DOCSLIB.ORG

Into Ministry : the Pastorals, the Early Church, and the Free Methodist

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Into Ministry : the Pastorals, the Early Church, and the Free Methodist ABSTRACT INTO MINISTRY: THE PASTORALS, THE EARLY CHURCH, AND THE FREE METHODIST CHURCH IN THE EARLY TWENTY—FIRST CENTURY by Jason Aaron Leininger In 2011 the Free Methodist Church decided to examine and reform its leadership formation practices for pastors. The church was encouraged to interact with a number of the wisdom sources for the project; the early church was one of the sources. The purpose of the research was to discover pastoral formation essentials from the Pastorals and the early church fathers. Additionally it sought to determine if the pastoral formation essentials are (1) known, (2) embraced and practiced within formation models for existing Free Methodist clergy and conference ministerial candidates, and (3) contribute to the developing Free Methodist pastoral formation model. The research used a triangulation, mixed—methods design. The research found formation essentials present in the early church, the essentials are known among Free Methodists, and they are partially active in current formation practices. This research included the Pastoral Epistles; writings of four pastors of the early church—Ignatius of Antioch, Hippolytus of Rome, Gregory of Nazianzus, and Augustine of Hippo; bishops, theologians and formation providers of the Free Methodist Church; and, recently ordained pastors of the Free Methodist Church. DISSERTATION APPROVAL This is to certify that the dissertation entitled INTO MINISTRY: THE PASTORALS, THE EARLY CHURCH, AND THE FREE METHODIST CHURCH IN THE EARLY TWENTY—FIRST CENTURY presented by Jason Aaron Leininger has been accepted towards fulfillment of the requirements for the DOCTOR OF MINISTRY degree at Asbury Theological Seminary Mentor Date Internal Reader Date Representative, Doctor of Ministry Program Date Dean of the Beeson Center Date INTO MINISTRY: THE PASTORALS, THE EARLY CHURCH, AND THE FREE METHODIST CHURCH IN THE EARLY TWENTY—FIRST CENTURY A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of Asbury Theological Seminary In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry by Jason Aaron Leininger May 2016 © 2016 Jason Aaron Leininger ALL RIGHTS RESERVED TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................ vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................... ix CHAPTER 1 PROBLEM ....................................................................................................1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................1 Purpose .....................................................................................................................4 Research Questions ..................................................................................................5 Research Question #1 ..................................................................................5 Research Question #2 ..................................................................................5 Research Question #3 ..................................................................................5 Research Question #4 ..................................................................................5 Definition of Terms..................................................................................................6 Pastorals .......................................................................................................6 Pastoral Formation .......................................................................................6 Essentials......................................................................................................6 Providers of Formation ................................................................................6 Ministry Intervention ...............................................................................................7 Context .....................................................................................................................8 Methodology ............................................................................................................9 Sources and Participants ............................................................................10 Instrumentation ..........................................................................................10 Data Collection ..........................................................................................11 iii Data Analysis .............................................................................................11 Generalizability ..........................................................................................12 Theological Foundation .........................................................................................12 Overview ................................................................................................................15 CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE .............................................................................................16 Introduction ............................................................................................................16 Research Design.....................................................................................................18 Theological Foundation .........................................................................................20 The Pastorals ..............................................................................................20 The Early Church Fathers ..........................................................................40 Ignatius of Antioch ........................................................................40 Hippolytus ......................................................................................46 Gregory of Nazianzus ....................................................................58 Augustine of Hippo ........................................................................69 Summary ................................................................................................................89 CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY ......................................................................................92 Problem and Purpose .............................................................................................92 