INTERVIEW WITH DR. LAYTON FRIESEN

Layton says that, left on its own, power will go to the wealthy, the articulate, the well-bred, the educated, and the people who are part of the “ruling family” in the congregation. And that these are human-based criteria. He suggests that ordination provides an antidote to this kind of power distribution. Assuming you agree, how does ordination avoid selecting precisely the kind of people he lists?
With the experience you have in the church, are you confident that a spiritual practice of discernment is properly employed for ordination—one that “tests people, that trains people, that selects people according to spiritual, biblical criteria?” If not, what would need to change to make that happen?
After pointing out the necessity of accountability, Layton warns of overcorrecting with so many checks and balances that ministry is stifled. Can you think of an example of what Layton is talking about? If so, how might that be corrected?

Where Power Goes When it's Left on its Own