C1 HIERARCHY AND THE ROLE OF CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS LEADERS

Hierarchy in the Catholic Church

The Catholic Church has a strong emphasis on hierarchy (levels of leadership).

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There are seven levels in the hierarchy of the Catholic Church, starting at the bottom
with people and finishing at the top with God.

The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church. He is God’s representative on Earth.

Cardinals are a team of close advisors to the Pope. When the Pope dies or resigns, the
next Pope is usually chosen from the cardinals.

Archbishops are bishops of a higher rank. Archbishop and bishops normally oversee a
number of churches in one area.

Priests, pastors, ministers and vicars are the people in charge of individual churches.

Advantages of a hierarchical structure

• It helps to prevent false teaching by having one strong teacher who can impart the
right beliefs.

• It helps to maintain unity because when the leaders agree the churches tend to agree
as well.

• It helps to create a strong organisation, meaning the Church is less likely to split.

Disadvantages of a hierarchical structure

• All the focus can be on one person, rather that everyone playing their part.

• If the main leader makes a wrong decision it can be harder for people to object.

• People can tend to feel less involved and engaged in the direction and focus of the
Church.

Ordination

Ordination is the term used to refer to someone being set apart to be a priest.

In the Catholic Church only men can be ordained as priests.

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Arguments for male only ordination

• Jesus’ twelve disciples were all men. Therefore it should be men who lead the
Church.

• Paul, writing in the New Testament book of Corinthians, says that women should be
silent in church. Therefore the Bible points to only men speaking in, and leading, the
Church

• The early Church was led by men and there is nothing that would suggest a change is
needed

• Men and women can have equally important and valid roles in the Church, but they do
not need carry out the same roles. For example, women do not need to be priests
because there are other roles to be fulfilled.

Arguments for male and female ordination

• In Genesis 1:27 it says that men and women are made in the image of God, therefore,
both are equal before God and should be ordained equally.

• Paul wrote in the New Testament book of Galatians that there is “neither Jew
nor Gentile, male nor female, you are all one in Christ”. If all are one in Christ then all
should be eligible for ordination.

• In Luke 8 we are told that women were disciples, and it was the women who stood by
Jesus at the cross and were the first to witness the resurrection. This shows the
importance of women in Christianity.

• It is important to have women priests who can work closely with women in the Church,
especially if dealing with a sensitive pastoral problem.

• Women can access all other jobs and positions in society, why should it be any
different with the Church?

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BISHOPS

A bishop is a senior priest in charge of a diocese (a group of parishes -Christian

communities). The Roman catholic, Anglican churches have Bishops. They receive their
authority from the Pope.

The Bishop’s role is:

• To ordain priests by laying hands on the priests head to transmit the power of the
holy Spirit
• To oversee the work of the priest in their diocese and their welfare.
• To have pastoral care of clergy (religious leaders)
• To confirm young people as they decide to become members of the church and
lead other sacramental services
• They attend to difficult decisions referred to them by the priest mostly concerning
religious matter
• Bishops participate in various worship duties at the cathedral where they worship

PRIESTS

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Someone becomes a priest because they believe they have s vocation. This means
they are called by God.

Priest inherit authority given by Jesus to the apostle (apostolic succession).

Their role is important to the Christian community there the community support the
priest financially. The primary function of all priests is administering the church's seven
sacraments: baptism, confirmation, confession, holy communion, marriage, holy orders,
and anointing of the sick. Diocesan priests also visit the sick, oversee religious
education programs, and generally provide pastoral care to their parishioners.

In the Catholic Church the main duties of the priest include:

• conducting the Sunday Service and Mass during the week: This includes preaching
God’s Word and consecrating the bread and wine in holy communion

• visiting the sick / pastoral care for the congregation and taking holy communion to
those who are housebound

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• taking Holy Communion to those who are ill or housebound

• overseeing the day-to-day work of the church, including any organisations that meet
during the week

• helping to guide and direct the church as it makes decisions about how to work in the
community

• representing the church at official meetings

• carrying out baptisms, confession, marriages and funerals

• comforting dying and counseling those who are left behind

• Organising charity work, prison visists, youth clubs, and bible study classes

• Hearing confessions and giving absolution (offering God’s forgiveness)

• Running a parish (a village or part of a town with a church that is the centre of the
parish life. Some priest can be chaplains- appointed to an institution or organisation
e.g school.

VICAR

Vicar, (from Latin- vicarius, “substitute”), an official acting in some special way for a
superior, primarily an ecclesiastical title in the Christian Church. In the Roman Empire
as reorganized by Emperor Diocletian (reigned 284–305), the vicarius was an important
official, and the title remained in use for secular officials in the Middle Ages. In the
Roman Catholic Church, “vicar of Christ” became the special designation of the popes
starting in the 8th century, and eventually it replaced the older title of “vicar of St. Peter.”

