About Total Ministry

Saint Francis in the Redwoods is a Total Ministry congregation...what does that mean?

The mission of the Church defined in our catechism is to “restore all people to unity with God and

each other in Christ.” This mission is to be carried out by the “ministry of all its members.” The

catechism continues: “The ministry of lay persons is to represent Christ and his Church; to

bear witness to him wherever they may be; and, according to the gifts given them, to carry on Christ’s

work of reconciliation in the world; and to take their place in the life, worship, and governance of the

Church.” Through Baptism, all Christians are ministers of the Church, “marked as Christ’s own

forever.”

In the Diocese of Northern California, we have embarked on a wonderful journey that has its roots

in the practice of the first Christian communities and also is taking us into the future.

We are excited and have a new sense of our own varied calls to ministry.

Total Ministry formally recognizes and commissions lay people to be leaders of the congregations,

to carry out the mission of the Church.

The ministry of this team is to identify and support the gifts of all the members of the

congregation so that all might fulfill their baptismal ministry. Often, total ministry calls a

member of the congregation to serve the people, a volunteer in the team, as their priest.

Two phrases can describe this kind of church structure: “No preferred seating” and “we are

crew on a freighter, not passengers on a luxury liner.” Every person’s gifts are needed and cherished!

The team studies and prepares together and mentors people who are

identified for ordination. In November of 2005 our first Total Ministry Team was commissioned and

our priest ordained. We welcome your questions about this,

and we look forward to discovering the gifts of new members.