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96-600: The Bishop of Reading is an episcopal title used by a suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Oxford , which is within the Province of Canterbury , England . The See of Reading is vacant since Olivia Graham 's retirement. The title takes its name after the town of Reading in Berkshire . The bishops suffragan of Reading have been area bishops since the Oxford area scheme

192-413: A "Presbyter" - is someone who has been ordained by a bishop to the ministry of Word, Sacrament , Order, and Service. Their responsibilities are to preach and teach, preside at the celebration of the sacraments, administer the church through pastoral guidance, and lead the congregations under their care in service ministry to the world. The office of Elder , then, is what most people tend to think of as

288-449: A "body of elders", several of whom are assigned to oversee specific congregational tasks. Each body of elders has a coordinator (previously known as the presiding overseer), a secretary, and a service overseer. Witnesses consider the office of elder to be the same as that referred to in the Bible as "older man" (" presbyter "), overseer (" bishop "), and shepherd (" pastor ") but do not use any of

384-596: A clear distinction of bishops and presbyters, meaning that his letters show that an episcopal system was already existing by his time. However Bart Erhman sees it as significant that Ignatius in his letter to the Romans never mentioned a bishop in Rome. Later also Tertullian very clearly distinguishes the presbyters and bishops as a separate office, Irenaeus made lists of the succession of bishops, though bishop succession lists made by early church fathers are highly contradictory. By

480-444: A fourfold view of ecclesiastical offices: pastor, teacher, ruling elder, and deacon. In this view, pastor, techer, and ruling elder are all types of elder. Later exponents like Henry Martyn Dexter advocated a twofold view of only elder and deacon, the pastor/teacher, elder, and overseer being different terms for the same office. The primary officer is ordinarily called the "pastor" or "minister." Ordination and installation of officers

576-539: A given of the Reformed Ecclesia Anglicana , and a foundation in the institution's appeal to ancient and apostolic legitimacy. What did change was that bishops were now seen to be ministers of the Crown for the spiritual government of its subjects. The influence of Richard Hooker was crucial to an evolution in this understanding in which bishops came to be seen in their more traditional role as ones who delegate to

672-555: A governor of a province. Episkopos (ἐπίσκοπος, Greek word #1985 in Strong's Concordance ) was a common word in the Greek culture for any official who acted as a superintendent, manager, overseer, controller, curator, guardian or ruler. It occurs only five times in the New Testament, once referring to Christ and the other four times to church leaders. The Authorised Version translates

768-692: A significant role in the Jerusalem church and the Council of Jerusalem . In reference to churches in Antioch, Pisidia , Iconium , Lystra and Derbe , Paul appoints elders as a key step in organizing a new church and instructs Titus to appoint others. Paul spoke directly to the elders in Acts and warned them to "be on guard for themselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made them overseers, to shepherd

864-407: A single office of Word and Sacrament being established directly by Christ (technically two, counting the uniquely Lutheran vocation of laity); all distinctions within nomenclature and structural ranking were purely "jure humano" (of human make). Thus making a distinction between "pastor" and "elder" would seem pointless, and using the term "lay elder" would be oxymoronic. An Elder - sometimes called

960-561: A type of the Father and the presbyters as the council of God and as the college of Apostles. Apart from these there is not even the name of a church. — Epistle of Ignatius to the Trallesians 3:1. Church governance is generally organised in one of three main types: An ordained Anglican minister is usually called a priest, holding the prenominal of Reverend if they are Low church or Sister or Father if they are High church . Lay preachers in

1056-494: Is a Reformation tradition that lays claim to the historic episcopate through apostolic succession in terms comparable to the various Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and certain Lutheran Communions. Anglicans assert unbroken episcopal succession in and through the Church of England back to St. Augustine of Canterbury and to the first century Roman province of Britannia . While some Celtic Christian practices were changed at

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1152-607: Is a distinction between ordained elders and lay elders. The two concepts may be conflated in everyday conversation (for example, a lay elder in the Baptist tradition may be referred to as "clergy", especially in America). In non-Christian world cultures the term elder refers to age and experience, and the Christian sense of elder is partly related to this. Elders are mentioned in a number of New Testament passages. Individuals such as James had