A vicar general is appointed by the bishop as the highest administrative officer of the
diocese, with most of the powers of the bishop. The pope governs his own diocese of
Rome through a cardinal vicar and a special vicar general for the Vatican City. Vicar
general is also the title for some heads of religious orders. A parochial vicar is a priest
assigned to a parish in addition to, and in collaboration with, the parish priest or rector.
He exercises his ministry as an agent of the parish's pastor, who is termed parochus in
Latin

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In Christianity, a minister is a person authorized by a church or other religious

organization to perform functions such as teaching of beliefs; leading services such as
weddings, baptisms or funerals; or otherwise providing spiritual guidance to the
community. A Minister is a person who performs religious functions such as teaching. A
pastor is the religious head of a single church.

The Role of Catholic Bishops and Archbishops

In the Catholic Church, archbishops and bishops rank below cardinals. Becoming a
bishop is the third and fullest level of the Sacrament of Holy Orders. The first level is the
ordination of a deacon, the second is the ordination of a priest, and the third is the
ordination of a bishop. A bishop who moves to the level of cardinal isn’t ordained, but
handpicked by the pope, who also appoints bishops.

A bishop oversees a diocese, which is a collection of local parishes; and an archbishop

administers an archdiocese, which is just a really large diocese.

ach bishop must make a visit to the Holy Father every five years and give a report on
his particular diocese. The bishops within an entire country or nation get together at
least once a year in a gathering known as an episcopal conference.

The rest of the time, the bishop goes around the diocese performing the sacraments of
Confirmation and Holy Orders. (Only bishops have the authority to administer the
Sacrament of Holy Orders whereby men are ordained deacons, priests, or bishops.)
Bishops make visits to the parishes and chair numerous meetings with their staff.

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Each individual bishop has his own authority to run the diocese. He’s not an
ambassador of the pope but governs the local diocese as an authentic successor of the
apostles, just as the pope governs the universal Church as the successor of St. Peter.

Archbishop

In the Roman Catholic Church, each geographical area where it is present is

represented by a diocese. It has been this way since the start of the second century.
The person appointed to head each diocese is either called an archbishop or a bishop.
An archbishop heads an archdiocese that is of importance, or has historical
significance. The title is given to highlight a level of honor or seniority.

As successors to the apostles, the archbishops and bishops are expected to unite the
people of their respective dioceses. Each bishop is supposed to be a link that joins
every other diocese head, up to the Bishop of Rome, who is the Pope.

Some dioceses are recognized by the Church to have historical or traditional

significance. There are also dioceses that are found in larger, important cities. These
“important” dioceses are led by bishops who carry the title of archbishop and are of a
higher rank. This is the highest rank among the three traditional types of bishops. There
are instances where the title of archbishop is granted personally, and not due to the
diocese that they head.

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The Pallium

Archbishops do not wear an official dress that is different from other bishops. However,
they can be recognized by the way they perform liturgical services wearing the pallium.
It can also be noted that during processions, bishops follow archbishops as per strict
protocol.

Bishop

A bishop of the Roman Catholic Church is appointed by the Pope and is tasked to teach
the doctrines, look after the members of his parish, and be a representative of the
church. It is believed that bishops are endowed with the Holy Spirit, the spiritual grace to

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be able to lead their flock. This spiritual grace is handed down from the apostles to the
bishops by a ceremony of “laying on of hands”.

Entrusted with taking care of his diocese, a bishop is expected to govern, teach, and
sanctify his Catholic parishioners. This is accomplished by preaching the Gospel and
Catholic way of life, providing administration of the sacraments, and presiding over
matters of canon-law with his parish or diocese. He celebrates Sunday mass, assigns
people in his clergy to positions in different institutions, and is also in charge of finances.
It is also the bishop’s job to look after the priests with special care. Bishops need to
make sure priests have what they need, and their rights are observed and recognized
as per Canon Law. Latin bishops are also required to visit the Holy See every 5 years.

Archbishop vs Bishop

An archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church, although holding a higher rank than a
bishop, performs the same ceremonies and carries out the same functions a bishop.
Both have the same responsibilities, and an archbishop is actually a bishop who’s in
charge of an important or large diocese, or what is appropriately called an archdiocese.

Bishops are supposed to follow archbishops in processions. An archbishop also

performs liturgical services wearing a pallium, a vestment worn around the neck and
shoulders, with two pendants resting on the chest. It is also possible that an archbishop
may receive his title personally since he is in essence already a bishop.

Comparison chart
Archbishop Bishop

In charge of an archdiocese In charge of a diocese

Wears a pallium in liturgical services Does not wear a pallium

Is in front of bishops during processions Follows archbishopsin a procession

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Reasons why Christians need leaders in their religion and in worship.

• In the Christian religion, leaders are figures of authority and should be well-qualified
to advise others. They are usually ordained or are lay members and have committed
their lives to God.
• They are needed to advise and direct Christians on religious matters and to explain
teachings and interpret them for people to act upon in their lives.
• They listen to confessions. Also, in worship, leaders might be ordained persons such
as ministers, priests, bishops etc.
• Alternatively, they can be lay persons.
• Sometimes there is a set form for an act of worship and the leader prompts the
congregation in their responses.
• It is usual to deliver a Sermon to instruct and advise people on Christian life and
teachings.
• They spiritually inspire the congregation. Communion is given, blessings said, the
sick prayed for.
• They are available for people who need ministering to, as an individual, in private
worship in homes or hospitals.

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