Research Questions ...............................................................................................93 Research Question #1 ................................................................................93 Research Question #2 ................................................................................93 Research Question #3 ................................................................................94 Research Question #4 ................................................................................94 Population and Participants....................................................................................95 iv Design of the Study ................................................................................................96 Instrumentation ..........................................................................................97 Expert Review ............................................................................................99 Reliability and Validity ..............................................................................99 Data Collection ....................................................................................................100 Data Analysis .......................................................................................................102 Ethical Procedures ...............................................................................................102 CHAPTER 4 FINDINGS .................................................................................................104 Problem and Purpose ...........................................................................................104 Participants ...........................................................................................................104 Research Question #1 ..........................................................................................111 Research Question #2 ..........................................................................................113 Research Question #3 ..........................................................................................117 Research Question #4 ..........................................................................................120 The Content of Formation ........................................................................121 The Context of Formation ........................................................................123 Method of Formation ...............................................................................126 Summary of Major Findings ................................................................................129 CHAPTER 5 DISCUSSION ............................................................................................131 Major Findings .....................................................................................................131 Essential Elements for Pastoral Formation within the Early Church ......131 Early Church Essential Elements Know among Free Methodists ...........134 Early Church Essential Elements Partially Practiced among Free Methodists
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Stages of Jesus' Ministry
    Disciple-Making Adv 1/Day 3 The Stages of Jesus’ Ministry Did you know that there are a total of 90 chapters in the Gospel records and in Acts 1 about Jesus Christ’s appearance and ministry in the world? Author and scholar Carl W. Wilson has calculated that the first 5 chapters of a biblical harmony have to do with Christ’s coming into the world, His incarnation. The last 33 chapters focus on Jesus’ death and resurrection (these chapters make up more than a third of the record). Between the first 5 and the final 33 are 52 chapters which describe how Jesus trained the disciples to minister in His name. Wilson concludes that “through the teaching of Jesus, the apostles experienced a way of ministry that made the church unstoppable. A leader may profess that Jesus is the head of his ministry, but when he strays from the principles of Jesus’ ministry, he’s really just taking over himself. Jesus’ methodology keeps everyone aware that He, and He alone, is the head of the church.” In this session, Advanced Track leaders will be challenged to master the various stages of Jesus’ ministry and to discern analogous practices for fruitful contemporary discipleship. Participants are encouraged to bring their favorite Harmony of the Gospels to this Forum session. Suggestions: A Harmony of the Gospels by A.T. Robertson; Unique Harmony of the Gospels: A Revelation of the Development of Jesus’ Life and Ministry by Carl Wilson; or, Synopsis of the Four Gospels by Kurt Aland. John Musselman is the President of the Jackson Institute, a leadership development organisation whose mission is to contribute to the cultural, intellectual, and spiritual formation of individuals who are on a passionate quest to be welcomed, received, and acknowledged by God.
    [Show full text]
  • Preparation for Water Baptism Pastor E
    Preparation for Water Baptism Pastor E. Keith Hassell 1. The Purpose Water baptism is the first step in obedience to Christ. In the New Testament, there were no “altar calls” as we know them today. The message was clear: “If you want to give your life to Jesus and follow Him, come to the water and be baptized!” There is no biblical pattern for salvation apart from baptism. Water baptism finds it’s meaning in spiritual symbolism. Water baptism by immersion is the first step of obedience to Christ but is also a public witness of our faith through identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. When we enter the baptismal waters, we enter in response to our need to be cleansed and saved from sin. It is in baptism that we make public confession of Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior and acknowledge our belief in the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 10:9-10). When we are immersed under the baptismal waters, we identify with the death and burial of the Lord Jesus Christ. In doing so, we also symbolize and submit to our own death and departure from our old life of sin. When we rise from the water, we identify with the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and demonstrate our commitment to walk in a newness of life in Christ apart from sin. ROMANS 6:4,5 (NKJV) Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life, For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.