1248-455: Is a local event, without the oversight of elders outside of the local church as in presbyterianism . Congregational churches generally form committees and boards , either entirely composed of elders and deacons or with non-official members appointed by the congregation. Among Jehovah's Witnesses , an elder is a man appointed to teach the congregation. He is also called an "overseer" or "servant". Elders within each congregation work within

1344-539: Is also a third, clerical House. Resolutions may be voted on jointly or by each House, in the latter case requiring passage in all Houses to be adopted by the particular council. Churches that are members of the Anglican Communion are episcopal churches in polity, and some are named "Episcopal". However, some churches that self-identify as Anglican do not belong to the Anglican Communion, and not all episcopally-governed churches are Anglican. The Roman Catholic Church ,

1440-462: Is an ordained person who serves a local church or churches and who has been ordained to a ministry of word, sacrament and order, filling the preaching and pastoral offices. In other Christian traditions (e.g., Presbyterianism , Churches of Christ , Plymouth Brethren ), an elder may be a lay person serving as an administrator in a local congregation, or be ordained and serving in preaching (teaching during church gatherings) or pastoral roles. There

1536-596: Is assigned main preaching duties, he is never referred to as "Father" (based on Matthew 23:9, which states that the only Father a Christian has is in Heaven), nor is the individual referred to as "pastor" (due to belief that the one reference to "pastor" in Ephesians 4:11 is translated "shepherd" in all other cases, and in context either refers to Jesus Christ or to an elder; as stated above the person with main preaching duties may or may not be an elder) or "reverend" (due to belief that

1632-404: Is based on ecclesially accountable committees for evangelism , youth and Sunday School work, military service issues, care of the elderly and humanitarian work. These do not have any legislative authority and are wholly dependent upon support from within the church. Women are typically not eligible to teach in formal gatherings of the ecclesia when male believers are present, and do not sit on

1728-589: Is etymologically derived from the Greek presbyteros via the Latin presbyter). Collectively, however, their "college" is referred to as the "presbyterium" (meaning "council of elders"), "presbytery", or "presbyterate." The presbyterium is most visible during the ordination of new priests and bishops and the Mass of the Chrism (the Mass occurring on Maundy Thursday ) where the blessing of

1824-458: Is how the church's prophet, Ellen G. White, was universally referred to up until the late 20th century. The term "Elder" applies to both local church elders and to ordained ministers of the gospel. SDA nomenclature has never used the terms, priest, reverend or clergy as honorific titles or as work titles. For convenience "Pastor" is now regularly used to distinguish ordained ministers of the gospel from ordained local elders. SDA ordained Ministers of

1920-499: Is normative for the governance of the church. The practice of apostolic succession both ensures the legitimacy of the church's mission and establishes the unity, communion, and continuity of the local church with the universal church. This formulation, in turn, laid the groundwork for an independent view of the church as a "sacred society" distinct from civil society, which was so crucial for the development of local churches as non-established entities outside England, and gave direct rise to

2016-516: Is open to both women and men, while in others, such as the Primitive Methodist Church and Evangelical Wesleyan Church , it is only opened to men. One of the key distinctions of Plymouth Brethren churches is the total rejection of the concept of clergy . In keeping with the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers , they view all Christians as being ordained by God to serve and therefore ministers. Leaders are chosen according to

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2112-617: Is to a limited extent sanctioned by secular government). In the United States, the Lutheran churches tend to adopt a form of government that grants congregations more independence, but ultimately has an episcopal structure. A small minority of Episcopal Baptists exists. Although it never uses the term, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (informally known as the LDS Church) is episcopal, rather than presbyterian or congregational, in

2208-564: Is used to describe a church governed by a hierarchy of assemblies of elected elders , referred to as presbyterian polity . Similarly, "episcopal" is used to describe a church governed by bishops. Self-governed local congregations, governed neither by elders nor bishops, are usually described as " congregational ". More specifically, the capitalized appellation "Episcopal" is applied to several churches historically based within Anglicanism ("Episcopalianism"), including those still in communion with

2304-687: Is used twenty-eight times in the Gospels and Acts of the members of the Jewish Sanhedrin and twelve times in Revelation of the representatives of the redeemed people of God. The remaining nineteen times the word is employed in Acts and the Epistles , it identifies the leaders in the local churches of the New Testament. While no specific age is given, the connotation of seniority and experience in this term emphasizes

