🙏 Leading worship
They lead the services and prayers. They also preach the sermon, explaining the Bible and how to live by it.
Christianity: Origins and Their Impact on the Community » Ministers, Bishops and the Pope: Leadership in the Church
What you'll learn this session
Study time: 30 minutes
Edexcel spec: Paper 2 Christianity (4RS1/2B), 1.3
- The roles and importance of ministers, bishops and the pope
- How leaders support the laity and why the Church matters to individual Christians
- How Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican and Free Church Christians see their leaders differently
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Unlock This CourseWhy does the Church need leaders?
The Church is the worldwide community of Christians. Like any community, it has people who lead it. Christians point to the early Church, where the apostles taught the first believers (Acts 2:42), and to Jesus' picture of a shepherd caring for a flock. In John 21:15-17 the risen Jesus tells Peter to "feed my sheep".
The ordinary members of a church are called the laity. Leaders are chosen and trained to serve them. They are set apart by ordination, a ceremony that makes a person a priest, minister or bishop. Ordained leaders are called the clergy.
Key terms:
- Laity: the ordinary members of the Church who are not ordained.
- Vicar: in the Church of England, a priest in charge of a local area called a parish.
- Pastor: a word meaning "shepherd", used in many Protestant churches for the minister who cares for the congregation.
- Diocese: the area of churches that a bishop looks after.
- Apostolic succession: the belief that bishops are linked in an unbroken line back to the apostles.
- Pope: the Bishop of Rome and the head of the Roman Catholic Church.
- Sacrament: a special rite, such as baptism or Communion, through which Christians believe God's grace (his help and love) is given.
- Free Church: a Protestant church that is independent of the state Church, such as a Baptist or Methodist church.
Ministers, priests, vicars and pastors
These leaders work in the local church. Different traditions use different names, but their roles are similar.
🍞 The sacraments
In Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican churches, a priest celebrates the Eucharist (Holy Communion) and baptises. Many Free Church ministers also lead Communion and baptism, though they may not use the word sacrament.
💖 Pastoral care
They visit the sick, comfort the grieving, give advice and pray with people in difficulty.
⛪ Guiding the community
They guide church groups and volunteers and often take part in local life.
They are important because they bring the teaching of Jesus into everyday life, and they are there at the biggest moments, such as births, marriages and deaths.
Bishops
A bishop oversees the churches and clergy of a diocese. Bishops ordain new priests, usually by laying their hands on them and praying. In Catholic and Anglican churches a bishop also confirms young people and adults, so that they confirm for themselves the promises made at their baptism.
Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican Christians believe in apostolic succession: today's bishops are the successors of the apostles. For them this links the Church today to the Church of Jesus' time, and it gives bishops their authority to teach and to ordain.
The pope
The pope is the Bishop of Rome and the head of the Roman Catholic Church. Catholics believe he is the successor of St Peter, the apostle to whom Jesus said, "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church" (Matthew 16:18). He is based in Vatican City and gives teaching on faith and morals to Catholics all over the world. In 1870, at the First Vatican Council, the Catholic Church taught that when the pope speaks officially on faith and morals, he cannot be wrong. For Catholics, the pope is also a sign of unity, because the Church has one visible head.
Different Christian understandings
👑 Catholic
The Church has priests, bishops and the pope. Authority passes from Peter through the bishops, and the pope leads the whole Church.
🏢 Orthodox
Priests and bishops are central, and apostolic succession matters. Churches are led by bishops, with senior bishops called patriarchs. Orthodox Christians do not accept that the pope has authority over the whole Church. A priest may marry before ordination, but bishops are normally unmarried.
🏛 Anglican
The Church of England has priests (including vicars) and bishops in apostolic succession, but no pope. The Archbishop of Canterbury is its senior bishop. Anglican priests may marry.
📖 Free Churches
Baptist churches and the Methodist Church in Britain have ministers or pastors but no bishops. Many Free Church Christians stress the priesthood of all believers.
The priesthood of all believers
This is the idea, strong among Protestants since Martin Luther, that every Christian can come to God directly in prayer without needing a priest to do it for them. They point to 1 Peter 2:9, which calls Christians "a royal priesthood". Ministers lead and teach, but they are not holier than other believers. Many Baptist churches choose their own minister. In Catholic and Orthodox churches only an ordained priest can celebrate the Eucharist. Who may be ordained also differs: Catholic and Orthodox churches ordain only men, while some Protestant churches ordain women too.
Leaders and the laity
Leaders support the laity by teaching, praying, visiting and counselling. They also listen. Many churches have councils or committees that include lay members, and lay people read, teach, lead music and help in the community. In some Free Churches, the whole congregation votes on big decisions.
Why is the Church important to individuals?
Christians say the Church matters because it offers:
- Worship: a place to praise God together.
- Teaching: learning from the Bible and from the leaders.
- Sacraments: baptism, Communion and other rites through which many believe God's grace is given.
- Community and support: friends who help in hard times. Hebrews 10:24-25 urges believers to meet together and encourage one another.
Common mistakes
Do not say that all Christians have a pope. Only Roman Catholics do. Do not say every church has bishops: Baptist churches and the Methodist Church in Britain do not. "Minister" is a general word, so say which tradition you mean.
Exam-style question
(a) Outline two roles of a bishop. [4 marks]
(b) Explain why the pope is important for Roman Catholics. [6 marks]
(c) "Christians do not need priests or ministers to lead them." Discuss this statement, considering the arguments for and against. In your answer you should include: reference to teachings; other (divergent) points of view; your opinion or point of view using reasoned arguments. [10 marks]
Model answer
(a) A bishop oversees the churches and clergy in an area called a diocese (1), which means he guides and supports the local priests (1). A bishop ordains new priests by laying hands on them and praying (1), so that they can serve the Church (1).
(b) The pope is the head of the Roman Catholic Church. Catholics believe he is the successor of St Peter, to whom Jesus said "on this rock I will build my church" (Matthew 16:18) (1), so his authority goes back to one of Jesus' own apostles (1). As Bishop of Rome he is a sign of unity, giving Catholics all over the world one visible leader (1). He gives teaching on faith and morals, and when he speaks officially Catholics believe he cannot be wrong, so he guides how they live (1). Jesus told Peter to "feed my sheep", so Catholics see the pope as a shepherd who cares for the whole Church (1). This is why many Catholics look to him for leadership in their faith (1).
(c) Plan. For: the priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:9) means each Christian can pray to God directly; Free Churches have no bishops and still worship and grow. Against: Catholic and Orthodox Christians teach that ordained priests are needed to celebrate the Eucharist and are linked to the apostles; leaders teach, give pastoral care and hold the community together; Jesus told Peter to "feed my sheep". Possible conclusion: Christians can pray without a priest, but the Church still needs leaders to teach and care for people, so the statement is only partly true. How far it is true depends on the tradition.
Exam tip
In a 10-mark Discuss question, name a tradition for each argument (for example Catholic or Baptist), then finish with your own view and the deciding reason.