Possibility of Cooperation
Possibility of Cooperation
The priest is not merely an individual working in the church; rather, he serves alongside groups of deacons and servants. He is also supported by a church council of lay leaders, and there are various committees and ministries involved in social service, the club, the workshop, the library, and other activities. There are also additional staff members such as the church steward, caretaker, and possibly a secretary as well.
In addition, the priest may serve alongside one or more fellow priests, who may be either senior or newly ordained.
What, then, is the priest’s attitude toward all these people? Can he cooperate with them, or will he clash with them? If a conflict occurs, will it be harsh or calm? And what effect will this have on the service, and on people’s understanding of the priesthood—its spirituality and its ideals?
The ideal priest is one who is able to cooperate with everyone in love and gentleness. Even if he finds differing opinions, he can benefit from them, persuade others, or even yield his own opinion when necessary, without insisting in a way that leads to conflict or undermines others.
A major problem that often accompanies many priests is isolation in service—they want to be everything themselves.
Those who serve with them often find themselves in a difficult position: either they submit while convinced or unconvinced, or they withdraw from service after conflicts, or the situation escalates and becomes complicated, with each side trying to appeal to the congregation and win their support.
No matter how gifted a priest may be, he cannot succeed without cooperation.
