Leadership and Heads of the Church as a Form of Ministry. A Pastoral View

Navedeni pojmovi iz naslova upućuju nas na činjenicu da se službe u Crkvi promatraju kroz prizmu služenja. Oni koji u Crkvi imaju vodeće uloge pozvani su, djelujući in persona Christi, svoje djelovanje suobličiti Kristovom, »koji nije došao da mu služe, nego da on služi« (Mt 20,28). Služenje, ako ga se želi kristovski živjeti, dovodi do egzistencijalnih kriza, koje su uvjetovane vanjskim i unutarnjim čimbenicima, s obzirom da nije uvijek moguće udovoljiti ljudskim željama i u isto vrijeme ostati vjeran Kristu i njegovoj Crkvi. Prezbiteri služe Kristu, Crkvi i zajednici vjernika. Munus docendi, sanctificandi et regendi jesu temeljne odrednice služenja i predstojništva zaređenih službenika. Poučavanje, posvećivanje i predvođenje zajednice neodvojivi su jedno od drugoga i to je imanentno samom pojmu prezbiterat. Iako je u prvom redu službenik Riječi prezbiter ne zanemaruje niti zapostavlja druge oblike služenja, sve do žrtvovanja sebe, jer djeluje in persona Christi. U tom duhu mudro i razborito pokušava povezati mnoštvo karizmi u jedan duh, dajući prednost karizmama koje više koriste zajednici. Autor navodi i nekoliko razloga za ustanovljenje prezbiterata. Analizom biblijskih tekstova dolazi do zaključka da su oni bili pastiri i čuvari Crkve te kao takvi služe Bogu i predvode zajednicu vjernika. Na kraju autor predlaže teolozima da što preciznije definiraju službu prezbitera kako bi samom prezbiteru bilo jasno što mu je činiti, čemu dati prednost u djelovanju, kako ostati vjeran Kristu i Evanđelju i ne zanemariti potrebe današnjega čovjeka, te ne iznevjeriti mnogobrojna očekivanja onih kojima je poslan.The notions noted in the title direct us towards the fact that ministries of the Church are observed through the prism of serving. They, who have a leading role in the Church are called up to act in the name of Christ and to shape their actions according to Christ\u27s »who did not come to be served but to serve (Mt 20:28). Serving, if we wish to live it as Christ did leads to existential crises conditioned by external and internal factor because it is not always possible to satisfy human desires and at the same time remain faithful to Christ and His Church. Priests (presbyters) serve Christ, the church and the community of the faithful. Munus docendi, santificandi et regendi are the fundamental determinants of (he ministry and leadership of ordained ministers. Teaching, dedicating and leading the community are inseparable from each other and this is imminent to the actual notion of a priest. Although the minister of the Word, the priest does not neglect other forms of serving, to the point of sacrificing himself because he is acting in the name of Christ. In that spirit, he wisely and rationally endeavours to tie a multitude of charismas into one spirit, giving advantage to that charisma that best serves the community. The author notes several reasons why the notion of priesthood was founded. With an analysis of Biblical texts, he arrives at the conclusion that presbyters were the pastors and minders of the Church and as such, they served God and lead the community of the faithful. In conclusion the author suggests that theologians should be more precise in defining the ministry of presbyters so that presbyters themselves can be assured of what he should do, where his priorities should be, how to remain faithful to Christ and the Gospel and not to neglect the needs of contemporary man and not to forsake the numerous expectations of those for whom he was sent