2400-478: Is voluntary and un-salaried elders. They are ordained for life by the minister and Kirk Session of a parish , and carry out pastoral and local church government duties under the guidance of the minister . All elders are members of the Kirk session, and may train to chair the session, conduct funerals, preach and lead worship. Congregational churches observe the office of elder. Early congregationalist standards held

2496-743: The Anglo-Lutheran Catholic Church , Lutheran Orthodox Church , Lutheran Church - International , and the Lutheran Episcopal Communion . Many Methodist churches (the United Methodist Church , among others) retain the form and function of episcopal polity, although in a modified form, called connexionalism . Since all trace their ordinations to an Anglican priest, John Wesley , it is generally considered that their bishops do not share in apostolic succession. However, United Methodists affirm that their bishops share in

2592-640: The Catholic Revival and disestablishmentarianism within England. Functionally, Anglican episcopal authority is expressed synodically , although individual provinces may accord their primate with more or less authority to act independently. Called variously "synods", "councils", or "conventions", they meet under episcopal chairmanship. In many jurisdictions, conciliar resolutions that have been passed require episcopal assent or consent to take force. Seen in this way, Anglicans often speak of "the bishop-in-synod" as

2688-457: The Church of England . Using these definitions, examples of specific episcopal churches include: Some Lutheran churches practice congregational polity or a form of presbyterian polity. Others, including the Church of Sweden , practice episcopal polity; the Church of Sweden also counts its bishops among the historic episcopate . This is also the case with some American Lutheran churches, such as

2784-484: The Congregational Methodist Church has a congregational polity . Most Anabaptist churches of the plain dress tradition follow an episcopal system, at least in name. Congregational governance is strongly emphasized, and each congregation elects its pastor. Bishops enforce inter-congregational unity and may discipline pastors for breaking from traditional norms. The Reformed Church of Hungary and

2880-641: The Lutheran churches in continental Europe may sometimes be called "episcopal". In these latter cases, the form of government is not radically different from the presbyterian form, except that their councils of bishops have hierarchical jurisdiction over the local ruling bodies to a greater extent than in most Presbyterian and other Reformed churches . As mentioned, the Lutheran Church in Sweden and Finland (along with Lutheran Churches established in various parts of

2976-491: The Melchizedek Priesthood and have been ordained to the office of elder, typically at the age of 18. Male missionaries of the Church, General Authorities and Area Authority Seventies are honorarily titled "Elder" unless they have duties (such as those of a Branch President) entitling them to be called President. The duties of the ordained elders in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are defined in

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3072-616: The Old Catholic Churches (in full communion with, but not members of, the Anglican Communion), and the Eastern Orthodox churches are recognized, and also their bishops, by Anglicans . A number of Methodist churches often use episcopal polity for historical as well as practical reasons, albeit to limited use. Methodists often use the term connexionalism or connexional polity in addition to "episcopal". Nevertheless,

3168-575: The Patriarch of Constantinople (now Istanbul) is seen as the primus inter pares , the "first among equals" of the autocephalous churches of Eastern Orthodoxy. The Oriental Orthodox Churches affirm the ideas of apostolic succession and episcopal government. Within each national Church, the bishops form a holy synod to which even the Patriarch is subject. The Syriac Orthodox Church traces its apostolic succession to St. Peter and recognises Antioch as

3264-533: The Pope , who is the Bishop of Rome , at the top. The Catholic Church considers that juridical oversight over the Church is not a power that derives from human beings, but strictly from the authority of Christ, which was given to his twelve apostles . The See of Rome , as the unbroken line of apostolic authority descending from St. Peter (the "prince and head of the apostles"), is a visible sign and instrument of communion among

3360-582: The Schwarzenau Brethren , do not believe in the swearing of oaths and also resolve problems at the congregational level under church councils presided by elders, rather than in civil courts. Members who sin openly are visited by the elders and encouraged to repent of their transgressions. Members of the Catholic Church still use the Greek word Presbyter (πρεσβύτερος, presbuteros: "elder", or "priest" in Christian usage) to refer to priests (priest

3456-512: The Synod of Whitby , the church in the British Isles was under papal authority from earliest times. The legislation of Henry VIII effectively establishing the independence of the Church of England from Rome did not alter its constitutional or pastoral structures. Royal supremacy was exercised through the extant legal structures of the church, whose leaders were bishops. Episcopacy was thus seen as

