From the time of the Apostles the ministry of the whole Church has been adaptable. When the Church has been faithful to God's will the forms of ministry have often changed according to the concrete situation of the Christian community and the world. For the ministry is not an end in itself, nor is the Church an end in itself. It is the Kingdom of God and his purposes in the world that determine the functions of Church and ministry. These purposes embrace the deepest needs of men as known to Christ. Therefore, the identification of these needs is a problem to which the Church must address itself as it seeks the guidance of his Spirit.

There is a general ministry or common priesthood of all who are baptized, and this common priesthood provides the context in which we treat the ordained priesthood, or the specific ministry of Word and sacraments. For within the Christian community all the faithful are called and empowered by the Holy Spirit to enter into and express the ministry of Christ. There is a whole range of gifts of service and love, rich in their diversity, not limited to the few, but possessed by men and women, young and old alike. All Christians share in the grace of God's Spirit and the basic equality of the priestly people of God. It is our conviction that this doctrine of the common priesthood of the faithful needs to be magnified and lived out more fully within both our traditions. For the Holy Spirit works through all the people of God, calling them to their ministry.