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sacrament of holy orders |
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Those who receive the sacrament of Holy Orders are consecrated in Christ's name "to feed the Church by the word and grace of God." Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time: thus it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry. There are three ranks of clergy: bishops (episcopate), priests (presbyterate or 'elders'), and diaconate. Bishops have the care of multiple congregations and appoint, ordain, and discipline priests and deacons. Priests have the responsibility of teaching, governing, and providing the sacraments in a given congregation (1 Tim. 5:17; Jas. 5:14–15). Deacons are the assistants of the bishops and are responsible for teaching and administering certain Church tasks, such as the distribution of food (Acts 6:1–6). |
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