DOCSLIB.ORG

Clerical Culture: Collaborators, Prophets Or ??? Association of Liturgical Ministers 28 February 2019 Fr

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Clerical Culture: Collaborators, Prophets Or ??? Association of Liturgical Ministers 28 February 2019 Fr Liturgical Ministers and Clerical Culture: Collaborators, Prophets or ??? Association of Liturgical Ministers 28 February 2019 Fr. Jan Michael Joncas Boston College Seminar: Five Essential Characteristics for Effective Priestly Ministry • a) the capacity to preach the word of God in ways that nurture the faith, hope, and love of the disciples of Christ • b) the ability to lead the Christian community in life-enhancing prayer and worship • c) the willingness and aptitude to be a collaborative leader among lay ecclesial ministers and the whole people of God • d) the disposition to lead an exemplary life of discipleship within the ecclesial community • e) the commitment to practice pastoral charity in service of the Gospel Cleric • What is a [Roman Rite] cleric? • Prior to Vatican II: • Minor orders (porter, lector, exorcist, acolyte) • Major orders (sub-deacon, deacon, presbyter, bishop) • After Vatican II • Paul VI: Ministeria quaedam (15 August 1972): porter suppressed; lector re- termed ”ministry”; exorcist re-visioned as a diocesan ministry; acolyte re- termed “ministry”, but national episcopal conferences are free to use “subdeacon” for this ministry • Code of Canon Law (present) #266: one becomes a cleric by ordination to the diaconate, thus clerics = deacons, presbyters, bishops Culture • What is (a) culture? • The social behavior and norms found in human societies • E.B. Tylor: “that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom and any other capabilities acquired by [a human being] as a member of society” • Mendenhall: “Meaningful arrangement of technology, the means by which a people provide for material needs; society, or people’s relationships; and ideology, a people’s way of thinking” • May also be used to describe particular practices within a subgroup of society, a subculture, or a counterculture [diocesan vs. religious priests] Development of Clerical Culture • In the 4th century, Roman imperial legislation established the clerical state — mutating lay episcopal and presbyteral servant-leaders into a priestly- hierarchical class imperially mandated to rule over the Laos (laity) • In the 11th century, papal legislation by the 'Gregorian Reform' mutated the Western Catholic clergy into a clerical celibate caste — rejecting the 1,000-year-old apostolic tradition of married bishops and presbyters, and forming monastic-like celibate cadres for the papacy's new theocratic power, administered by the new papal curia • In the 16th century, legislation by the Council of Trent intellectually and spiritually segregated Western candidates for ordination into monastic-like clerical seminaries, insulated from the Catholic Laos Clerical Culture of Diocesan Priesthood Today • 1) Hierarchical and patriarchal structure of the Church • Although most organizations, especially nation-states, have hierarchical structures, many also have a balance of powers, separating the executive, the legislative, and the judicial powers. But in the Roman Catholic Church, all three powers are exercised by the pope and Vatican Congregations that report directly to the pope. • The hierarchy of the Church is a patriarchy. Only men are allowed into the priesthood; all bishops, presbyters, and deacons are male. • 2) Papal allegiance • Allegiance to the pope is secured by a series of oaths and promises taken by cardinals, bishops, presbyters and deacons. Deacons promise respect and obedience to his ordinary and his successors. • Presbyters promise respect and obedience to his ordinary and his successors. • Bishops take an oath of obedience to the pope and his successors. • This chain of oaths and promises ensures allegiance to the pope and places possible restraints on the right of conscience on those swearing fidelity. • 3) Ontological Change • Ontological (pertaining to the being or nature of the individual) change implies that the ordained are essentially different from the non-ordained. • Vatican II’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church: “Though they differ essentially and not only in degree, the common priesthood of the faithful and the ministerial priesthood or hierarchical priesthood are nonetheless ordered to one another; each in its own proper way share in the one priesthood of Christ.” • A person who perceives himself as ontologically different from others can feel – consciously or not -- that he is superior to others. • 4) Seminary education and training • 4 levels: high school; college (free-standing, collaborative, religious house of formation); pre-theology; school of theology or theologate • Guidelines: Vatican II: Decree on the Training of Priests; Congregation for the Clergy: The Gift of the Priestly Vocation: Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis (8 December 2018); USCCB: Program for Priestly Formation (5th ed.) 2006 [6th ed. In process] • Human formation; spiritual formation; intellectual formation; pastoral formation; formation in community • Seminary education as rite(s) of passage • On-going education? • Issue: Formed inside clerical culture for responsibility outside it • 5) Celibacy • Celibacy contributes to the cementing of the priest’s loyalty and obedience to the bishop, because his loyalties are not divided between his wife and family and the Church. A married priest has split loyalties, to his wife and family, and to his bishop. In contrast, celibacy ties the priest, in a unique way, to his promise of obedience to the bishop. It becomes one more link in the chain that not only distinguishes the priest from the rest of the faithful, but also ties him more tightly