In the Anglican Catholic Church, as throughout the whole Catholic and Orthodox world, there are three orders of ministers: bishops, priests, and deacons. Bishops are the chief pastors and have responsibility for large areas called dioceses. The pastor of a parish church is usually a priest. "Priest" is a form of the Greek word presbyter, or "elder." A deacon's ministry is that of a servant. Deacons frequently do charitable and educational work.
Only bishops and priests can
celebrate the Holy Eucharist or confer blessings; deacons are ordained to
assist with the Church’s liturgical and charitable ministries. The Lord Jesus
chose his Apostles and they were conse-
crated by the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Since that time, every
bishop has been consecrated in an unbroken line of succession from the
Apostles. Every priest and deacon has been ordained by a bishop.