3552-428: The elders among you... shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight ." Presbuteros (πρεσβύτερος, Greek word #4245 in Strong's Concordance ) is the most commonly used term for elder in the New Testament, stemming from presbus , elderly. It is used with regard to the twelve apostles , the seventy disciples or others acting in a specific role of authority in a local assembly of Christians. It

3648-496: The minister (alternately "teaching elder" or "pastor"), a bench of ruling elders, and deacons . The elders are "ordained lay" people and form the session , which is a ruling council for their congregation. Members of the Rastafari Movement often refer to their experienced members as elders, such as Joseph Hibbert , Vernon Carrington , Leonard Howell , and Mortimer Planno . The Radical Pietistic communities, such as

3744-511: The pastoral , priestly , clergy office within the church. Indeed, even a Methodist Bishop is still an Elder who has been elected and consecrated by the laying on of hands to the office of Bishop (Bishop being understood as an office within the Presbyterate, not an order or separate level of ordination). In some of the denominations within Methodism , ordination to the office of Elder

3840-485: The presbyterate inherited powers, act as pastors to presbyters, and holding a particular teaching office with respect to the wider church. Anglican opinion has differed as to the way in which episcopal government is de jure divino (by the Divine Right of Kings ). On the one hand, the seventeenth century divine, John Cosin , held that episcopal authority is jure divino , but that it stemmed from "apostolic practice and

3936-446: The Anglican Communion are usually called Pastors , especially Chaplains and other pastoral office holders, who are not ordained but engage with a congregation or workplace in an advisory capacity. The title "Elder" is usually given to those Anglicans ministers who are not vicars, but hold a learned role within or beyond a congregation, such as a Reader who assists a priest or a Pioneer Minister who seeks to engage with those who are outside

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4032-764: The Apostle. Currently the bishops of the Assyrian Church of the East continue to maintain its apostolic succession. Lutheran Churches , such as the Church of Sweden and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya , maintain apostolic succession. In countries such as Sweden, Catholic bishops became Lutheran bishops during the Reformation, continuing the ancient lines of apostolic succession. Through Swedish missionary work and

4128-574: The Apostles to the bishops, in unbroken succession. The conciliar idea of episcopal government continues in the Eastern Orthodox Church . In Eastern Orthodoxy , all autocephalous primates are seen as collectively gathering around Christ, with other archbishops and bishops gathering around them, and so forth. There is no single primate with exclusive authority comparable to the Pope in Rome. However,

4224-448: The Church requires episcopal government as described in the New Testament (see 1 Timothy 3 and 2 Timothy 1 ). In some systems, bishops may be subject in limited ways to bishops holding a higher office (variously called archbishops , metropolitans , or patriarchs , depending upon the tradition). They also meet in councils or synods. These gatherings, subject to presidency by higher ranking bishops, usually make important decisions, though

4320-554: The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria respectively), both of whom trace their apostolic succession back to the figure Mark the Evangelist . There are official, ongoing efforts in recent times to heal this ancient breach. Already, the two recognize each other's baptisms , chrismations , and marriages , making intermarriage much easier. Historically, the Church of the East has traced its episcopal succession to St. Thomas

4416-669: The Gospel are paid employees of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and they are required to also be Elders in the local church. Women can be ordained as local elders, but are not ordained as ministers of the Gospel. Women are commissioned as Pastors and are considered ministers of the Gospel. Men serving within the Adventist Church's organizational leadership, e.g. Local Conference/Union Conference/Division/General Conference offices are usually addressed as "Elder." But as an example;

4512-455: The annual sessions of the regional Conferences and at the quadrennial meeting of the worldwide General Conference, have authority for teaching and leading the church on matters of social and doctrinal import, and serve to represent the denomination in ecumenical gatherings. United Methodist bishops in the United States serve in their appointed conferences, being moved to a new "Episcopal Area" after 8 (or 12) years, until their mandated retirement at

4608-514: The bishop supervises the clergy within a local jurisdiction and is the representative both to secular structures and within the hierarchy of the church. Bishops are considered to derive their authority from an unbroken, personal apostolic succession from the Twelve Apostles of Jesus . Bishops with such authority are said to represent the historical episcopate or historic episcopate. Churches with this type of government usually believe that

