Bishop Ray Lucker of New Ulm, Minn., received standing ovations from two overflow audiences when he forcefully called for a change in church rules to allow married priests. Lucker said many bishops hold the same view, but won't speak out because of fear, "based on the hierarchical structure that we have." His endorsement of married priests echoed his pastoral letter on the same subject published in his diocesan newspaper in October. It also matches assertions in September by the priests of England and Wales, and then by the larger Council of European Conferences of Priests.

Lucker's talk, available on both audio and videotape, was a lucid summary of the post-Vatican II mandate to move away from clericalism and maximize the role of all the baptized in fulfilling the church's mission. In the early 1980s, Lucker was the first U.S. bishop to appoint lay men and women to run priestless parishes as pastoral administrators.

Fr. Art Baranowski of Detroit, Mich., founder of the National Alliance of Parishes Restructuring into Communities, offered a practical model for activating the people at the parish level. "The task of the parish today is to rediscover itself as a community," he said. Few people feel the church needs their life experience. Using "churchy" terms often turns off the guy in the back pew. He may not be interested in "sharing his faith", but he certainly possesses a sensitivity to life that must be heard. Baranowski outlined techniques whereby parish leaders can tap into that wealth of experience. Once the ice has been broken, smaller discussion groups can form and small faith communities develop. "The church of the future will be a church where people start connecting for each other," Baranowski said. "Our job as leaders is to be servants to that process."