Church is the living body of Jesus ChriSt. Church, therefore, must be growing as a1l living creatures are growing. Conceming this matter the point is how the church grows. Does it grow in a healthy way? Or in a unhealthy way? Every christians should make a great effort to church growth in a healthy way. The star따19 point of building healthy church growth is on the ground of defining the right relationship with laity. Thus it can be said that Pastor’ s understanding for laity confirms the direction in his/her rninistry. There are two kinds of pastors ’s understanding for laity. One is the partnership with the laity, the other is the lordship with the laity. Theologically speaking distinction between the c1ergy and the laity is not biblical. Historica1ly, this distinction was a consequence from the hierarchy system of Roman Catholic church. Partnership with the laity is right in five points. Firstly, it is the biblical. According to Acts, deacon played very important roles in the rninistry of the churches in Acts. They distributed the food for the needed(Acts 6: 1-4), deacon Philip taught the Scripture to the Ethiopian eunuch(Acts 8:26-35)) and even Philip baptised him(Acts 8:36- 40). Secondly, it is matched in the spirit of reformation. ln a sense, reformation released rninisσy from the c1ergy to the laity. Thirdly, it is more efficient from the management point of view. In the management studies, it is general1y acknowledged that a multi-oriented management model is far more effecti ve than a mono-oriented model. In line with this, church is not able to grow without 99 percent laity. Fourthly, it is right in contextual theological p이 nt of view. Fifthly, it is right in the Korean church historical point of view Korean church has allowed the laity in ministry from her early times. But there is a danger in partnership with the laity. That is, a danger of di sorder in the church, a danger of heretical teaching, a danger of neglecting the pastor in the church and so on. Some suggestions could be provided here for minimizing these kinds of danger. Firstly, distinction between the clergy and the laity can be done not the basis of status but gifts and talents. Secondly, activities in pastoral ministry of the laity should be confined by the senior pastor. Thirdly, the laity should serve in churcb according to his/her gifts. Fourthly, the laity involving minisσY should be trained constantly. There are three famous churches to achieve church growth in good P따tnership with the laity. Sarang church in Seoul, Onnuri church in Seoul, Willow Creek Community church in Chicago In conclusion, we Korean churches are now facing to decline. The key point is relation with the laity. For Korean churches, this is a time to have the paradigm shift. Let us building good partnership with the laity, inviting and equipping them, serving Lord together.

• 홍성욱(안양제일교회 담임목사) | Sung-WooK Hong