The Role of Clergy

What do we define "clergy" to be?  What is the role of clergy?  Have you ever asked this question as it pertains to the clergy of your own church or religious sect?  Not as easy as it seems.  Historically the roles are much different in some faiths than today, and even today we find rebellious factions looking for a more up-to-date definition, or a return to tradition.

What is clergy?  Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines clergy as "people (such as priests) who are the leaders of a religion and who perform religious services."  This is a fairly general definition for clergy as a whole.  Do you agree with it?  For Christianity, for instance, does this meet with the desires of Jesus for his disciples?  I missed the part of his teaching that lays out a program for leadership and a grand plan for ownership of billions upon billions of dollars' worth of cathedrals, gold, art, banks, and a city state in Italy.  Maybe it's just me.  They should spread the word of their faith; perform the ceremonies required by their faith, and...

"If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come, follow me."  -- Matthew 19:21

Have you seen the followers of Christ that wander the streets in robes and sandals, spreading the word of God while living off the charity of others?  I see expensive vestments, gold rings, palatial living quarters and first class accommodations.  At what point in Christian history did we lose our way, and what excuse did they use for doing it?

Let's look at some examples of clergy.

Oxford Biblical Studies Online addresses Priests and Priesthood in the Hebrew Bible this way:

Throughout the Hebrew Bible, the term priest (kōhēn) is commonly used to refer to an official who was set apart from the rest of the community in order to carry out certain duties associated with worship and sacrifice. As "ministers of the LORD" (Joel 1:9; 2:17), priests functioned as mediators of God's presence and were responsible for the day-to-day operation of cultic sites, whether the tabernacle, local shrines, or the Temple in Jerusalem.

Hey!  That's pretty simple, huh?  Let's take a peek at Christianity.  Which would you like, the Catholic version or the Protestant?  Either one will give you the flavor as they aren't all that different so let's go with the Protestant first so we can give the Catholics a break.

Protestant:  Priest, Pastor, Minister Chaplain Preacher, Reverend, Bishop, Apostle, Deacon, and Elder.

Catholic:  Priest, Vicar, Dean, Monsignor, Pastor, Minister, Chaplain, Preacher, Reverend, Deacon, Elder, Bishop, Pope, Primate, Archbishop, and Cardinal.

We actually see the term "Apostle" in the Protestant list.  On the Catholic list a bishop is considered the successor of the apostles.  The definition of duties is different.  On the Protestant side an apostle holds to the tradition as one sent out to spread the Word.  A Catholic bishop on the other hand is the overseer of the diocese or district.  These titles are not necessarily in any order and all of them have their own specific responsibilities.  Is this rank structure peculiar to Christianity?  No.  Christianity may have taken it to all new ridiculous levels, but all religions have some hierarchy which God whispered into one of the faithful's ears as the way to organize religion, fill the coffers, and maintain control of hearts and minds.  Was this the intent of Christ on Earth?  Do you honestly, really believe that?

What of Islam?  An imam is akin to a minister.  The imam guides and teaches about the faith and performs associated rituals.  Anyone one can become an imam as it requires no prerequisites!  Okay, this is going to jump up and bite me for the obvious reason that, when you allow insane imams into positions of responsibility where they can trick the faithful into believing bullshit about their own prophet, you risk the destruction of world peace which was not what Muhammad was all about.  Those that read my posts know I stand up for the true, peaceful, Islam; the Islam of the Qur'an, not that of the heretics that would excuse the killing of innocence for the sake of a misguided imam's interpretation of their Scripture.  Yet, their interpretation of what is required to be an imam is just what Christ envisioned.  We are all ministers.  All you have to do is believe, in something.

So, we have definitions, albeit a modern definition for some, of clergy.  Other than the roles just described, which is pretty accurate when you see that Pope Francis also recognizes the issues, give me another one.

Pope Francis has shown himself to be a rebel, an instrument for change on several levels.  He wants clergy to remember what was asked of them and to stop driving fancy cars and living expensive lifestyles.  He wants them to get back to serving humanity and bringing people to God.  His view on how to accomplish this means reevaluating old school thought on gays, abortion, and the outward appearance of the church to the people.  His ideas on how to bring people back into the church has stirred up a firestorm of controversy and, truth be told, we were sorely in need of it.  Controversy means people are thinking, and if they're thinking about the church, they're thinking about God.  Basically he wants the clergy to get out there among the people and do their job.  His own Vatican is fighting him on this.  Not the staus quo.

The Universal Life Church would define a minister thus:

The Universal Life Church (ULC) is the only religious and spiritual denomination in the world which opens its doors to all and welcomes all who ask to get ordained. The ULC Monastery grants ordination without regards to an individual's religious and spiritual beliefs." 

The Universal Life Church Monastery makes as its goal the promotion of interaction between various religions and the free exchange of ideas to the end that each faith tradition can benefit humankind.

All of the ideas and concepts expressed are debatable. The sections for individual faith traditions express the most common or popular beliefs of each faith’s practitioners. Anyone who disagrees with a claim set forth in this selection are welcome to take part in discussion on the forums of the Universal Life Church Monastery, where every opinion has a voice.

The Universal Life Church (ULC) is the only religious and spiritual denomination in the world which opens its doors to all and welcomes all who ask to get ordained. The ULC Monastery grants ordination without regards to an individual's religious and spiritual beliefs. 

Understanding the parallels between various religions might be the only way for one to learn what is unique about any one faith.  The Universal Life Church Monastery makes as its goal the promotion of interaction between various religions and the free exchange of ideas to the end that each faith tradition can benefit humankind.  All of the ideas and concepts expressed are debatable. The sections for individual faith traditions express the most common or popular beliefs of each faith’s practitioners. Anyone who disagrees with a claim set forth in this selection are welcome to take part in discussion on the forums of the Universal Life Church Monastery, where every opinion has a voice.  The Universal Life Church Monastery invites each of its ministers to define religious terms as they see fit.

Now, granted, you purchase your ordination.  For some this is a joke.  Some Catholic priests like to diddle little boys.  Everyone holds themselves to a certain standard.  Some ministers of the ULC are much more qualified to minister than those trained in seminary to do so.  

So what is the role of clergy?

Those ministers in my group don't know.  We are, all of us, searching for answers.  We do know that it isn't the abortion of Christ's words that organized religion says it is.  It isn't to bilk the faithful out of their life savings so we can live in luxury while they want.  We are, regardless of religious or spiritual affiliation, pastors.  We are shepherds for our individual faiths and beliefs.  We should hold no higher designation, title, or expectation of respect than that of a guide on a tour bus.  We are here to assist people along their path, in getting from point A to point B.  The rest is up to them.  We can't save them, any more than a pope.  They have to save themselves.  This is the true role of clergy.