Christian minister

In certain Christian denominations, a religious leader. In episcopacies, churches governed by bishops such as the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican churches, there are three orders of ministry: bishops, priests, and deacons. All Christian ministers have two main responsibilities. They represent and speak for the Christian community. They also represent God, because Christians believe that through the minister's preaching and reading of the Gospel, God is addressing the people.

Local ministers serve the people by their work in the community. For example, they run youth clubs, visit the sick and those in need, counsel those in trouble, raise funds for the parish, and organize the running of the parish.

Christians believe that Jesus set the example of a minister when he ministered to his disciples at the Last Supper. According to the New Testament, Jesus washed their feet, which was the act of a servant, and instructed the disciples to minister (serve) to others:

‘I have set an example for you, so that you will do just what I have done for you... how happy you will be if you put it into practise.’ (John 13:15–17)

He told them that they were there specifically to serve and help other people, and that they were to set an example and spread his teachings wherever they went.

Apostolic succession Apostolic succession is the belief held by some denominations of the Christian church that Jesus passed certain spiritual powers directly to the first apostles. Since then, these powers have been handed down in the ceremony of ‘laying on of hands’ from generation to generation of bishops.

Pope, bishops, and cardinals The pope is the bishop of Rome and head of the Roman Catholic Church. Roman Catholics believe he is the spiritual descendant of St Peter and representative of Jesus on earth. Under him are the bishops, who are believed to be the successors of the apostles (through apostolic succession) and continue their work. They are to spread the good news (gospel) about Jesus to all nations. All bishops are considered equal in being successors of the apostles, but in the governing of the church, there are different grades of responsibility, honour, and authority.

The pope's chief assistants are the cardinals, who together make up the Sacred College of Cardinals responsible for electing the pope. Cardinals are the most senior members of the Roman Catholic Church, and the pope creates them. In the past, they were not necessarily ordained, but now all of them are either priests or bishops. A pope dates his time in office from his coronation with the tiara, or triple crown, at St Peter's Basilica, Rome.

The pope is both a spiritual leader and the ruler of a state. In addition to his role as bishop of Rome and head of the Roman Catholic Church, he rules the Vatican City State. The pope had great political power in Europe from the early Middle Ages until the Reformation.

The majority of the world's Christian denominations reject the primacy (superiority and authority) of the pope. In a 1995 encyclical (papal letter), John Paul II called for greater unity among Christians, urging leaders to discuss the role of papal authority within the community. He indicated his willingness to consider a change in the way papal authority is exercised.

Patriarch The Eastern Orthodox Church uses the term patriarch (Greek ‘ruler of a family’) to mean ‘great father’, and it refers to the senior archbishops who are leaders of national churches.

Archbishop The title of archbishop seems to have been first used in the early church in the time of St Athanasius (4th century AD).

In the Christian church, archbishops are senior bishops and have more responsibility than bishops. An archbishop has authority over other bishops in his area and often over a particular ecclesiastical (church) district. In some cases, an archbishop may be in charge of the whole church in one country. The office exists in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglican (Church of England) churches.

In the Church of England, there are two archbishops: the archbishop of Canterbury and the archbishop of York. The archbishop of Canterbury has the title ‘Primate of All England’ and the archbishop of York, who is second in importance, is known as ‘Primate of England’.

Bishop When the Anglican Church split away from the Roman Catholic Church, it retained many of the features of Roman Catholicism, including the role of the bishop. Bishops are the priests next in rank to the archbishops in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglican churches. A bishop has charge of a group of churches within an area known as a diocese.

Originally, the congregation chose bishops, but in the Roman Catholic Church the pope appoints them, although in some countries, such as Spain, the political rulers nominate appointees. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, bishops are always monks. For the Church of England, the prime minister selects bishops on the advice of the archbishop of Canterbury. When a diocese is very large, assistant (suffragan) bishops are appointed. In 1989, Barbara Harris of the US Episcopal (Anglican) Church was elected the first woman bishop.

