The Church starts with Revelation, that is, the New Testament, but also requires structure in order to maintain stability and community. Jesus chose leaders, not to rule, but to serve and teach, to guide people in a common journey towards salvation. Jesus proclaims in the Gospel of Mark, “You know those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high official exercise authority over them. Not so with you.” (10:42-43) Jesus orders his followers to reverse this common practice whereby those in authority rule by force. Service, not dominance, should be the goal for the leaders o

f the Church. The Second Vatican Council illuminated the pathway for lay involvement in the Church. The council recognized the fact that the Church is a community and that all faithful have a right to provide input into that which is good for this community. The right to share information and opinions is extended between the faithful (lay and cleric) and the bishops as well as among the faithful themselves.

The early Church developed and made changes according to necessity. As the Christian Community began to realize that the Eschaton was not imminent, and the Church was growing rapidly, structure developed to facilitate its needs. Rome was important because it was the center of the Roman Empire and it was the place where Peter and Paul were martyred. Thus, during the first three centuries, Rome claimed leadership, but its bishop did not impose his force or views on the Church. The Church accepted that the leadership of Peter continued through the Roman Bishop, who acted as the center of unity of the churches. Thus, the papacy originated as a necessity of the Church to maintain unity between the churches and their bishops.

I am proud to be a Catholic, despite the fact that I often lose confidence in its leaders. Yet I know that it is not the leaders who make the Church; it is everyone who believes, everyone who says “yes” to Revelation. The Church is sin-burdened because it is a human institution, but my faith in the Holy Spirits guidance of the Church and its indefectibility is stronger than any human error. I cannot allow Canon laws to dominate over the Gospel, which is the only path to the Truth. Nor can I allow human traditions and institutions force me to believe. Denis Diderot once stated that the “mind can only acquiesce in what it accepts as true” and the “heart can only love what seems good to it.” As the Church begins with Revelation, so too do I begin with Revelation. I wait in hope for the Church to return to a more Biblical understanding of leadership. T

Some topics in this essay:
Vatican II, Denis Diderot, Excellence” Tradition, Thirdly Jesus, , Vatican Council, Ordinary Magisterium, Gospel Mark, Roman Bishop, Revelation Testament, holy spirit, leaders church, serve teach, vatican ii, church vatican, church vatican council, possession truth, authority bishops, teaching instance, vatican council, structure maintain,