All ecclesial communities have some form of governance hierarchy. In many traditions, for those who are officially engaged in ministry on behalf of the ecclesial community, there is also a hierarchy of ministerial roles. In the Catholic tradition formation programs for Deacons are, for the most part, adaptations of the formation program for Presbyters (Priests). Formation programs for Pastoral Associates in the Catholic Tradition and equivalent roles in the broad range of Protestant Traditions are primarily informed by the programs and policies used for the training of candidates for ordained ministry. This presentation explores the possibility of using Lonergan’s understanding of realms of meaning to develop systematic, role appropriate, formation programs for Deacons and other ministerial roles. A realm of meaning becomes differentiated from the others when it develops its own language, its own distinct mode of apprehension, and its own cultural, social, or professional group speaking in that fashion and apprehending in that manner. The reams of meaning identified by Lonergan are the realm of common sense, the realm of theory, the realm of interiority, the realm of transcendence, the realm of scholarship and the realm of art.

I describe three examples of punitive reactions to Christian initiatives that are not the ‘gracious engagement’ understood as ‘dialogue across the theological spectrums’, within their own contexts. ‘Dialogue’ is elaborated with reference to Bede Griffiths and Raimon Panikkar, proponents of interfaith dialogue. Metz’s presentation of Christian faith and theological elucidation as centred in a narrative that is a ‘dangerous idea’ we forget at our peril provides a framework for three stories of struggle I provide: Theodore of Mopsuestia, a 4/5th century Byzantine monk theologian, showed Christ as “bond of the universe,” a concept that is especially relevant today. Theodore and his works were anathematized after his death. Tissa Balasuriya, a Sri Lankan Catholic, liberation theologian who died in 2013 at the age of 89 was excommunicated in 1997 for challenging particular Church teaching, especially in regard to Jesus’ mother, Mary. In mid-October during a sojourn at the Port Fairy Spring Music Festival to celebrate my son, Tom’s work, I encountered a story of injustice towards St Brigid’s parish, Crossley, documented in Regina Lane’s book, Saving St Brigid’s. My conclusion considers how through suffering and grace, we learn to dialogue as concepts evolve, understanding of humanity develops, necessary change happens.