United Apostolic Church Europe

Ministries

All ministers in our congregations have their mandate and authority directly from Jesus Christ. This, however, does not mean that every specific form of our ministries was directly introduced by Christ. Directly appointed by Christ were only the apostles. The structure of the other ministries is based
mainly upon Eph 4, 11.

In our churches you find the following ordained ministries:
 

- Apostle	- Shepherd (Pastor)
- Bishop	- Priest
- Elder	- Deacon
- Evangelist

Some of the ministers have a leading post for organisational duties (rectors of districts or congregations).

The highest ministry of administration and teaching is that of the Apostle. The founders of the Catholic-Apostolic Church followed the vocation of the Holy Spirit and renewed the ministry and service of apostles of Christ completely. Still today, this ministry and this service is of fundamental significance for the spiritual life in our congregations. The apostles are responsible for all scopes in our church, especially for the pure teaching of the gospel, the performance of pastoral care and the consecration of the sacraments (especially the Holy Sealing). They ordain and instruct all other ministries and assign their duties.

The rector of the first christian congregations usually was a Bishop who led the communities while the apostle was absent. He was responsible to his apostle. Nowadays the bishop has the administrative authority over several districts which consist of several congregations. In our church this ministry
is not the highest ministry of administration and teaching as in many other christian churches.

In our congregations the Priest (derived from the Greek word "presbyteros") has the office of preaching and instruction, of pastoral care and of administering of the two sacraments: Baptism and Holy communion.

Also derived from the Greek notion "presbyteros" is the Elder. He has priestly duties and is responsible especially for the administration of a district (rector of a district).
 
The Evangelist also does priestly duties with the focus on the preaching of the Gospel.

The Shepherds have a special pastoral responsability besides their priestly office (rector of a congregation).

The Deacon (derived from the Greek word "diakonos" = "servant/supporter") supports the pastoral care and the administrative service of the priest in his congregation.

For the time being all our ministries are reserved for male members of our churches. We actually have been discussing their opening to our female members.