4704-771: The book of Doctrine and Covenants . Elder is the proper title given to all holders of the Melchizedek Priesthood. Thus an apostle is an elder in this sense, and it is proper to speak of members of the Quorum of the Twelve or the First Quorum of the Seventy by this title. Governance in the Church of Scotland is based on presbyterian polity . There are several roles in the ministry including ministers of Word and Sacrament, chaplains , deacons and readers. Elders are another role, which

4800-475: The break with the Catholic Church precipitated by The Ninety-Five Theses of Martin Luther . However, some people have disputed the episcopal polity before the reformation, such as Aerius of Sebaste in the 4th century. The definition of the word episcopal has variation among Christian traditions. There are subtle differences in governmental principles among episcopal churches at the present time. To some extent

4896-577: The case later in the century: the writings of the Apostolic Fathers (such as 1 Clement and the Didache ) continue to assert the apostolic authority of the bishops/presbyters as rulers of the church making no distinction between the two terms. The epistle does imply a degree of authority residing in the Bishop of Rome . Writing c.199, Tertullian claimed that Clement was ordained by Peter himself as bishop of Rome, and although tradition identifies him as

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4992-550: The church as doctrinal (see lex orandi, lex credendi ). Anglican synodical government, though varied in expression, is characteristically representative. Provinces of the Anglican Communion , their ecclesiastical provinces and dioceses are governed by councils consisting not only of bishops, but also representatives of the presbyterate and laity . There is no international juridical authority in Anglicanism, although

5088-548: The church of God which He purchased with His own blood." The book of Revelation identifies twenty-four elders with white robes and golden crowns on their heads seated on thrones around the One seated on the throne (Rev. 4:4, 10–11). The Christian office of "elder" is drawn from the word's various uses in the Bible . In many instances, particularly in the Old Testament , it has reference to

5184-460: The church to have been in ruins between the death of the apostles and their own time. Since no truly apostolic authority exists to appoint elders the church has none. Instead they recognize "leading brothers" who demonstrate maturity and leadership ability. Although practices in the Presbyterian Church vary internationally, typically the church recognises three offices within church polity:

5280-463: The circuit overseer. Congregation elders do not receive monetary compensation; traveling overseers receive a modest stipend. An Elder in the Lutheran Church is a position of lay-service, concerned with the temporal and administrative affair of the congregation. In many congregations, elders are also charged with oversight of the pastor but exercising only that oversight given to every Christian in

5376-400: The college of bishops and therefore also of the local churches around the world. In communion with the worldwide college of bishops , the Pope has all legitimate juridical and teaching authority over the whole Church. This authority given by Christ to St. Peter and the apostles is transmitted from one generation to the next by the power of the Holy Spirit , through the laying on of hands from

5472-564: The congregation. They are also assigned to assist the pastor in the sacraments (the Eucharist and Baptism ). In the Eucharist, the Elder may assist in the distribution. In Baptism, the Elder may hold the water or assist the pastor in other ways. Generally, an elder is not permitted to consecrate the bread and wine in the Eucharist, or perform Holy Absolution , as these acts are usually reserved for

5568-525: The current President of the General Conference, "Elder Ted Wilson" is sometimes addressed Pastor Ted Wilson. Among the Shakers , noted for their acceptance of females in leading roles, Elders and Eldresses were leaders in specific areas. Two Elders and Eldresses headed the central Shaker ministry at the Mount Lebanon Shaker Society and dealt with both spiritual and temporal matters. Other pairs of elders and eldresses headed groups of Shaker communities, while others were spiritual leaders of smaller groups within

5664-417: The customs of the Church ... [not] absolute precept that either Christ or His Apostles gave about it" (a view maintained also by Hooker). In contrast, Lancelot Andrewes and others held that episcopal government is derived from Christ via the apostles. Regardless, both parties viewed the episcopacy as bearing the apostolic function of oversight which both includes, and derives from, the power of ordination, and

5760-418: The deacons are in all matters subservient to the elders. An elder may also be qualified to serve as a deacon (and, in some cases, may have previously served as a deacon before becoming an elder). Depending on the congregation, the elders may rotate main preaching and teaching duties or appoint one or more male persons (who may or may not be elders) to serve as the ministers for that congregation. If one person

