GRASS ROOTS PASTORS

"The Church is at a turning point regarding ministry, when sadly the number of clergy and religious are decreasing... and many of today's outstanding pastoral ministers are no longer priests but laity. Some would call our present experience a crisis of choice for the Church. Christians, especially the laity, must respond, moti-vated by the future and not by the past."

Leonard Doohan's new book presents the much-needed theologi-cal foundations for the roles of professional lay ministers and provides them with the basic skills and practical solutions to the problems they are likely to encounter.

Grass Roots Pastors:

Documents the historical role of lay ministers in the Catholic Church.

Shows their essential contribution to the life and growth of the ministry.

Discusses the importance of their collaboration with the rolere in the light of contemporary models of the Church.

Examines the advantages and difficulties of unordained

Suggests ways to improve pastoral skills.

Provides creative ways for coping with tensions i

Leonard Doohan, professor of religious studies at Gonniver sity, Spokane, Washington, is the author of The Lay Centered Church and Laity's Mission in the Local Church: Setting a New Direction.