By Chris Eckl

What do laymen think about the role of their ministers? What do ministers think their roles should be?

These two general questions were studied by Dr. Hoyt P. Oliver, assistant professor social science at Oxford College, and a survey he conducted came up with some interesting replies.

Laymen who answered the survey want the minister to be a man in close touch with God, an expert spiritual counselor and a moral example.

They see him as a close friend, as a father, as a teacher more than as a social critic, specialist or judge. Only Catholic priests and laymen who replied see judgment as a function built into the pastor’s role.”

Dr. Oliver said laymen reported they turn to their ministers in times of doubt and crisis. They feel he is qualified to deal with ‘religious’ matters. However, if they run into ‘worldly’ difficulties—mental, emotional, financial—they will go to someone else.

The 31-year-old professor said laymen see the goal of the Church as “other worldly salvation.”

The ministers who replied to the survey were more disturbed by the condition of the Church. “They were liberal,” Dr. Oliver said, ‘and concerned with reform. I think that most of the ministers who replied were young while the laymen were older.

Concerning the question of authority, the professor said neither ministers nor laymen showed a great deal of concern. They said it doesn’t enter into their thinking. The ministers were more worried, but many used the words responsibility and stewardship rather than authority.

In comments on “What Should Ministers Be?” the professor said ministers do not differ radically from the laymen on what they should be.

In their views of what they are, however, they say first of all they are administrators, then organization leaders, preachers, pastors, amoral examples and symbolic figures.

It should be noted that the laymen’s views of what the ministers should be correspond rather closely with what ministers say they enjoy doing—winning lost souls, helping persons with serious problems, etc.”

Dr. Oliver said, in discussing the work and nature of the Church, the survey showed laymen are more inclined to say the important thing is the individual’s relationship to God and view the Church is a means to an end. They feel the Church should help its members live a Christian life rather than getting involved in the problems of society.

Ministers, on the other hand, are more in agreement that images such as ‘Body of Christ’ and ‘fellowship of saints’ are meaningful; that the mission of the Church is to help persons live a fully human life and prepare them to serve the world; that many church-goers are using religion to escape their responsibilities in the world.”

Dr. Oliver said there were weaknesses in his survey. “It did not catch ideas of change and I spoke to them in traditional language.” He also said that he sent 809 questionnaires to ministers and priests and 1,820 laymen. One hundred and 79 ministers and 174 laymen replied. The reply rate among priests and Catholic laymen in Atlanta was low,” he commented.

The young professor, who is also an ordained Methodist minister with a Ph.D. in religious education from Yale, was asked for his personal opinion on the role of the Church, its ministers and people.

The Church should be defined as that part of mankind whose life is lived for others and senses the movement of the Holy Spirit in our times.

Rather than say the Church has ministers, I would say the nature of the Church is ministry and clergyman are ministers to the ministers.”

He said he did not think ordination should be the dividing line between laity and clergy. “It should be the recognition of the functional assignment of the whole Church.”

Dr. Oliver said he was excited by the winds of change blowing through all churches. As Bishop John Robinson said, “The advance of any one of us is an advance for all of us.”