In Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ document on Lay Ecclesial Ministry, it states: “The possibility that lay persons undertake Church ministries can be grounded in Scripture and the teachings of the Church, from St. Paul to the Second Vatican Council and in more recent documents. ‘Sharing in the function of Christ, priest, prophet and king, the laity have an active part of their own in the life and activity of the church. Their activity within the church communities is so necessary that without it the apostolate of the pastors will frequently be unable to obtain its full effect.’” (Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord, pgs 8-9)