Bishops are responsible for meeting to settle matters of belief or discipline; they ordain priests and administer confirmation. In the Orthodox Church they also perform baptism. In Methodist and Lutheran churches, the bishop's role is mostly that of a supervisory official.

Traditionally, bishops wear purple robes, which identify their rank within the church. When a bishop is taking part in a service, he wears a tall pointed headdress called a mitre, and he may also carry a crook to show that he is a shepherd to his people. In the Orthodox Church, the bishops, who are also monks, are in charge of a number of churches. They generally wear black robes, with tall, black, round hats but, on special occasions, they wear very elaborate clothes. Fulfilling biblical passages of the Old and New Testament, bishops do not usually cut their hair, and allow a beard or moustache to grow naturally. Adherence to this practice is promised in the ordination service.

Priests and ministers Priests and ministers go through an ordination ceremony to demonstrate their appointment to the position of spiritual leader. Ordination also involves the ancient practice of ‘laying on of hands’, which represents the passing on of spiritual power and authority. Some denominations do not think that it is necessary to ordain their ministers. Those that do ordain believe the work of the priest or minister is so sacred and important that they need the authority of the church to properly carry out their duties. Before ordination, priests and ministers usually undergo a long period of training.

In Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican (Church of England) denominations, a priest always celebrates the Eucharist (Holy Communion). Similarly, in the Methodist Church a fully ordained minister carries it out. In the Christian church, priests are also responsible for administering the sacraments, blessings, and preaching.

In churches governed by bishops (episcopacies), where bishops, priests, and deacons form the three orders of ministry, the priesthood forms the second order of the ministry. Priests perform many, but not all, of the functions of the higher order of bishops.

Teaching about the status and authority of priests, vicars, and ministers varies in the different Christian denominations, and has been sharply focused by the debate to allow women priests. As a result of extensive discussion and protests, women priests are now accepted in most parts of the Anglican Church. Until 1994, in the Church of England, women were only allowed to be ordained as deacons. They could assist the vicar but were not allowed to celebrate the Eucharist or to grant absolution (forgiveness of sins). The ordination of women to the priesthood caused a rift in the church, as many people were opposed to it. However, in the Roman Catholic Church, no such changes have been accepted and the priesthood remains entirely male and celibate. Roman Catholics believe that only men may be ordained into the priesthood. This ordination is a sacrament, and gives the priest the authority to forgive sins. The priest is Jesus' representative on earth and is greatly respected. Roman Catholic priests must remain unmarried. Anglican priests are allowed to marry.

In the Orthodox churches, there are priests (assisted by deacons) who lead and organize worship. They continue the tradition of only allowing men to become priests and believe that a man should be about 30 years old before he decides to be ordained. Orthodox priests can be married, but bishops are also monks and they remain unmarried (celibate).

Vicar A vicar is a priest in the Church of England. Originally, the vicar was the priest who acted as deputy to a rector, who was in charge of a parish. Now the term vicar also describes a priest in charge of a parish. In the USA, a vicar is in charge of a chapel of the Episcopal (Anglican) Church.

Rector A rector is also a name given to an Anglican priest. A rector used to be entitled to the whole of the tithes collected in a parish. Tithes were money paid by members of the parish to pay the rector or vicar. Each member of the parish was supposed to contribute one tenth (a tithe) of their income to the church. A vicar was only entitled to part of the money collected. This practice has died out, but the titles of rector and vicar have been retained. In the US Episcopal (Anglican) Church, the rector is the name given to a member of the clergy who is in charge of a parish.

Deacon In churches governed by bishops (episcopacies), where bishops, priests, and deacons are the three orders of ministry, the deacon forms the third order. In Britain, deacons are people in the final stage of their training and about to become priests.

Lay ministers In other Protestant churches, there are no priests. Many of the smaller Protestant churches cannot afford to have a full-time minister, so they are led by lay ministers, men and women who have other jobs and who work for the church in their free time. The Society of Friends (Quakers) has no ministers at all.

Chaplains Chaplains do not have a parish, but work as ministers in places such as the armed forces, prisons, hospitals, and universities.