Some are called and “ordained” by God to more specific
ministries within the Body of Christ. The
New Testament list three: deacons; presbyters (also called elders or priests);
and bishops. These are not higher ministries, but rather more specialized ways
of serving God and His Church.
The ministry of a deacon
The diaconate is a servant ministry. Deacons have the
particular role of serving those around them and pointing the church to its
call to serve. Deacons serve priests and
bishops by assisting them in carrying out their duties.
The ministry of a priest
The priesthood is a leadership ministry. Priests have particular responsibility for
the pastoral care and leadership of God’s people, for the administration of the
local congregation on behalf of the bishop, and for the teaching and spiritual
growth of the congregation. They are to preach, administer the sacraments, declare
God’s forgiveness to those who repent, confess and amend their lives, and
pronounce God’s blessing upon the people.
The ministry of a bishop.
Bishops have the apostolic ministry of propagating and overseeing
the Church. They function as
chief priest and pastor of a diocese and are the symbol of the local parish’s
connectivity with the broader Church. From
biblical, bishops were appointed by the Apostles to carry on their
apostolic ministry of guarding the faith, unity, and discipline of the whole
Church. They proclaim the Word of God, act
in Christ’s name for the reconciliation of the world, and build up the
Church. In their apostolic role, bishops
ordain priest and deacons to assist Him in their apostolic calling within local
congregations. 