into the clerical culture and shores up institutional loyalty. • 6) Relative Independence • Although priests owe obedience to their bishop, in most of their daily activities they are relatively independent. Once a man is ordained he receives very little supervision. He is not subject to performance appraisals, receives very little feedback from other priests—and certainly not from the faithful in any constructive manner—and is seldom monitored in his daily activities. Some astute lay leaders in the Church have suggested ways to improve oversight. The Leadership Roundtable for Church Management, composed mostly of successful businessmen and women, has recommended a series of performance standards to ensure that priests receive the necessary supervision and monitoring to guarantee that their pastoral service is above reproach. • 7) Clothing and Dress • The clerical collar worn by priests establishes them as different from the non-ordained. This can have many positive consequences because people will recognize priests as ones who could assist them with problems they may face, and with spiritual counseling and advice. Many professions and trades, such as doctors, police, firefighters, judges, and soon, wear special uniforms that set them apart and allow others to recognize them for their special expertise. But priests who wear the collar also may come to consider themselves as superior to others. For some there is an attraction to moving up the ladder to acquire the red piping of the position of monsignor or the red vestments of a bishop. • 8) Special privileges • Although the normal compensation for diocesan priests is relatively small in comparison to many of their parishioners, priests have many special advantages and privileges that others do not. They receive health and dental insurance, a pension, an annual retreat, and a continuing education allowance. They are usually provided with room and board, a month’s vacation, and one day off a week. Because their lives are seen as lonely, and often are lonely, many priests receive gifts of clothing and cash as well as invitations to meals or entertainment from compassionate parishioners throughout the year. Priests are seldom responsible for the cleaning and upkeep of their rectories and the property, including lawn care and snow shoveling. And they need not bother with property taxes and household insurance bills. Above all, if they obey all the rules, priests are guaranteed a lifetime employment—regardless of how competent or incompetent they are. These privileges effectively shield them from experiencing the financial problems faced by their parishioners. Present-Day On-Going Formation of Priests • USCCB: The Basic Plan for the Ongoing Formation of Priests (2001) • Five life-events: • departure from the seminary • change of assignment • first pastorate • mid-life • senior clergy status Responding to a divided diocesan presbyterate • Competition/comparison among males • Generational differences • Ambition to advance • Lack of support from the Ordinary • Widely varying backgrounds among the priests • Differing theologies and spiritualities • Differing languages, [sub]cultures, and places of origin Appraisal of Priestly Ministry for [Diocesan] Priests: From Cincinnati Archdiocese • Identification of appraiser by USER ID; as staff member, parish council member, or parishioner; Date • Instruction: “Please assess Father’s performance of his ministry as a person and as a priest. (For priests serving in ministry settings other than parishes, consider “parishioners” to be those to whom he ministers, i.e., students in school ministry, patients in hospital ministry, etc.)” • Range: “Please use this scale: (4) Excellent; (3) Good; (2) Below Average; (1) Poor. Choose N/A if you consider this factor Not Applicable or if you are Nor Aware of this topic.” • Liturgy and Preaching • 1. He presides at liturgies with reverence, dignity and prayerfulness. • 2. He effectively involves lectors, eucharistic
Load more

Recommended publications
  • A Feminist Jungian Analysis of the Representations of Teenage Females in Films 1950S to 1970S
    Edith Cowan University Research Online Theses : Honours Theses 2005 A feminist Jungian analysis of the representations of teenage females in films 1950s ot 1970s Lea O'Dea Edith Cowan University Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses_hons Part of the Critical and Cultural Studies Commons, and the Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication Commons Recommended Citation O'Dea, L. (2005). A feminist Jungian analysis of the representations of teenage females in films 1950s ot 1970s. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses_hons/1262 This Thesis is posted at Research Online. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses_hons/1262 Edith Cowan University Copyright Warning You may print or download ONE copy of this document for the purpose of your own research or study. The University does not authorize you to copy, communicate or otherwise make available electronically to any other person any copyright material contained on this site. You are reminded of the following: Copyright owners are entitled to take legal action against persons who infringe their copyright. A reproduction of material that is protected by copyright may be a copyright infringement. Where the reproduction of such material is done without attribution of authorship, with false attribution of authorship or the authorship is treated in a derogatory manner, this may be a breach of the author’s moral rights contained in Part IX of the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Courts have the power to impose a wide range of civil and criminal sanctions for infringement of copyright, infringement of moral rights and other offences under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth).