5856-419: The end of the quadrennium following their sixty-sixth birthday. The Methodist Church in Great Britain holds that all ordained ministers are equal in terms of spirituality. However, for practical management lines are drawn into President of Conference, Chair of District, Superintendent Minister, Minister. However, all are ministers. The Fellowship of Independent Methodist Churches is non-episcopal. Similarly,

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5952-448: The establishment of Lutheran Churches in various countries, such as in Kenya, apostolic succession was continued in those denominations, such as in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania , the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa , Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church , Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malaysia , and Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe , among others. Anglicanism

6048-804: The force and authority of episcopal governance. Such conciliar authority extends to the standard areas of doctrine, discipline , and worship, but in these regards is limited by Anglicanism's tradition of the limits of authority. Those limits are expressed in Article XXI of the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion, ratified in 1571 (significantly, just as the Council of Trent was drawing to a close), which held that "General Councils ... may err, and sometimes have erred ... wherefore things ordained by them as necessary to salvation have neither strength nor authority, unless it may be declared that they be taken out of holy Scripture." Hence, Anglican jurisdictions have traditionally been conservative in their approach to either innovative doctrinal development or in encompassing actions of

6144-408: The fourth pope (after Linus and Anacletus ) the order is much disputed. According to the Liber Pontificalis , Linus and Anacletus were ordained with responsibility for the church at Rome and Clement for the church as a whole Another of the Apostolic Fathers , Ignatius of Antioch , records that many churches had single bishops by the beginning of the second century, although the church at Rome

6240-411: The historic episcopate. The Apostle Paul in the letter to Philippians, Clement of Rome and the Didache when talking about the church system of governance, mention "bishops and deacons", omitting the word "presbyter", which has been argued by some to show that there was no presbyter-bishop distinction yet in the first century. Ignatius of Antioch writing in already the early second century makes

6336-451: The intent of the resolutions is to provide guideposts for Anglican jurisdictions—not direction. The Conferences also express the function of the episcopate to demonstrate the ecumenical and catholic nature of the church. The Scottish Episcopal Church traces its history back to the origins of Christianity in Scotland. Following the 1560 Scottish Reformation the Church of Scotland was initially run by Superintendents, episcopal governance

6432-448: The main committees, however they do participate in other ecclesial and inter-ecclesial committees. Congregations referring to themselves as Churches of Christ believe that local congregations should be led by a plurality of biblically qualified elders. They base this on a conviction that congregations (and Christians in general) should attempt to follow the teachings of the New Testament wherever humanly possible. In accordance with

6528-633: The majority of the references, the word for elders is plural and word for church is singular, suggesting that the pattern in the early church was for a plurality of elders in each local church. These were to be shepherds to their flock, setting an example - just like shepherds, they were to feed their flock, to work hard among them and to reprove where necessary and to care for the spiritual and physical needs of church members. Elders are considered rulers over their flocks and their judgement to be submitted to, not so that they can be "lords over God's heritage," but because they are to give account to God for

6624-415: The nature of the position and the character of the person, implying maturity, dignity, experience and honor. The modern English words " priest " or " presbyter " are derived etymologically from presbyteros . The New Testament meaning is taken by some scholars as the Latin word Legate which describes the ancient classical function as a herald who represents the highest state office and might be

6720-407: The oils used in the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders takes place. They are also visible during other special liturgical functions such as the wake and burial of their bishop. "Elder" was the only honorific title used to distinguish church leadership during the formative years of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Mrs. White, as in, Elder and Mrs. James White,

6816-467: The older men in a tribe, usually entrusted with the governmental affairs, whose counsel was frequently sought because of their age and experience. This was not necessarily a priesthood calling, although the Aaronic Priesthood is listed as having ordained elders. In the Septuagint , the word for Old Testament elders is πρεσβύτερος (presbuteros), as used in the New Testament for both Christian and Jewish leaders. Various traditions in Christianity translate

6912-485: The one reference to this term in Psalm 111:9 refers to the reverence of God's name). Instead, common terms used are "evangelist", "preacher", "minister" (or "pulpit minister"; the latter may be used if the congregation has assistant or associate ministers over certain programs or functions), or "preaching elder" (if the person is also an elder). Elders are male members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who have

