Clergy/Laity: the Cause of Division in the Church?

I've been reading a challenging book called RETHINKING THE WINESKIN by Frank Viola. He advocates house churches, and talks about how the church should not have walls that divide Christians from one another. There is only one church in one city. He says, if you and I lived in Jerusalem in the first century, we belonged to the same church! Likewise, today there is only one church in Price Hill! Amen!

But now listen to the author as he illustrates why we have so many divisions:

"Perhaps an anlogy will help to illustrate this sad chain of events. Suppose that Bob, a so-called "layman," feels called to teach Scripture. In most modern basilica [building-centered] churches, he will have to "go into the ministry" and establish a church himself to fulfill his calling. Perish the thought of the pastor sharing his pulpit with a "layman" on a continuous basis--even if that "layman" has the gift of teaching! (See 1 Corinthians 14:26 for the folly in this mentality.)

"After going through the proper institutional channels, Bob becomes a pastor. He begins a new church in his vicinity. In reality, Bob's "church" is nothing more than an extension of his own ministry. It is also an unneeded addition to the endless sects that already exist in his community. All of which are competing with each other to recruit members!

"Herein lies the root of the problem. The institutional church Bob attended would not permit him to freely exercise his teaching gift. Therefore, he saw no other alternative but to begin a congregation of his own. (By the way, most modern churches exist to give the pastor a platform by which to exercise his teaching gift.)

"The clergy/laity distinction is the seed-bed for the production of endless schisms in the Body of Christ. When gifted people are prevented from fulfilling their God-given callings, they feel forced to begin their own churches. Even though God never called them to do such a thing."

I don't know that I agree with the strength of Viola's insights, but they are definitely thought-provoking, and I wanted to write them down.

LORD, prevent me from keeping anyone from ministry by trying to protect my own turf. Let me equip and train and promote people to do the ministry that You have called them to do. Let our small groups be placed where people discover and exercise their gifts to Your glory. Protect us from egos and selfish sects.
-ker