    [Show full text]
  • The Exorcist" - - Textual --Topical Scripture Reading'------Devotional
    SATAN SUBJECT CLASSIFICATION: TEXT Deuteronomy 18:9-13 --EXPOSITORY --BIOGRAPHICAL _____________________"THE EXORCIST" - - TEXTUAL --TOPICAL SCRIPTURE READING'---------------- ---DEVOTIONAL DELIVERIES: Date Hour Place Results and Comments: F.B.C. 8-8-82 p.m. San Angelo, TX (XXX+++) F.B.C. p.m. San Angelo, TX (XXXX++++) 5L; lB; 1 Sp. Ser. BIBLIOGRAPHY------------ E.F. CLASSIFICATION: TEXT ---EXPOSITORY "THE EXORCIST" - - BIOGRAPHICAL --- TEXTUAL --TOPICAL SCRIPTURE READING·- ---------- ----- --DEVOTIONAL DELIVERIES: Date Hour Place Results and Comments: FBC 4-21-74 a.m. San Angelo, Texas XXX++++ FBC 8-8-82 p.m. San Angelo, Texas XXX+++ BIBLIOGRAPHY _ I Scripture: Deut.1 8:9-13 '17 · ntro: f the The Exorcist, continues at its present level of success it has every chance of becoming the most widely viewed movie in the world as well as the first billion dollar producer. During its week it grossed $2,000,000. Newsweek, average 9 a day faint ... The movie is based on William Peter Blatty' s book, The Exorcist, which relates a reported experience in 1949 of a demon-possessed 14 year old boy living in Mt. Ranier, Maryland, adjacent to Washington, D. C. Blatty was a student at Georgetown University at that time and attended a series of lectures by a Jesuit R.C . priest, Franci s Galiger, who centered his lectures on a case s tudy of this 14 year old boy. Phillip Hannon, now in Orleans, was in the Washington diocese when the exorcism of the boy was originally performed. The archbishop contends that Blatty has committed a real travisty with the historical facts of the case of the exorcism.
    [Show full text]
  • The Ministries of Lector and Acolyte Who, When, Where, What & Why?
    The Ministries of Lector and Acolyte Who, when, where, what & why? Who: You are invited to join us as Bishop Doherty officially institutes six seminarians in priestly formation for our Diocese as Acolytes and/or Lectors. Two and a half years away from priestly ordination, Chris Helle (Fishers) and Daniel Shine (Carmel) will be instituted Acolytes, while three and a half years away from priestly ordination Derek Aaron (Kokomo), Alex McGauley (Carmel), Michael Bower (Zionsville) and Kyle Neterer (Carmel) will be instituted Lectors. When: Where: Friday, December 30th, 2012 St. Mary's Cathedral During 5:30PM Mass 1270 Columbia Street Lafayette, Indiana What: Following the Second Vatican Council, Pope Paul VI issued an Apostolic Letter for the reformation of the former disciplines of First Tonsure, Minor Orders and Subdiaconate. He wrote: “Certain ministries were established by the Church even in the most ancient times for the purpose of suitably giving worship to God and for offering service to the people of God according to their needs. By these ministries, the offices to be carried out in the liturgy and the practice of charity, deemed suitable to varying circumstances, were entrusted to the faithful. The conferring of these functions often took place by a special rite, in which, after God's blessing had been implored, a Christian was established in a special class or rank for the fulfillment of some ecclesiastical function. Some of these functions, which were more closely connected with the liturgical celebration, slowly came to be considered as a training in preparation for the reception of sacred orders.