7008-708: The original See of St. Peter . The Armenian Apostolic Church traces its lineage to the Apostle Bartholomew. The Indian Orthodox Church traces its lineage to the Apostle Thomas. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church received its lines of succession ( Frumentius ) through the Coptic Orthodox Church in the fifth century. Both the Greek and Coptic Orthodox Churches each recognise their own Pope of Alexandria ( Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa , and Pope of

7104-546: The pastor. An Elder helps brothers at each congregation. However, many within the confessional wing of Lutheranism, see the term "elder" being used in such a way an unfortunate effect of Reformed (and broader Protestant) influence on the Lutheran Church. Elder (or Presbyteros, in the Greek) serving as a synonym for "Pastor" or "Priest", not unlike how Lutheran teaching also recognizes "episkopos" (Greek, meaning overseer), or bishop to be yet another synonym. Historic Lutheranism recognized

7200-586: The powers of the Methodist episcopacy can be relatively strong and wide-reaching compared to traditional conceptions of episcopal polity. In the Free Methodist Church , bishops are elected. In the United Methodist Church , bishops are elected for life, can serve up to two terms in a specific conference (three if special permission is given), are responsible for ordaining and appointing clergy to pastor churches, perform many administrative duties, preside at

7296-729: The qualifications found in 1Tim 3:1–7 and Titus 1:6–9 , and appointed by the Holy Spirit. Plymouth Brethren churches tend to have multiple elders based on the plural use of the word in reference to New Testament churches. One branch of the Plymouth Brethren, the Exclusive Brethren , are so named for their practice of serving the Lord's Supper exclusively to those who are part of their own particular group, agreeing with them on various doctrinal positions. Most Exclusive Brethren groups believe

7392-517: The qualifications of elders in the New Testament, 1Timothy 3:1–7 and Titus 1:6–9 . The qualifications given by the Apostle Paul are as follows: Where elders are addressed in the writings of Paul and Peter, there is no inference of a monarchical episcopacy or single leaders in any of the New Testament-era churches, and presbuteros and episkopos are used interchangeably. This was still

7488-680: The second century it appears that the episcopal system had become the majority, universal view among Christians. Even schismatic sects such as the Novatians and Donatists would use the episcopal system. Except for Aerius of Sebaste , who contested the episcopal system and started his own sect. Jerome stated that churches were originally governed by a group of presbyters but only later churches decided to elect bishops to suppress schisms. God Schools Relations with: The Catholic Church has an episcopate, with

7584-447: The sense that it has a strict hierarchy of leadership from the local bishop/branch president up to a single prophet/president, believed to be personally authorized and guided by Jesus Christ. Local congregations (branches, wards, and stakes) have de jure boundaries by which members are allocated, and membership records are centralized. This system developed gradually from a more presbyterian polity ( Joseph Smith 's original title in 1830

7680-495: The separation of episcopal churches can be traced to these differences in ecclesiology , that is, their theological understanding of church and church governance. For some, "episcopal churches" are churches that use a hierarchy of bishops who identify as being in an unbroken, personal apostolic succession . "Episcopal" is also commonly used to distinguish between the various organizational structures of denominations . For instance, "Presbyterian" ( Greek : πρεσβύτερος , presbýteros)

7776-427: The spiritual character of their church. Elders must to be able to teach and preach sound doctrine and rebuke those who are teaching error, so that false teaching doesn't creep into the church. To this end, they are also to train and appoint others. Above all, the elder is to serve with humility, remembering that their position is a picture of Christ as the chief shepherd. There are two key passages dealing with

7872-466: The spiritual oversight of the congregation (e.g., withdrawing fellowship from a member who the elders consider to be wayward in doctrine or refuses to abide by the elders' counsel or decision in a matter) as well as administrative oversight (e.g., overseeing the congregation budget). The elders will be assisted by deacons who, depending on the congregation, may have a specific area of non-spiritual service (e.g., finance, building and grounds, benevolence);

7968-497: The synod or council may also be purely advisory. For much of the written history of institutional Christianity, episcopal government was the only known form of church organization. This changed at the Reformation . Many Protestant churches are now organized by either congregational or presbyterian church polities, both descended from the writings of John Calvin , a Protestant reformer working and writing independently following

8064-509: The teachings of the bible the Churches of Christ teach and practice that only males may serve as elders (female elders are not recognized), and must meet Biblical qualifications (generally I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9 are the Biblical texts used to determine if a male is qualified to serve as elder). In this regard, elders are accountable to each other and to God. The evangelist and the elders have

