Abstract
This article presents a Christian liturgical leader as an empty, but useful vessel whose strength is made perfect by the reliance on God’s grace. The word vessel is often used in the Bible, and in English terms it translates to be either a container such as a bowl or a jug, or either a ship or a boat. The biblical meaning denotes a person whom God calls and uses as a vessel. The metaphor of a leader as a useful vessel, refers to a person that is receptive. Paul in 2 Timothy 2: 20–21 clearly proclaims that vessels come as useful ones and not so useful ones; some bring honour and others dishonour – the choice belongs to each individual and is illustrated in 2 Corinthians 4:7: ‘… but we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us’. While the task of Christian liturgical leadership is ambiguous and complex, this article refers to someone called to exercise authority and leadership in the way as Jesus called Paul, namely as ‘a chosen vessel of Mine to bear my name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel’ (Ac 9:15). On the flip side, this brings in a challenging equation of 1 Peter 3:7 where the woman is termed ‘the weaker vessel’ that ‘should be honoured …’. From this perspective, this article explores what impact this problematic passage has on women’s liturgical leadership and practice, especially in the Roman Catholic ecclesiastical culture. It presents a functional biblical vision derived from an understanding that leaders are the vessels that God calls and uses, and that they are guided by a biblical spirituality of leadership. This leadership is consistent with the democratic tradition within Christianity that emphasises dialogue with the Holy Spirit.
Highlights
The article attempts to provide a functional biblical vision of a Christian liturgical leader that derives from an understanding that leaders are vessels that the Almighty calls and uses in various competencies
For Christian leaders, regardless of their gender, without doubt, there exists the need to be guided by a biblical spirituality that is consistent with the open tradition within Christianity that requires the prayerful invocation and guidance of the Holy Spirit
Jesus called Paul ‘a chosen vessel of Mine to bear my name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel’ (Ac 9:15)
Summary
The article attempts to provide a functional biblical vision of a Christian liturgical leader that derives from an understanding that leaders are vessels that the Almighty calls and uses in various competencies. The woman, as the so-called ‘weaker vessel’, need not necessarily be a negative attribute, because it is the flip side of strength in the sense of drawing on the grace of God to exercise kingdom leadership This leadership quality of self-giving is an expression of the presence of the ‘kingdom of God’ and it is believed that women have the natural capacity to embrace qualities such as love and compassionate action by practicing the ability to nurture. Jesus cites himself as an example, stating according to Mark 10: 45: ‘For the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’ These gospel axioms are applicable to both men and women, regardless of the category of leadership. This type of leadership is in reach for all vessels, women and men
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