The Leadership Structure of the Church

The Leadership

Structure of the Church

The Church

Unit 3, Chapter 8

Document #: TX005558

© 2016 Saint Mary’s Press
Living in Christ Series

The Church and Hierarchy

• The leadership of the

Church is provided by the
clergy.

• The leadership is

hierarchical, organized in a
specific ascending order.

• All members of the Church

are equal in dignity, but are
called to different roles.

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Divine Authority and Service

• The hierarchy consists of the ordained

ministers of the Church.

• Christ established

the bishops as the
successors to the
Apostles.

• He established the

Pope as the
successor to Peter,
the head of the Apostles.

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Living in Christ Series

Organizational Structure

• The Holy See is the

central seat of
authority.

• A diocese is usually

a geographic area
led by a bishop.

• A parish is a

community within
a diocese, with one or more priests.

• The family is the most basic level of the

Church.

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Who Is the Pope?

• Successor to Peter, his authority has been

passed down.

• Bishop of Rome, he is the visible head of

the Church.

• Head of the College of Bishops,

he leads and appoints the
bishops.

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Living in Christ Series

Who Is the Pope?

• Vicar of Christ, he is Christ’s human

representative.

• Pastor of the Universal Church, he is

responsible for Catholics worldwide.

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The Role of the Bishops

• The bishop oversees

the administration of
the Sacraments in
his diocese.

• He celebrates

Confirmation.

• He is the only person

who can ordain
priests and deacons.

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The Governing Office of the Bishops

• The bishop has the authority to govern his

particular church.

• Priests, deacons,

and lay ecclesial
ministers help the
bishop in this work.

• Bishops show a

special concern for
the poor, the
persecuted, and missionaries.

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The Collegial Nature of the Bishops

• A bishop is concerned for all churches

throughout the world.

• Bishops share

equally in the
authority to make
decisions affecting
the Church.

• These decisions

are always made
in union with the
Pope.

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The Priest’s Responsibility

• A priest’s primary role is that of sacramental

minister.

• He oversees the religious education in the

parish.

• He visits the sick and

offers spiritual care to
those who need it.

• He oversees the work

of the parish staff.

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How Does a Man Become a Priest?

• Candidacy is a formal

period of discernment.

• A candidate then enters

seminary for priestly
formation and theological
studies.

• He is then ordained to the

Transitional Diaconate.

• Finally, he is ordained to

the priesthood by the
bishop.

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The Diaconate

• Most permanent deacons earn their living

by working in the world.

• Permanent deacons can be married and

raise families.

• They are examples

of service to the
Church and the
world.

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Service of the Deacons

• A deacon celebrates the Sacrament

of Baptism and blesses marriages.

• He gives homilies and

carries out catechesis.

• A deacon also

dedicates himself to
ministries of charity.

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Living in Christ Series