The vicars of Christ

Bishops give life to the local Church by proclaiming the Gospel, leading ministry

By Deacon Bob Hunt

Congratulations to newly ordained Bishop Mark Beckman, the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Knoxville! Bishop Beckman, I believe you will find the Catholics of East Tennessee eager for your leadership and open and willing to take the Church in the Knoxville Diocese in directions that will ensure the continued proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed.

The proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed is the mission of the Church. That mission cannot be fulfilled without the leadership of our chief shepherd, our bishop. From the very beginnings of the Church, even while Jesus still walked the earth, He chose men from among the ranks of His disciples to lead as Apostles, as those “sent out” to “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20a).

The bishops are the successors of the Apostles, with the same mission given to the first Twelve by Jesus. In the earliest years of the Church, it was the bishop who preached the Gospel and administered the sacraments.

The Christians of a particular city or town would gather under his leadership to hear the Word of God proclaimed, to celebrate the Eucharist, and to collect goods that would be shared with the poor. As the Church grew in numbers, the bishop, not being able to be everywhere at the same time, chose men among the ranks of his disciples to serve as priests and deacons, taking the sacraments to the people and serving the poor, the widows and orphans, the imprisoned, the homeless, and all those in need (Matthew 25:31-46).

Shortly after the death and resurrection of Jesus, the three ranks of holy orders were established: bishop, priest, and deacon. St. Paul speaks of the qualifications of a bishop (1 Timothy 3:1-7) and of a deacon (1 Timothy 3:8-10). He also speaks of the responsibility of priests (from the Greek “presbyters”) to teach, preach, and administer the sacraments (1 Timothy 5:17, James 5:14-15).

St. Ignatius of Antioch, as he was en route as a prisoner to be executed in Rome, wrote to his confreres in Tralles, Asia Minor (c. 107): “In like manner let everyone respect the deacons as they would respect Jesus Christ, and just as they respect the bishop as a type of the Father, and the presbyters as the council of God and college of the Apostles. Without these, it cannot be called a church” (Letter to the Trallians, 3:1-2).

“Without these, it cannot be called a church.” Those are strong words, but true. Without the bishop, there can be no local Church. Without the bishop, there are no sacraments. Without the bishop, there is no preaching of the Gospel. Without the bishop, there are no Catholic schools, no Catholic health care, no Catholic Charities, etc.

The bishop is the vicar of Christ for his diocese. It is under his authority that all the ministries of the local Church are possible and under his authority that priests and deacons carry out their respective ministries.

As a deacon of the diocese, it is essential that everything I do as a deacon is in line with the teachings of the Church and the disciplines of the Church, and in accord with the directives of the bishop. I act, preach, and write only under the bishop’s authority. Why?

Because no one is saved by the gospel of Bob. We are saved by the Gospel of Jesus Christ, given to us through His Church, the instrument of God’s revelation in Christ (Ephesians 3:10, 1 Timothy 3:15). If, then, my actions or words are contrary to the Gospel, who am I serving? I desire only to serve Christ, and Christ has given us the Church as the ordinary instrument by which His gospel is proclaimed, and His grace is poured out. If my actions or words are contrary to the teachings and disciplines of the Church, then they are contrary to Christ.

Christ is the head of the Church, and the Church is His body. A body, nor any member of that body, cannot act contrary to its head without confusion. There must be no confusion in the body of Christ.

Our prayers are with Bishop Mark Beckman as he takes his place as bishop of the Diocese of Knoxville. May God grant him holiness to sanctify us with the sacraments, fervor to teach us the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and wisdom to govern us well for the sake of our salvation.

Be Christ for all. Bring Christ to all. See Christ in all.

Deacon Bob Hunt is a husband, father, grandfather, and parishioner at All Saints Church in Knoxville. He is author of the book “Thy Word: An Introduction to the Bible for People in the Pews.”