ROLES AND DUTIES OF CHRISTIANS

According to The Book of Common Prayer 1979

All Baptized People (All Christians)
• Represent Christ and his Church
• Bear witness to him wherever you may be
• According to the gifts given you, carry on Christ’s work of reconciliation in the world
• Take your place in the life, worship, and governance of the Church
• Make Christ known as Savior and Lord
• Share in the renewing of his world
• Follow Jesus Christ, serving God the Father, through the power of the Holy Spirit
• Come together week by week for corporate worship
• Work, pray, and give for the spread of the kingdom of God
Bishop
• Represent Christ and his Church, particularly as apostle, chief priest, and pastor of a diocese
• Be one with the apostles in proclaiming Christ’s resurrection and interpreting the Gospel
• Testify to Christ’s sovereignty as Lord of lords and King of kings
• Guard the faith, unity, and discipline of the whole Church
• Proclaim the Word of God
• Act in Christ’s name for the reconciliation of the world and the building up of the Church
• Celebrate and provide for the administration of the sacraments of the New Covenant
• Ordain priests and deacons and join in ordaining bishops, to continue Christ’s ministry
• Be in all things a faithful pastor and wholesome example for the entire flock of Christ
• Share in the leadership of the Church throughout the world
• Follow him who came, not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many
Priest
• Represent Christ and his Church, particularly as pastor to the people
• Work as a pastor, priest, and teacher, together with your bishop and fellow presbyters
• Share with the bishop in the overseeing of the Church
• Take your share in the councils of the Church
• Proclaim by word and deed the Gospel of Jesus Christ and fashion your life in accordance with its precepts
• Love and serve the people among whom you work, caring alike for young and old, strong and weak, rich and poor
• Preach
• Declare God’s forgiveness to penitent sinners
• Pronounce God’s blessing
• Share in the administration of Holy Baptism and in the celebration of the mysteries of Christ’s Body and Blood
• Perform the other Sacraments and ministrations entrusted to you
• Nourish God’s people from the riches of his grace
• Strengthen them to glorify God in this life and in the life to come
Deacon
• Represent Christ and his Church, particularly as a servant of those in need
• Perform a special ministry of servanthood directly under your bishop
• In the Name of Jesus Christ, serve all people, particularly the poor, the weak, the sick, and the lonely
• Study the Holy Scriptures and model your life upon them
• Make Christ and his redemptive love known, by your word and example, to those among whom you live, and work,
and worship
• Interpret to the Church the needs, concerns, and hopes of the world
• Assist the bishop and priests in public worship, the proclamation of the Gospel, and in the ministration of God’s
Word and Sacraments
• Carry out other duties assigned to you from time to time
• Show Christ’s people, through your life and teaching, that in serving the helpless they are serving Christ himself