First Christian Voices: Practices of the Apostolic Fathers

Chapter 5 Leadership

Chapter Summary Church leadership seems to be in the news frequently. Unfortunately, we hear more about the bad examples of leaders than the good. Leadership played a vital role in the life of the early church. Throughout the writings of the Apostolic Fathers, we read that leaders were led by the Holy Spirit and appointed by the church to care for members. Their character was of utmost importance as they literally followed in the footsteps of the apostles and represented God on earth. Perhaps one of the most misunderstood topics of leadership is the structure of the early church. Often in the letters of Ignatius we read about the bishop, elders, and deacons and think that there must be a hierarchical organization in the church. Ignatius writes, “Your bishop presides in the place of God, and your elders in the place of the assembly

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