Call to Service
Archbishop Phillip Zimmerman, SJ/RSJ, ThD, DD
I would like to begin this article
with a few questions: What is ministry? Why are you involved
in ministry? How do you support your community's ministerial efforts?
It is clear, from the "mainstream"
churches to the "fringe" churches, that there are two distinct types of
people serving in ministerial capacities: Truly Sincere People and
Ecclesiastical Adventurers. In both cases, it is easy to know "who is
who". As scriptures remind us, "by their fruits you shall know them"
{Matthew 7:16} It cannot be argued that many people have a true vocation
and are called out from among the flock to lead, to teach, to preach, to
feed, to care, to advocate and to love... and yet, it is also
painfully clear that others have entered ministerial service for personal
gain, glory and fame. The first group are a benefit and a blessing to the
people of God; the second serve no benefit for anyone, most
especially themselves. The second group should keep in mind the
scripture: Store not your treasure on the earth, where moth and rust
decays and thieves break in and steal; rather, store your treasures in
Heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys nor thieves break in and
steal. For where your treasure is, there shall be your heart. {Matthew
6:19-20}
We have to ask ourselves: Where
is my heart? To Which group do I belong?
Each of us is on a unique
journey. Our journey has led us to The Reformed Catholic Church. The
Reformed Catholic Church is a LIVING, CHANGING, WORKING church. That
means that the Church is a perpetual work in progress. The moment we, as
a church, have nothing left to change is the moment that, we, as the
church, have met our purpose and we transfigure from church militant to
church triumphant! I believe it a fair assessment to say that we have a
long journey ahead of ourselves before we are ready for
this transformation!
This philosophical approach reminds
us that we must remain committed to being both real and relevant in the
lives of the people to whom we minister. Otherwise, what are we doing but
preaching old, stale, meaningless news. I believe that it is safe to say
that no one buys last week's newpaper in order to learn tomorrow's
news. Our purpose as a Church is to spread the Gospel of our Lord, Jesus
the Christ. We must always keep in mind that Christ's message of
affirmation, humility, hope, and love is new, ALWAYS NEW. It will always
be yesterday's, today's and tomorrow's news. It is always meaningful,
always relevant, always TRUE! We must share this news freely, joyfully and
purposefully!
We have each witnessed the tragedy
and high cost of indifference and power struggle in other denominations
and communities. Our clergy and leadership must be dedicated
workers, genuinely committed to agape, filled with a sense of community
and possess a burning desire to serve the people of God. If we do not
have these charisms, what, then, is our purpose for existance? The only
answer is that we would have no purpose and there would be no reason for
our existence.
One of the greatest abuses of the
clerical state in many denominations is the abundance of "marriage
ministers." That is, individuals who make a rather comfortable living
selling the sacrament of marriage. Yet, when pressed to address their
ministerial outreach to the community, you discover that most do not
engage in any other form of ministry. This is self serving business and
sadly antithetical to the purpose of ministerial service. I don't believe
that there is a gospel of the "benjamins". Personally, I cannot fathom how
people could call themselves ministers of the Gospel when they do nothing
more than commit a sacramental crime of simony. May we always be safe
from such business people.
Those of us who serve the people of
The Reformed Catholic Church as her ministers and leaders have a serious
responsibility to each other. That responsibility includes being
charitable towards each other, cooperative with each other, and to be
willing to step forward to help the church accomplish her extensive
ministerial outreach. This is how the church continues to grow! It is
easy to be critical of someone else's work... In our lives, we have
witnessed or engaged in this kind of behavior. Over the years, I have
watched bitter criticism divide and destroy churches, denominations and
community service organizations. In the end, what is accomplished?
Nothing. May we always be safe from such sadness and strife.
Certainly, it's safe to say that we
all know armchair quarterbacks, referees and judges... But what real
value comes from those who criticize but who contribute nothing? What
real, significant changes are made by negative "I could have done better"
statements? Frankly, they have no good purpose. They are worthless and
have no meaning. Statements like these generally lead only to resentment,
bitterness and pain. So, our responsibility to each other is not to
criticize, not to tear down, but to try to understand, to build up and to
help, as a community, to get us where we need to be, so that we can better
serve the people of God.
As people called to serve, we have
symbols of our vocation. One symbol is our collar. Regardless of
its shape or appearance, it is a symbol of service, not a symbol of
status. It is my most sincere hope that we remember that we have been
called by name to act on behalf of the people, not to lord over them. I
pray that we each thank God for the gift of ministry and that we seek ways
to help our sisters and brothers to share our faith and to develop
programs that will have lasting, positive impact on the people of God.
We must commit ourselves to live,
learn, love, heal, work, change and change again! As our patron Saint
Pope John XXIII said: "To change is good; to change often is
perfection. " I pray that we commit these simple but powerful words to
our heart and thank God every day for each other and for this family that
is The Reformed Catholic Church.
Here I am Lord....May I serve
your people with love, dignity and humility. May I decrease so that You
may Increase. +Amen
++Phillip Zimmerman
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