Ministry in the Ecumenical Protestant Methodist Episcopal Church
Word, Sacrament, Prayer, Service, and Mission
Ministry in The Ecumenical Protestant Methodist Episcopal Church flows from Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, who calls His people to worship God, proclaim the Gospel, serve the poor, care for souls, and bear witness to the kingdom of God.
We are a Methodist-Episcopal church in doctrine, worship, discipline, and ministry. Our life is shaped by Holy Scripture, the historic Christian creeds, the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, the Articles of Religion, the sacraments instituted by Christ, and the pastoral mission of the Church in the world today.
We are a distinct church body. We are not legally affiliated with, controlled by, or part of any existing Methodist, Episcopal, Anglican, or United Methodist denomination.
The Ministry of All Baptized Christians
Every baptized Christian is called to ministry. Through Baptism, believers are brought into Christ, made members of His Church, and called to live as part of the royal priesthood of all believers.
This ministry includes prayer, worship, witness, holiness of life, mercy, forgiveness, service to neighbors, care for the poor, and the public confession of Jesus Christ as Lord.
Not every Christian is called to public church office, but every Christian is called to serve. The Church exists so that the people of God may be taught, strengthened, corrected, comforted, and sent into the world as witnesses of Christ.
Ordered and Appointed Ministry
The Church recognizes ordered and appointed ministries for the good order, teaching, worship, discipline, and pastoral care of the faithful.
Lay Ministers or Servants assist in worship, prayer, teaching, evangelism, mercy ministry, online ministry, and local mission.
Deacons serve under the oversight of bishops and priests. They assist in worship, proclaim the Gospel, serve the poor, care for the vulnerable, and help connect the Church’s worship to the Church’s mission.
Priests are appointed to preach the Word, administer the sacraments and rites of the Church, provide pastoral care, teach the faith, guide parishes and missions, and shepherd the people entrusted to them.
Bishops oversee doctrine, worship, discipline, clergy, missions, and territories of ministry. They guard the faith, strengthen the Church, appoint ministers, and serve as chief pastors.
Missionary Bishops oversee missionary territories and developing works of the Church.
The Presider Bishop serves as the head of the Church, guarding its doctrine, worship, order, mission, and public identity.