    [Show full text]
  • The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus by Philip Schaff About ANF01
    ANF01. The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus by Philip Schaff About ANF01. The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus by Philip Schaff Title: ANF01. The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus URL: http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf01.html Author(s): Schaff, Philip (1819-1893) Publisher: Grand Rapids, MI: Christian Classics Ethereal Library Description: The Ante-Nicene Christian library is meant to comprise translations into English of all the extant works of the Fathers down to the date of the first General Council held at Nice in A.D. 325. The sole provisional exception is that of the more bulky writings of Origen. It is intended at present only to embrace in the scheme the Contra Celsum and the De Principiis of that voluminous author; but the whole of his works will be included should the undertaking prove successful. Publication History: Text edited by Rev. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson and first published in Edinburgh, 1867. Additional introductionary material and notes provided for the American edition by A. Cleveland Coxe 1886. Print Basis: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, reprint 2001 Source: Logos Research Systems, Inc. Rights: Public Domain Date Created: 2002-10 Status: Proof reading, ThML markup and subject index for Version 3.0 by Timothy Lanfear General Comments: Hebrew and Greek were checked against page scans of the 1995 Hendrickson reprint by SLK; errors in the hard copy have not been corrected in this digitized text. Contributor(s): Timothy Lanfear (Markup) CCEL Subjects: All; Early Church; Classic; Proofed; LC Call no: BR60 LC Subjects: Christianity Early Christian Literature.
    [Show full text]
  • The Pastor: Forming a Shared Vocational Vision
    Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Faculty Publications Christian Ministry 3-2014 The aP stor: Forming a Shared Vocational Vision Skip Bell Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/christian-ministry-pubs Part of the Practical Theology Commons Recommended Citation Bell, Skip, "The asP tor: Forming a Shared Vocational Vision" (2014). Faculty Publications. Paper 34. http://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/christian-ministry-pubs/34 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Christian Ministry at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. SKIP BELL Skip Bell, DMin, is professor of Christian leadership and director of the Doctor of Ministry program, Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan, United States. The pastor: Forming a shared vocational vision ho defines the voca- do it if they are to be effective in their biblical dimensions of discipleship tional vision for ministry or leadership. often retreat to the background. pastoral ministry? Is it How does a pastor arrive at the right Church organizational leaders and Wthe employing denomi- mental image regarding a biblical vision seminary professors share the same nation? Is it the congregation the pastor for ministry? The answer is complicated. responsibility, to reflect on a biblical serves? Is it the church board? Is it the To be sure, a pastor has prayed over vision for pastoral ministry. Church demand of the moment—preaching, a sense of calling and struggled with organizations form internships, field evangelism, mission, church planting? his or her vocational decision.
    [Show full text]
  • The Meaning of the Intercessory Ministry of Jesus Christ on Our Behalf in the Heavenly Sanctuary
    Journal of the Adventist Theological Society, 28/1 (2017): 3-25. Article copyright © 2017 by Jiří Moskala. The Meaning of the Intercessory Ministry of Jesus Christ on Our Behalf in the Heavenly Sanctuary Jiří Moskala Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Andrews University Introduction Adventist theology differentiates between the “complete” atonement accomplished by Jesus Christ on the cross, and the “completed” atonement in relationship to His intercessory ministry in heaven on humanity’s behalf.1 What happened on the cross is a unique, unparalleled, non-repeatable, and unprecedented divine act of salvation (Heb 10:12, 14) from which all the benefits flow out, including the intercessory ministry of Christ for us today.2 1 See, for example, the statement of the former dean of the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, Dr. W. G. C. Murdock, at the 1980 General Conference session in Dallas, Texas: “Seventh-day Adventists have always believed in a complete atonement that is not completed.” Quoted from Morris L. Venden, Never Without an Intercessor: The Good News About the Judgment (Boise, ID: Pacific Press, 1996), 140. The full at-one-ment, i.e., the complete harmony between God and His creation will be reached when sin is eradicated and evil is no longer present (1 Cor 15:24-28; Eph 1:10). This full harmony will be restored at the end of the Millennium (Rev 21-22). 2 Ferguson underlines that Jesus’s “atoning death was unique and unrepeatable work for human salvation (Heb. 10:12, 14). Jesus’ sacrificial death, therefore, was a ministry that the church cannot continue.
