The Role of Laity in Bridging the Gap: Towards a More Synodal Approach – Testimonies from the Ground

In post-conflict contexts, particularly in Southeastern Europe, questions of justice, reconciliation, and memory remain deeply intertwined with ecclesial life. These processes do not take place only at the level of official church statements or theological documents, but are lived out daily in local communities, educational initiatives, and interpersonal encounters. Within this space, the role of the laity has proven to be both significant and irreplaceable.

As lay Orthodox theologians, educators, youth workers, journalists, and civil society actors, lay people often find themselves at the forefront of dialogue and reconciliation. While church hierarchies may, at times, move cautiously—due to historical burdens, institutional responsibilities, or fear of misinterpretation—lay actors frequently become the first mediators of encounter. Precisely because they are not part of the formal hierarchy, they can more freely initiate conversations, create informal spaces of trust, and address sensitive issues such as trauma, guilt, responsibility, and coexistence.

I have witnessed this dynamic through various interreligious and ecumenical initiatives in the Balkans, particularly projects that brought together Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant Christians, as well as Muslims and Jews. In these encounters, reconciliation rarely began with doctrinal clarification. Instead, it emerged through shared experiences, attentive listening, and the recognition of one another’s wounds. Healing wounded memories proved to be less a matter of theological precision and more a process of human empathy. In this sense, the laity often serve as “bridge builders,” translating theological insights into lived realities.

Laity and Church Leadership: Between Blessing and Trust

The relationship between the laity and church leadership remains complex. In the Orthodox tradition, the Church is both hierarchical and conciliar. Synodality is not a foreign concept; it belongs to Orthodox ecclesiology. Yet, in practice, synodal processes are often limited to bishops and clergy. For lay engagement, the key word frequently becomes “blessing”. Participation in church life, public speech, or initiatives is often conditioned by explicit approval “from above”.

This framework does not need to be understood negatively. In any institution, guidance and responsibility are necessary. However, problems arise when trust and mutual respect are lacking. When communication remains distant or purely formal, lay creativity and initiative can easily be stifled. The challenge, therefore, is not authority as such, but the absence of a culture of listening—both from clergy to laity and from laity to clergy.

Lay people can offer professional expertise, social sensitivity, and openness toward broader society. When these gifts are welcomed, the Church gains vitality. When they are perceived with suspicion—especially in ecumenical or interfaith contexts—opportunities for healing and reconciliation are lost.

Support Structures and Grassroots Initiatives

Support for lay engagement often comes less from formal ecclesial structures and more from personal networks, foundations, and international ecumenical programs. Institutions such as the Bossey Ecumenical Institute, various educational programs like Erasmus+, CEEPUS, and church-related foundations have provided important spaces for formation, encounter, and exchange. These programs empower lay participants to reflect theologically on justice and reconciliation while remaining grounded in concrete social realities.

At the same time, obstacles persist: limited recognition of lay contributions to decision-making, insufficient structures for lay theological education within Orthodoxy, and ongoing suspicion toward ecumenical engagement. Despite this, meaningful change often begins “from below”. Local initiatives—study groups, conferences, youth encounters, or social service projects—frequently prepare the ground for broader institutional openness.

Dialogue is not an agenda but a way of life. This claim resonates deeply with lived experience: coexistence and reconciliation require honesty, patience, and a willingness to remain in relationship even when agreement is not immediate.

Toward a More Synodal Future

A truly synodal Church cannot exist without the laity. Synodality means walking together—bishops, clergy, monastics, and lay faithful—each according to their vocation and gifts. For Orthodoxy, and for the wider Christian community, the challenge is to move from a merely consultative presence of the laity toward genuine participation in processes of discernment.

Lay people should not be invited only to confirm decisions already made, but to help shape the questions themselves. This is particularly crucial in contexts marked by historical conflict, where identity can easily become tied to victimhood or division. Reconciliation, therefore, is not only institutional or political; it is profoundly spiritual. It involves learning how to live with one another before attempting to define unity.

Conclusion

Whenever the laity are encouraged to speak, to serve, and to create, the Church becomes more alive. Synodality is not an abstract theory; it is a practice of walking together, listening attentively, and allowing ourselves to be transformed through encounter. In ecumenical spaces, I have seen how bridges can be built—slowly, humbly, and with faith. These small but faithful steps are often where the healing of wounded memories truly begins.

Stefan Zeljković