1992 Book of Discipline: ¶ 301

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Chapter Two

THE DIACONAL MINISTRY

Section I. Relation to the Ministry of All Christians

301. The New Testament witness to Jesus Christ makes clear that the primary form of his ministry, in God's name, was that of service (diakonia) in the world. Very early in its history the Church came to understand that all of its members were com-missioned, in baptism, to ministries of love, justice, and service, within local congregations and the larger communities in which they lived; all who follow Jesus have a share in the ministry of Jesus, who came not to be served, but to serve. There is thus a general ministry of all baptized Christians (105-107).

The Church also affirms that particular persons are called and set apart for representative ministries of leadership within the body, to help the whole of the membership of the Church be engaged in and fulfill its ministry of service (109). The purpose of such leadership is the equipping of the general ministry of the Church, to the end that the whole church may be built up as the Body of Christ for the work of ministry. This set-apart ministry is not a substitute for the diaconal responsibility of all members of the general ministry. Rather, it exists to intensify and make more effective the self-understanding of the whole People of God as servants in Christ's name.

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1992 Book of Discipline: ¶ 301
1996 United Methodist General Conference