    [Show full text]
  • Lesson Outline I the Scriptural Church Officers A. Pastor B
    ABCs of Mature Christianity Lesson 17 – Qualifications for Officers 6-5-2016 Lesson Outline P. He Must Be of GOOD I The Scriptural Church Officers REPORT: A. Pastor Q. He Must NOT Be Self-willed: B. Deacon R. He Must a LOVER of Good Men: S. He Must Be JUST: II The Qualifications of a Pastor T. He Must Be HOLY: A. He Must Be BLAMELESS: U. He Must Be TEMPERATE: B. He Must Be HUSBAND OF ONE V. He Must Be SOUND IN WIFE: DOCTRINE: C. He Must Be VIGILANT: D. He Must Be SOBER: III The Qualifications of a Deacon E. He Must Be OF GOOD A. Qualifications in Common BEHAVIOR: with a Bishop: F. He Must Be GIVEN TO B. Other Qualifications: HOSPITALITY: C. The Qualifications of the G. He Must Be APT TO TEACH: Wife of a Deacon H. He Must Be NOT BE GIVEN TO WINE: IV Disqualification from Office I. He Must NOT Be A STRIKER: A. High Standards Must Be J. He Must NOT Be GIVEN TO Set: FILTY LUCRE: K. He Must Be PATIENT: B. Great Care Must Be L. He Must NOT Be a Brawler: Exercised: M. He Must NOT Be Covetous: C. With Responsibility Comes N. He Must Be: One that ruleth Accountability well his own house. O. He Must Not Be a NOVICE: WBC Robert J. Sargent Page 1 of 53 ABCs of Mature Christianity Lesson 17 – Qualifications for Officers 6-5-2016 Qualifications of Officers This study considers the qualifications set forth in scriptures and required of a man who serves as an officer in a church.
    [Show full text]
  • The Healing Ministry of Jesus As Recorded in the Synoptic Gospels
    Loma Linda University TheScholarsRepository@LLU: Digital Archive of Research, Scholarship & Creative Works Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects 6-2006 The eH aling Ministry of Jesus as Recorded in the Synoptic Gospels Alvin Lloyd Maragh Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd Part of the Medical Humanities Commons, and the Religion Commons Recommended Citation Maragh, Alvin Lloyd, "The eH aling Ministry of Jesus as Recorded in the Synoptic Gospels" (2006). Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects. 457. http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/457 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by TheScholarsRepository@LLU: Digital Archive of Research, Scholarship & Creative Works. It has been accepted for inclusion in Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects by an authorized administrator of TheScholarsRepository@LLU: Digital Archive of Research, Scholarship & Creative Works. For more information, please contact [email protected]. UNIVERSITY LIBRARY LOMA LINDA, CALIFORNIA LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY Faculty of Religion in conjunction with the Faculty of Graduate Studies The Healing Ministry of Jesus as Recorded in the Synoptic Gospels by Alvin Lloyd Maragh A Thesis submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Clinical Ministry June 2006 CO 2006 Alvin Lloyd Maragh All Rights Reserved Each person whose signature appears below certifies that this thesis in his opinion is adequate in scope and quality as a thesis for the degree Master of Arts. Chairperson Siroj Sorajjakool, Ph.D7,-PrOfessor of Religion Johnny Ramirez-Johnson, Ed.D., Professor of Religion David Taylor, D.Min., Profetr of Religion 111 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost, I would like to thank God for giving me the strength to complete this thesis.
    [Show full text]
  • Priesthood, Ministry, and Religious Life: Some Historical and Historiographical Considerations John W
    Theological Studies 49 (1988) PRIESTHOOD, MINISTRY, AND RELIGIOUS LIFE: SOME HISTORICAL AND HISTORIOGRAPHICAL CONSIDERATIONS JOHN W. O'MALLEY, S.J. Weston School of Theology, Cambridge, Mass. HIS ARTICLE has a simple thesis: the categories with which we Tcustomarily think about religious life are inadequate to the historical reality and that inadequacy is to a large extent responsible for some of the confusion in the Church today about religious life, especially about the relationship to priesthood and ministry of the "regular clergy," i.e. priests living in a religious order or congregation under a rule. This confusion, I further maintain, is harmful to religious orders and congre­ gations, even those that do not have ordained members, and is also harmful in the long run to the Church as a whole. The confusion has roots deep in our past, but it remained latent or at least virtually unnamed until quite recently. Forcing it ever more into our awareness have been the implications and implementation of certain documents of Vatican Council II, especially Presbyterorum ordinis on the "ministry and life of priests," Optatam totius on the "training of priests," Christus Dominus on the "pastoral office of bishops," and Perfectae caritatis on "the renewal of religious life." An altogether crucial question has emerged: How do religious priests fit in the ministry of the Church? If we turn to the Council, we do not find an altogether satisfactory answer, although we are left free to infer that the specific difference between religious and diocesan priests lies in the fact that the former take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, whereas the latter do not.
