and loyalty is based on the clear expectation that the servants of the Church shall interpret their commission in the Church in a spirit of humility and willingness to serve.

If we examine more closely the requirements which in this regard are made of the bishop, they appear as an aspect of the bishop’s task to express in that office the unity of the Church and the concord of the diocese. In one of the ordination vows the bishop promises to promote unity in Christ by adhering to, upholding and defending the order of our Church. This promise can be fulfilled correctly only if the work of the bishop is marked by loyalty towards the Church and by solidarity with colleagues in the diocese. Only in this manner can division be avoided and peace and good order be maintained. This interpretation of solidarity does not mean that the bishop abandons the authority which is necessary for leading of the diocese, but that he consciously resists an authoritarian attitude which can create division and antagonism. A true solidarity on the part of the bishop supports and inspires joy in the work and strengthens harmony. A true solidarity expresses itself through concern and respect for colleagues and a willingness to listen also to their critical views.

Also for the priest, especially the one who has a leadership role, loyalty to the Church and solidarity with colleagues is an important prerequisite for peace, cooperation and good order in the congregation. This follows from the priest’s ordination vow to follow the order of our Church and to realize his call with Christ as example. This has a number of practical consequenses for those who rub against each other in their daily work where there can be many causes of conflict. In the congregation the priest has the exacting responsibility of interpreting the requirement of solidarity with humility, in such a way that division and group formation are avoided and love and harmony are promoted. If antagonisms threaten, the Church has a right to expect of its priests an openness and a willingness for dialogue, mutual understanding and reconciliation, in the consciousness that they are servants of the congregation and not its lords. To give and receive constructive criticism in a humble and positive spirit is an expression of a true solidarity, which can benefit unity and harmony in the congregation.

The deacon exercises a ministry of solidarity in a special sense. The deacon, just as the priest, has promised to follow the order of the Church and to realize his call with Christ as example. The pattern for the requirement of solidarity is the same for both. They are attached to the congregation and bear a responsibility for its life and development. The human solidarity which the deacon is expected to have with the parishioners cannot be any different in the relations with colleagues. Precisely from diaconal perspective and through concern also for colleagues the deacon can make a special contribution to the creation of a physically and psychically good working environment, which enables the congregational fellowship to function as a firm point of orientation for all.

The witness

In an ordination vow, which they make in common, bishops, priests and deacons promise to live in such a way among people that they bear witness to the love of God and to the mystery of reconciliation. Their spoken testimony through preaching is important. But the testimony of life and deeds is no less important. For many people this testimony is decisive, in accord with the classical expression, your actions speak so loud that I cannot hear what you are saying . The expectations surrounding the conduct of the lives of the ministers of the Church, how they interpret life’s meaning are higher than for others. However one may judge such an attitude, it is inescapable that the witness of the ministers in this respect is of the utmost importance for the reputation and credibility of the Church. Bishops, priests and deacons are regarded, rightly, as the special representatives of the Church and it is essential that they bear in mind the responsibility attached to this. They are called, not only to bear witness, but also themselves to be witnesses of the gospel of love, reconciliation and hope. The onus is on them not to stand in the way of the gospel of Christ or through their own lives and practice hinder people from coming to and maturing in faith. Their words, their actions and the conduct of their life must bear the same message. Their private life is private only to a limited extent. It must not be allowed to compromise the reputation and credibility of the Church. This applies both to written and unwritten laws. Bishops, priests and deacons shall – as it is written in the order for ordination – in everything endeavour to ensure that your faith, your teaching and your life agree as one . A way of life worthy of the ministry is expected of them. Their life shall confirm the confession of the mouth. When they themselves fail, they shall be able to show that the Church offers a way to rehabilitation and a new beginning through confession and forgiveness.

The Church safeguards the family and marriage, since it is of vital importance for the individual as well as the community that people live in secure and stable relationships. The minister must advocate a view of marriage of which the key words are love, faithfulness and lifelong commitment.

The minister’s own expectation

In addition to requirements and expectations laid upon the ministers of the Church, they themselves are entitled to have expectations. They can expect of the Lord of the Church that their faithful work and their willingness to sacrifice will be blessed and that God’s will will be done even if they themselves do not always see the fruits of their efforts. When they experience despair and doubt they can continue to serve in the conviction that God has the power to overcome their shortcomings and through the Holy Spirit even make use of that which is imperfect.

They have the right to expect that the intercessions made in the ordination will continue in the diocese and the congregation. It is a pleasant duty for the individual Christian to bring the spiritual leader before the presence of God in prayer. The servant of the Church has the right to expect from the parishioners and coworkers understanding that in their work they will sometimes be obliged to make difficult decisions and that they have the same need of support and encouragement as everyone else. They have the right to expect that the critisism they encounter will have a positive purpose and will be an expression of a genuine concern. They have the right, as much as others, to be embraced in the love and warmth of Christian fellowship.