    [Show full text]
  • 2019 Table of Contents
    Archdiocese of Indianapolis Archdiocesan Directory 2019 Table of Contents Agency Listings and Table of Contents ................................................ Ai - Avii His Holiness Pope Francis ................................................................................1 The Most Reverend Archbishop Charles C. Thompson ....................................2 Coat of Arms ......................................................................................................3 Mission Statement, Values .................................................................................4 General History ...................................................................................... 7-40 General History ..................................................................................................7 Bishops and Archbishops of the Archdiocese ...................................................8 Vicars General .................................................................................................15 Archdiocesan Prelates ......................................................................................16 Chronology of the Foundation Dates of Parishes and Missions ......................17 Important Events, July 1, 2017—June 30, 2018 ..............................................27 Archdiocesan Administration .............................................................. 41-68 Chart of Organization ......................................................................................41 Archdiocesan Administration ..........................................................................44
    [Show full text]
  • Paix Liturgique Anglais
    PAIX LITURGIQUE Letter 99 published 14 February 2019 The New Ordinations: An Impoverished Rite Third instalment of our comparative study of the extraordinary and modern Rituals. Fifteen to twenty percent of secular priests are ordained in the traditional rite in France.1 These candidates to the priesthood are those who have chosen the Mass they will celebrate throughout their ministry, and their ordination, whether it takes place in a traditional institute or in certain dioceses, reflects this assignation. Hence they choose to receive holy orders in the liturgical universe to which their Mass will belong; such a choice is theologically and spiritually coherent. It must be said that the ordinary form of the rite of ordination, when compared with the traditional one, has been considerably impoverished. This makes sense, to the extent that, as St. Thomas taught, the priesthood is oriented towards the Mass as towards its end: “Receive the power to offer sacrifice to God and to celebrate Mass for the living as well as for the dead,” says the bishop to the man he has just ordained a priest by giving him a chalice and a paten containing bread and wine. To a Mass that has been ritually and theologically impoverished—especially when it comes to expressing the eucharistic sacrifice—had to correspond an ordination rite that has been impoverished in its signification. Study group 20 of the Commission for the implementation of the Constitution on the Holy Liturgy was put in charge of the sacrament of orders. New books were published: for the ordination of deacons, priests, and bishops, in 1968; for the institution to ministries (which replaced the subdiaconate and minor orders) and admission to the diaconate and priesthood, in 1972.2 Change for the sake of change? Much research and many discussions dealt with the sacramental forms, i.e.
    [Show full text]
  • 'Stewards of the Mysteries' Mystery of Holy
    ‘Stewards of the Mysteries’ Mystery of Holy Priesthood and Church Hierarchy “As the Father has sent me, even so send I you.” - John 20:21 Christ is the Image of the Father as one of the Holy Trinity. Before His ascension into heaven, Christ bestowed His Holy Spirit upon His Apostles and consecrated them to represent Him upon the Earth, with the Lord Himself acting through them. The Apostles ordained bishops after them as their successors. Just as Christ was surrounded by the Apostles on this earth, whom He also sent out as His hands and feet, so also the Apostles and bishops after them ordain presbyters (priests) who surround them in the Liturgy and are sent to perform the Holy Mysteries (except ordination and consecrating Holy Chrism oil). The deacons are ordained for angelic service in the Holy Altar, and in the Church generally. “As the Father has sent me, even so send I you.” - John 20:21 “Let nothing be done apart from the bishop. Without these three orders [deacons, priests, bishops] you cannot begin to speak of a church.” - St. Ignatius of Antioch (d. 108 A.D.) Bishops: Successors to the Apostles, as icons of Christ. Priests (Presbyters): Surround the bishop as the Apostles surrounded Christ, and in like manner are sent out by the bishop to serve the Holy Mysteries and preach the Gospel as icons of Christ under the bishop’s leadership. Deacons (literally ‘servants’): Represent the Holy Angels serving at the Altar of God. The bishop stands before the Holy Altar, and the priests surround the bishop around the Altar as the Apostles surrounded Christ.
    [Show full text]
  • Relationship with the Franciscan Family Franciscan, Any Member of a Christian Religious Order Founded in the Early 13Th Century by St
    Relationship with the Franciscan Family Franciscan, any member of a Christian religious order founded in the early 13th century by St. Francis of Assisi. The members of the order strive to cultivate the ideals of the order’s founder. The Franciscans actually consist of three orders. The First Order comprises priests and lay brothers who have vowed to lead a life of prayer, preaching, and penance. This First Order is divided into three independent branches: the Friars Minor (O.F.M.), the Friars Minor Conventual (O.F.M. Conv.), and the Friars Minor Capuchin (O.F.M. Cap.). The Second Order consists of cloistered nuns who belong to the Order of St. Clare (O.S.C.) and are known as Poor Clares (P.C.). The Third Order consists of religious and Secular men and women who try to emulate Saint Francis’ spirit by performing works of teaching, charity, and social service. Strictly speaking, the latter order consists of the Third Order Secular, whose Secular members – laity and diocesan clergy – live in the world without vows; and the Third Order Regular, whose members live in religious communities under vows. Congregations of these religious men and women are numerous all over the Roman Catholic world. The Franciscans are the largest religious order in the Roman Catholic Church. The Franciscan movement began in the year 1208, when Francis of Assisi, having lived two years as a penitent (one who seeks to reform his life and draw closer to God through daily life and works,) was joined by a few like-minded followers. Eventually, three major orders arose within the Franciscan movement.
