Most people would probably thnk that ministry takes place in the church. When you go to church ministry is taking place there. However, ministry actually takes place much more often outside the church. For example, the Book of Common Prayer takes the opposite view that most of us (even most Episcopalians) have about the purpose of the gits of the Spirit. Most people think that the gifts of the Spirit are meant ot build up the church. The Book of Common Prayer says, “The ministry of lay persons is . . . according to the gifts given them, to carry on Christ’s work of reconcilation in the world (page 855).” The idea is that most minstry takes place in the world through all the members of the church working in the power of the Holy Spirit. Wouldn’t that be different than what most people expereince now?
