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Jesus’ words at the Last Supper “Do this in memory of me!” were also addressed to women. Tens of thousands of women served as sacramentally ordained deacons during the first millennium. Women’s exclusion from the priesthood and episcopacy can be shown to be due to cultural patriarchal prejudice. ('Christ’s Idea' Chs. 9 and 23)

With regard to spiritual authority, ministers are accountable to God in their own conscience, and also to higher ministerial levels to some extent. They are not subject to any form of democratic control. However, to support its spiritual mission the Church has established institutions: church buildings, parish headquarters, schools, clinics, whatever. Responsibilities of persons in charge create forms of institutional authority. This covers administration, organization, appointment of personnel, finance, maintenance and so on. Every leader with this kind of authority, whether ordained or not, is fully accountable for all his actions to the community and secular law ('Christ’s Idea' Chs. 16 and 20).

Jesus stressed the importance of the community of believers. The Second Vatican Council prescribed pastoral councils to be established on all levels ('Christus Dominus' §27). However, present Church Law states that such councils play only a consultative role. That means that the laity cannot take any decisions that bishops or priests need to follow. ('Christ’s Idea' Ch. 12)

The Holy Spirit indicates what Christ wants for our time by speaking through the ‘sense of faith’ ('Christ’s Idea' Ch. 13), through scholars ('Christ’s Idea' Ch. 10) and through ‘prophets’ ('Christ’s Idea' Ch. 11). “God placed in the community first of all apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers…” (1 Corinthians 12,28).

Christ taught us to live by love and for love. This brings freedom from any written law, also church law. “For freedom Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to law … If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under any law.” (Galatians 5,1.18) “In Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8,2). Love is the overriding command. (Christ’s Idea Ch. 8)

Though Jesus gave special powers to the Apostles and their successors, he did not, on principle, restrict the inherent powers of all the faithful. Every baptised person can administer baptism and the sacrament of marriage. And, in the absence of ordained ministers, he or she can hear confessions, preside at the Eucharist and anoint the sick (Christ’s Idea Ch. 14).

During his public ministry Jesus adapted his actions and his preaching to the specific audience he was dealing with. Conditions vary widely between countries spanning the world across five continents. While universal principles should be laid down for the whole Church, bishops conferences should be allowed to oversee the gradual implementation of reforms in their own areas ('Christ’s Idea' Ch. 26).