    [Show full text]
  • Heart of Anglicanism Week #1
    THE HEART OF ANGLICANISM #1 What Exactly Is an Anglican? Rev. Carl B. Smith II, Ph.D. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE ANGLICAN? ANGLICANISM IS… HISTORICAL IN ORIGIN • First Century Origin: Christ and Apostles (Apostolic) • Claims to Apostolicity (1st Century): RCC & Orthodox • Protestants → through RCC (end up being anti-RCC) • Church of England – Anglican Uniqueness • Tradition – Joseph of Arimathea; Roman Soldiers; Celtic Church; Augustine of Canterbury; Synod of Whitby (664), Separated from Rome by Henry VIII (1534; Reformation) • A Fourth Branch of Christianity? BRANCHES OF CHRISTIAN CHURCH GENERALLY UNIFIED UNTIL SCHISM OF 1054 Eastern Church: Orthodox Western Church: Catholic Patriarch of Constantinople Reformation Divisions (1517) • Greek Orthodox 1. Roman Catholic Church • Russian Orthodox 2. Protestant Churches • Coptic Church 3. Church of England/ • American Orthodox Anglican Communion (Vatican II Document) NAME CHANGES THROUGH TIME • Roman Catholic until Reformation (1534) • Church of England until Revolutionary War (1785) • In America: The (Protestant) Episcopal Church • Break 2009: Anglican Church in North America • Founded as province of global Anglican Communion • Recognized by Primates of Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (African, Asian, So. American) TWO PRIMARY SOURCES OF ACNA A NEW SENSE OF VIA MEDIA ACNA ANGLICANISM IS… DENOMINATIONAL IN DISTINCTIVES Certain features set Anglicanism apart from other branches of Christianity and denominations (e.g., currency): • Book of Common Prayer • 39 Articles of Religion (Elizabethan Settlement; Via Media) • GAFCON Jerusalem Declaration of 2008 (vs. TEC) • Provincial archbishops – w/ A. of Canterbury (first…) • Episcopal oversight – support and accountability ANGLICANISM IS… EPISCOPAL IN GOVERNANCE • Spiritual Authority – Regional & Pastoral • Provides Support & Accountability • Apostolic Succession? Continuity through history • NT 2-fold order: bishop/elder/pastor & deacons • Ignatius of Antioch (d.
    [Show full text]
  • A Portrait of a Successful Pastor: Reanimating the Pastor As Shepherd in a Success Oriented Culture Steve Bontrager [email protected]
    Digital Commons @ George Fox University Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations 1-1-2018 A Portrait of a Successful Pastor: Reanimating the Pastor as Shepherd in a Success Oriented Culture Steve Bontrager [email protected] This research is a product of the Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program at George Fox University. Find out more about the program. Recommended Citation Bontrager, Steve, "A Portrait of a Successful Pastor: Reanimating the Pastor as Shepherd in a Success Oriented Culture" (2018). Doctor of Ministry. 279. http://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/dmin/279 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses and Dissertations at Digital Commons @ George Fox University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctor of Ministry by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ George Fox University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY A PORTRAIT OF A SUCCESSFUL PASTOR: REANIMATING THE PASTOR AS SHEPHERD IN A SUCCESS ORIENTED CULTURE A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF PORTLAND SEMINARY IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF MINISTRY BY STEVE BONTRAGER PORTLAND, OREGON FEBRUARY 2018 Portland Seminary George Fox University Portland, Oregon CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL ________________________________ DMin Dissertation ________________________________ This is to certify that the DMin Dissertation of Steve Bontrager has been approved by the Dissertation Committee on February 13, 2018 for the degree of Doctor of Ministry in Leadership and Spiritual Formation. Dissertation Committee: Primary Advisor: Deborah Loyd, DMin Secondary Advisor: Aaron Friesen, PhD Lead Mentor: MaryKate Morse, PhD Copyright © 2018 by Steve Bontrager All rights reserved. All Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version unless otherwise noted.
