Holy Orders
Office of a Deacon
Deacons will have the opportunity to construct, preach, and evaluate their preaching events by
offering homilies in their assigned preaching communities, both in the parish church and in the
seminary chapel.
Office of a Teacher
A mentored, hands-on experience examining how the proclamation of Sacred Scripture, liturgical
gesture [rubrics], ritual words [formulae], and ministerial roles blend together during liturgy to
actualize the Church on a parish level. Emphasis is given to the deacon's role as leader in prayer, to the faithful who, acting in concert with him, exercise their appropriate liturgical functions, and to the Church's liturgical books, with their corresponding General Instructions. A continuation of Worship Practicum I. Priesthood candidates only.
Office of a Pastor
The pastoral ministry is one of the five perfecting ministries God gave to men so that Christians may come to spiritual maturity. Apostles, prophets, teachers, evangelists, and pastors are the governing body of the church. The office or ministry of the pastor falls into this category.
Pastors are given to help train and equip God’s people and to bring them to maturity.
They are to prepare the saints for works of ministry and to teach them how to build up the body of Christ. The purpose is to bring the church into unity of the faith so that the body of Christ can grow into the full measure of Christ Himself. This is also true for the other four ministry offices that have been given to the church.
Office of an Evangelist
The ministry of the evangelist is one of the five perfecting ministries God gave to men so that Christians may come to spiritual maturity. Apostles, prophets, teachers, evangelists, and pastors are the governing body of the church. The office or ministry of the evangelist falls into this category.
Evangelists are given to help train and equip God’s people and to bring them to maturity. They are to prepare the saints for works of ministry and to teach them how to build up the body of Christ. The purpose is to bring the church into unity of the faith so that the body of Christ can grow into the full measure of Christ Himself. This is also true for the other four ministry offices that have been given to the church.
Office of the Prophet
The Office of the Prophet is divinely appointed by God and whom God did predestinate, them he also called. The commission to serve in the area of prophecy requires a complete understanding of all of the preceding chapters, as well as an intense desire to do the will of God. A Prophet is one that, along with the Apostle, has a senior role of direction and influence in the Body of Christ. The office of a prophet has a different distinction to the gift of prophecy in that it is a specific role, rather than just a gift. Many who have the gift of prophecy are not prophets, including those who may be finely tuned and are quite seasoned in its operation. In Jeremiah 1:4-10 we see a biblical example and personal commission which gives insight into the distinctions between the office of a prophet and the gift of prophecy.
Lay ministry
The office of a minister of faith in Christian denominations who is not ordained in his or her faith tradition. Lay ministers are people who are elected by the church, full-time or part-time. They may have theological degrees and training, which may be required in certain instances, but not all lay ministries require this qualification. Lay ministers are generally chosen in small communities where it is difficult to find professional clergy to serve or serve in roles in which lay ministers are appropriate to fulfill the pastoral duties.