Abstract:
The organisational structure of the United Methodist church shares many features with the
early catholic institutions. Increased institutionalisation, that is, authority connected with
office, is the clearest sign of Early Catholicism. By the late first century, the titles of bishop
(ἐπίσκοπος), elder (πρεσβύτερος) and deacon (διάκονος) denoted specific leadership and service
functions in the church. This study stresses the ethical qualifications and diaconal duties of
these office bearers, applying it to the duties and responsibilities of United Methodist pastors,
district superintendents, bishops and laity. It is argued that candidates for ordination should
be aware of their calling to the divine ministry and their calling should be authenticated and
recognised without a test of authenticity by the Church. In the Early Catholicism period,
qualified leadership was established to preserve faith and combat false teaching. This must
also be the case in the United Methodist Church.