    [Show full text]
  • Directory of ESSC Churches and Pastors Church Name, Address, Phone Number, Pastor’S Name and Website
    Directory of ESSC Churches and Pastors Church Name, Address, Phone Number, Pastor’s name and Website Washington, DC Church of Jesus Christ, Inc. 3456 Pennsylvania Ave., SE Washington DC 20020 202-584-8488 202-581-6799 (Fax) www.cojc.org Bishop J. T. Leslie, Jr. Maryland The Full Gospel True Mission Nazarene Temple Apostolic Faith P. O. Box 1076 2312 Harford Road Baltimore MD 21203 Baltimore MD 21218 410-233-7270 410-243-0126 410-333-6223 (Church Fax) 410-243-6027 (Fax) www.fullgospeltruemission.org www.nazarenetemple.org Bishop Gilbert Edwards, Sr. Suffragan Bishop Allan Fleet, Sr. True Gospel Apostolic Faith Solid Rock Apostolic Faith 2715 Grindon Avenue 523 Schroeder Street Baltimore MD 21214 Baltimore MD 21223 410-426-7037 410-523-3822 or 410-523-6483 410-426-0498 (Fax) 410-523-4408 (Fax) www.truegospelafc.org Pastor Barbara Abraham Bishop Otto Richardson Faith Church of the Lord Jesus Christ St. Matthew’s Holiness Church 2718 Harford Road 6205 Cardiff Avenue Baltimore MD 21218 Baltimore MD 21224 410-235-1957 410-631-7878 District Elder Nathaniel Nelson 410-631-7978 (Fax) Jurs. Bishop Milton Barge (Pastor Emeritus) District Elder Harrison W. Parker, Sr. The Upper Room Apostolic Church Faith Deliverance Apostolic 2450 Greenmount Avenue 3401 Court Street Baltimore MD 21218 Baltimore MD 21215 301-523-7546 Pastor Bernice Edwell Pastor Darren Farmer Restoration Through Christ Ministries Victory Deliverance Temple 3817 Janbrook Road 4401 Brinkley Road Randallstown MD 21133 Temple Hills MD 20748 443-272-6905 Suffragan Bishop Samford C. Brown Pastor James Jenkins Emmanuel Temple Church Bread of Life Ministries 10005 Old Columbia Road 4202 Seidel Avenue Columbia M.D.
    [Show full text]
  • The Deacon: Icon of Jesus Christ the Servant Pastoral Letter
    THE DEACON: ICON OF JESUS CHRIST THE SERVANT PASTORAL LETTER OF THE BISHOP OF MARQUETTE MOST REVEREND ALEXANDER K. SAMPLE TO THE PRIESTS, DEACONS, AND FAITHFUL OF THE DIOCESE PREFACE The restoration of the diaconate as a permanent ministry in the Latin Church following the Second Vatican Council is seen as “a great and visible sign of the working of the Holy Spirit.”1 Over the years much has been written about the essential identity, role and ministry of the permanent deacon in the life of the Church. There is no doubt that the restoration of the permanent diaconate has been a source of tremendous grace and blessings for the Church. Alongside such blessings, however, there have been some misunderstandings and misinterpretations of the essential identity of the permanent deacon that have led to some confusion regarding his ministerial role in the life and mission of the Church. The Diocese of Marquette has certainly been the grateful beneficiary of the restoration of this ministry since the ordination of our first permanent deacon in 1981. Since that time this local Church has been richly blessed by the witness and sacrifices of the fine men who have received ordination as permanent deacons. We give thanks to God for them and their ministry. Our diocese, however, has not been spared some of the same misunderstandings, misinterpretations and confusion that have been evident in the universal Church. To help study and address some of these important issues surrounding the life and ministry of the permanent deacon in the Diocese of Marquette, a Diaconate Study Committee was formed in January of 2008 to lay out a vision for the future direction of the permanent diaconate in the Diocese of Marquette.
    [Show full text]