    [Show full text]
  • THE MINISTRY of ACOLYTES by the Rt
    THE MINISTRY OF ACOLYTES by the Rt. Rev. Paul C. Hewett, SSC Rector, Church of the Transfiguration, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania Since the early days of the Church, God has called men and boys to assist with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist in a special way. It is a tremendous privilege to be at the Altar of God, serving Him there, and assisting the celebrant and the people in the offering of the Holy Mysteries. During the persecutions of Christians in the Roman Empire it was especially dangerous to be an acolyte, or anyone associated with the bishops and clergy. The Roman soldiers could appear suddenly on Sunday morning as the Eucharist was being celebrated, to round up Christians, and especially their leaders, to drag them off to prison and torture. It has been said that some acolytes wore red cassocks to symbolize their readiness to shed their blood to protect the celebrant as bodyguards, and to protect the Blessed Sacrament from profanation. Today more Christians are persecuted throughout the world than ever before, and so being an acolyte, or a doorkeeper, in many parts of Africa, the Middle East, South-east Asia or China carries the same risk as in the Church’s early days. The ministry of acolytes has been considered, in some traditions, a “minor order.” The “major orders” are bishops, priests and deacons. The “minor orders” are doorkeepers, (ushers) lectors, acolytes, exorcists and sub-deacons (lay-readers). In our parishes today, the Rector provides a period of training and preparation to serve at the Altar, to learn the Liturgy and the ritual pertaining to it, and to develop a Rule of Life, that is, a growing, personal relationship with our risen Lord.
    [Show full text]
  • The Episcopate
    JUNE 1988 SPECIAL ISSUE • A Publication of the Liturgical Commission of The Episcopal Diocese of New York The Reverend Wayne R. Schmidt, Chairperson Beatrice Pasternak, Editor Archivist. The Episcopate the As the Diocese of New York approaches its election of a Bishop Co-Adjutor on of September 27, the New York Liturgical Commission is pleased to publish this special issue of AMEN! on The Episcopate by two eminent scholars of our church permission and diocese. The Editor without forbidden material this of Reproduction USA. Church Episcopal the of Archives DFMS: Copyright, Tenth century mosaic from Agia Sophia, Istanbul, of St. John Chrysostom who..'11 he was Bishop of Cunstaminoplc. The Episcopal vesture is archiac in style, dating from before L.'JC period when Ea.~ tern bishops began to wear impcri3l \'C~ lm c nls. ordained presbyter or priest. In the 11th century the Archdeacon The Office of the Bishop Hildebrand was elected to the papacy, and a contemporary account in the Book of Common Prayer tells that he was ordained sacerdos (priest) on Ember Saturday after Pentecost and was consecrated bishop, as Pope Gregory VII, on the Feast of SS Peter and Paul. Of the several deacons raised to the Anglican tradition has always greatly honored the threefold episcopate at Rome, he is said to have been the first to be ordained to ministry of Bishops, Priests and Deacons, and has insisted that this the priesthood before being ordained bishop. commit~men~ represents the continuation of a tradition reaching from By that time theologians were beginning to say that it is the the earliest history of the Church.
