#269: Co-Workers in the Vineyard: The Importance of Lay Leadership (with Brother Louis E. Canter) (REPLAY)
From Ministry Monday by National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM)
November 10, 2025 · Season 8 · Episode 15
About this episode
The episode discusses the significance of lay leadership in the church, featuring insights from Brother Louis E. Canter.
I once had a cantor who recently had a baby. She wanted to minister quickly after her child was born, but balancing two children with varying work schedules was a constant challenge for her. I told her that we would welcome her back as a minister in any way that her schedule would allow. One morning, her husband had an unexpected work commitment, so she brought her toddler and infant with her to church. They were both incredibly well-behaved until the preparation of the gifts, but this didn’t stop my cantor. With her toddler next to her leg and her infant on her hip, she sang “How Great Thou Art”. She looked at her infant as she sang, “O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder, consider all the works Thy hands have made….” There was not a dry eye in the house. She ministered to all of us in multiple ways that day, and she reminded me of the power of lay leadership. You know, we are so quick to cling to the role of the clergy, I think we often forget the presence of God that lives within us and flows through us as we minister. And that is the conversation we’re having today. I sat down with Brother Louis Canter to discuss the importance of Lay Ecclesial ministry, a term that is…
People in this episode
Guest: Brother Louis E. Canter
Topics covered
- lay leadership
- ecclesial ministry
- clergy
- community service
- spirituality
Keywords
- lay leadership
- ministry
- spirituality
- clergy
- community
- service
- church
More episodes of Ministry Monday
- Serving in Worship Beyond the Page: Accessibility, Ability, and the Calling to Lead · June 8, 2026
- #277: The Story Series with Brother Louis Canter, OEF · May 25, 2026
- #276: Sung Prayer and Spiritual Encounter in the Psalms (with Fr. Michael Joncas) · May 11, 2026
- #275: The Story Series with Rodolfo López and Estela García-López · April 27, 2026
- #274: The Story Series with Rick Gibala · April 13, 2026
- #273: What Do I Do With This Accordion???: Arranging for the Unexpected in Liturgical Ensembles (with Luke Rosen) · March 16, 2026
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