8160-500: The terms as titles . Representatives of the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses select elders to be appointed as circuit overseers, (also referred to as traveling overseers). Each circuit overseer visits the congregations in his jurisdiction twice each year. During his visit, local elders recommend members who may qualify for appointment as elders or ministerial servants (equivalent to deacons ), and appointments are decided by

8256-509: The tradition's common experience of episcopacy, symbolised by the historical link with the See of Canterbury , along with a common and complex liturgical tradition, has provided a measure of unity. This has been reinforced by the Lambeth Conferences of Anglican Communion bishops, which first met in 1867. These conferences, though they propose and pass resolutions, are strictly consultative, and

8352-526: The traditional Anglican Communion structures. Historically, Baptist churches do not recognize elder as a separate office from those of pastor or deacon; it is commonly considered a synonym of deacon or pastor. This is not universal in Baptist circles, however, and there are many Baptist churches which are elder-led. Others have elder councils where pastoral functions are shared according to gifts, such as teaching, management and pastoral care. Christadelphians do not appoint any form of clergy. Organisation

8448-530: The underlying term differently depending on their particular doctrinal or practical view of the role. In the Moravian Church , an elder is referred to as a Helper. In addition to presbuteros , there are two other words used in the New Testament to describe various aspects of this position of leadership: 'overseer' and 'shepherd': Peter draws the three concepts together in one passage: "Therefore, I exhort

8544-452: The verb form in the New Testament in the context of church leaders. The term emphasizes the elder as one who tends, feeds, guides, protects and cares for his flock. The New Testament offers more instruction regarding elders than on many other important church subjects such as the Lord's Supper , the Lord's Day , baptism or spiritual gifts , and their duties are laid out in several places. In

8640-414: The word as " bishop ", emphasizing the function of an elder as exercising authority and supervision "by divine placement, initiative and design." The overseer can sometimes be viewed as a lead elder or as just one of a plurality of elders. Poimen (ποιμήν, Greek word #4166 in Strong's Concordance ) means shepherd, also translated as pastor. It is applied only once in the noun form and three times in

8736-464: The world by missionaries from these denominations) are exceptions, claiming apostolic succession in a pattern somewhat like the Anglican churches. Otherwise, forms of polity are not mandated in the Lutheran churches, as it is not regarded as having doctrinal significance. Old World Lutheranism, for historical reasons, has tended to adopt Erastian theories of episcopal authority (by which church authority

8832-507: The worldwide Anglican Communion of churches, and in 1792 the penal laws were abolished. The church accepted the articles of the Church of England in 1804. The spread of increasingly democratic forms of representative governance has its origin in the formation of the first General Conventions of the American Episcopal Church in the 1780s, which established a "House of Bishops" and a "House of Deputies". In many jurisdictions, there

8928-460: Was "First Elder") for pragmatic and doctrinal reasons, reaching a full episcopacy during the Nauvoo period (1839–1846). Elder (religious) In Christianity , an elder is a person who is valued for wisdom and holds a position of responsibility and authority in a Christian group. In some Christian traditions (e.g., Eastern Orthodoxy , Roman Catholicism , Anglicanism , Methodism ) an elder

9024-494: Was founded in 1984. The Bishop of Reading is responsible for the archdeaconry of Berkshire . This Anglicanism -related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Episcopal polity Churches with an episcopal polity are governed by bishops, practising their authorities in the dioceses and conferences or synods . Their leadership is both sacramental and constitutional; as well as performing ordinations , confirmations , and consecrations ,

9120-415: Was not one of them. This became the norm by the middle of the century. Ignatius distinguished the relationship between bishop , presbyters and diaconate typologically and in doing so referred to the practice of a single bishop in a church, separated from the body of presbyters and deacons: In like manner let all men respect the deacons as Jesus Christ, even as they should respect the bishop as being

9216-602: Was restored in 1572, but episcopalianism alternated with periods when the Kirk was under presbyterian control until the 1711 Act allowed formation of the independent non-established Scottish Episcopal Church. The Nonjuring schism led to the British Government imposing penal laws against the church. In 1784 the Scottish church appointed Samuel Seabury as first bishop of the American Episcopal Church , beginning

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