    [Show full text]
  • Careers and Skills: the Empire
    Careers and Skills: The Empire Basic Skills: Skill (Characteristic): Basic Careers: Advanced Careers, tier 1, 2, & 3: Animal Care (Int) Bailiff, Bear Tamer, Bone Picker, Abbot (2), Captain (2), Friar (1), Camp Follower, Coachman, Highwayman (1), Horse Master Drover, Dung Collector, (1), Monk (1), Pistolier (1), Priest Entertainer, Hedge Wizard, Horse (Gunndred) (1, 2 & 3)**, Scout Coper, Mercenary, Messenger, (1), Witch (1) Militiaman, Miner, Outlaw, Outrider, Peasant, Pilgrim, Rat Catcher, Roadwarden, Servant, Soldier, Squire, Tradesman Charm (Fel) Agitator, Bailiff, Barber-Surgeon, Abbot (2), Agent of the Shroud Bone Picker, Camp Follower, (1), Ambassador (3), Anointed Entertainer, Exciseman, Priest (2), Astrologer (1), Cantor Ferryman, Gambler, Hedge (1), Charlatan (1), Cloaked Wizard, Horse Coper, Initiate, Brother (2), Courtier (1), Crime Litigant, Noble, Peasant, Lord (2), Cult Acolyte (Slaanesh, Raconteur, Rogue, Squire, Tzeentch) (1), Cult Attendant (1), Strigany Mystic, Student, Thief, Cult Magus (Slaanesh, Tzeentch) Wolf-Kin, Zealot (2), Demagogue (1), Duellist (1), Flagellant (1), Foreman (1), Forger (1), Grandmaster (3), Guild Master (1), Herald (1), High Priest (3), Highwayman (1), Horse Master (1), Innkeeper (1), Interrogator (1), Journeyman Wizard (1), Knight of the Inner Circle (2), Master Thief (2), Master Wizard (2), Merchant (1), Minstrel (1), Noble Lord (2), Politician (1), Priest (1), Priest (Morr, Augur) (1, 2 & 3)**, Priest (Ranald, The Givers of Coin) (1, 2 & 3)**, Priest (Verena, Scalebearer) (1, 2 & 3)**, Scourge
    [Show full text]
  • Tridentine Community News June 16, 2013 – Fourth Sunday After Pentecost Minor Orders and the Major Order of the Diaconate Currently Describing
    Tridentine Community News June 16, 2013 – Fourth Sunday After Pentecost Minor Orders and the Major Order of the Diaconate currently describing. A Lector is authorized to read a broader spectrum of Lessons at Mass than one who has only received Ordination to the priesthood is a great grace that transforms the Tonsure. A Porter is the fundamental character of a man. It is more than just graduation doorkeeper to the church from an educational institution, and indeed more than receiving a (think Fr. Solanus Casey). professional certification such as passing a bar exam or obtaining An Exorcist is largely a a license to practice medicine. Ordination forever gives a man the ceremonial role, authorized ability to forgive sins in the name of Christ, and to change to administer water to a ordinary bread and wine into the Body and Blood of our Lord. priest during sacred functions. (Only a priest can If you have read articles or liturgical books pertaining to the exorcize demons.) An Tridentine Mass, you may have come across the expression, Acolyte is the formal name “Minor Orders”. That term refers to the steps that a candidate for for the two principal altar servers at the Tridentine Mass. (Today’s the priesthood in the Western tradition progresses through on his lay acolytes are merely authorized substitutes for the originally- way to priestly ordination. intended ordained Acolytes.) In his 1972 letter Ministéria Quædam , Pope Paul VI abolished the Subdeacon: This stage represents system of Minor Orders and created the simplified steps now entry into the clerical state. In the followed by seminaries that primarily focus on the Ordinary Western tradition, it commits the Form: recipient to celibacy.
    [Show full text]
  • The Ordained Christian Ministry from the Patristic Era to the Late Middle Ages
    47 H. Econe Porter CHURCH AND MINISTRY FROM HIPPOLYTUS TO THE CONCILIARISTS The Ordained Christian Ministry from the Patristic Era to the Late Middle Ages From the age of the church fathers through the late middle ages represents nearly three quarters of Christian history. with all that this involves. Nonetheless. I have been asked to survey what I know about the ordained leadership of the Christian church during this long period. Obviously. much must be omitted. I will endeavor at least to touch on matt~rs which interest me and which I hope will interest you. I. Summary of Patristic System Let us first summarize and recall the system which had been in effect in all catholic or orthodox Christian communities. so far as we know, at least since the beginning of the third century. This system is described in the Apostolic Tradition of HippoZytus and other church orders. and is alluded to in the writings of St. Cyprian and many other church fathers. 1 In each city where there was a Christian community. it was presided over by a bishop. In all the larger places this was a full time occupation and the bishop was supported by the church, unless he was a lando~~:ner or man of means. as a few were. He might be celibate, or a widower, or the husband of one wife, as in I Timothy 3:2. The Reverend Dr. H. Boone Porter is editor of The Living Church. 48 The bishop supervised and directed the church in conjunction with a council or assembly of presbyters or elders.
    [Show full text]