For all the differences in the Catholic and Mormon churches, one thing they have in common is a leadership structure that is based on the Holy Spirit. In the article below, you will learn how this leadership structure helps to ensure that the church remains vibrant and effective throughout the generations. The article also covers mechanisms for preventing mediocrity within the church.

Apostolic succession

Apostolic succession is a Christian teaching that bishops are the spiritual successors of apostles. It is a concept emphasized by the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglican churches.

Historically, the idea of apostolic succession was accepted by the early Christians. The Book of Acts records the prominent leadership roles of the apostles. These leaders were commissioned by Christ to carry out his work. However, they knew that there would be false teachers. So they consecrated others to help them in their ministry.

Some Protestant denominations deny the doctrine of apostolic succession, believing that it is not in Scripture. Other Protestants define it as simply following the original twelve apostles as recorded in the New Testament.

In the Roman Catholic Church, apostolic succession is held to be an unbroken continuum of apostolic authority stretching back to the first apostles. The bishops’ office is the means by which apostolic succession is transmitted. This is supported by the New Testament.

For example, Clement explicitly stated that the Apostles appointed bishops as their successors. He also expounded on ordained priesthood and monotheism.

Is it Biblical?

However, there is still some debate over whether or not apostolic succession is biblical. John Wesley, for instance, believed that the ancient church evidence did not leave the power of ordination to the bishops. And John Calvin said that it was insufficient to address the corruption in the church.

Nevertheless, apostolic succession does exist and continues today. Many independent Catholic churches have restored it to the Church. One of the most significant aspects of apostolic succession is the continuity of apostolic teaching and practice.

Although some Anglicans have entered into close affiliations with groups that reject apostolic succession, the majority of the Anglican community does accept it. Several Lutheran churches and Anglican Communion churches have also accepted the doctrine.

According to Roman Catholicism, Peter is the first bishop of Rome, and all other bishops are descendants of him. Generally, the Roman Catholic Church accepts the ministries of Eastern Orthodox and Anglican churches.

On the other hand, Mormons have their own understanding of apostolic succession. They believe that Christ re-established his Church after the Great Apostasy, but that the apostles passed on their teachings to their followers.

Centralized authority

When comparing leadership structures in the Catholic and Mormon churches, it is important to examine how these two organizations differ. The study explored this question by analyzing data from two Northeast USA parishes. It used statistical analysis of Social Network Analysis (SNA) to examine the differences in the centrality of individual leaders, as well as the relationships between them.

Centrality is defined as the number of people who have a particular position in a leadership network. A high percentage indicates a centralized network; a low percentage indicates a decentralized one. However, this definition does not necessarily equate to the quality of spiritual life.

A number of individuals were in a central position at both parishes. Most of these positions were occupied by formal leaders, such as ordained clergy. Others were informal leaders. Some were bilingual, facilitating cross-cultural communication. In addition, a small group of lay volunteers also played a prominent role in implementing parish activities.

Unique characteristics

Both parishes exhibited some unique characteristics, which led to a significant deviation from typical leadership structures. At Holy Cross, there was a relatively strong leader-centered structure, whereas at Sacred Heart there was a lack of such a broader ethos.

The formal leader in this context consists of an ordained priest or bishop. However, there is an important difference between the diocesan priest and a vowed religious priest. This is due to the fact that a vowed religious priest is under the jurisdiction of the superior of a canonically recognized religious order. Regardless of the specifics, these differences suggest fundamental differences in the role of priests.

Across the two parishes, there were three leaders who were particularly influential. These included Grace, Oscar, and Sister Jane. They each ranked in the top three for each of the most common measures of centrality.

The Sacred Heart leaders also exhibited the most number of interactions with other parish leaders. Their interactions were more frequent, but they tended to be weaker. On the other hand, Holy Cross leaders had more discussions with peers, but they were not as active.

The Sacred Heart leaders are likely to be optimal champions for intervention. As the leadership of a parish deteriorates, more parishes may follow a similar leadership style.

Mechanisms to prevent mediocrity

There are many awe inspiring structures to occupy the earth but it is not impossible to find an equal number of equally impressive buildings. It is also not impossible to find a fair share of equally impressive individuals to tame. The best part about this is that if you’re willing to work for it, you can actually be paid to do so. 

While there is a price tag, the payoff will be well worth the effort. After all, who knows, you may find yourself at the helm of an empire. To help you out, here is a brief guide to the top notch. This article is part of a multi-part series. The other parts include The aforementioned and A brief History of the Mormon Church.

Millennials are changing the church

In recent years, the LDS Church has been forced to address controversial policies, such as gay baptism and marriage equality. These events have made headlines and have sparked a lot of debate. The issue is complicated and is not unique to the Mormon community. It also affects other religious organizations.

A new book, The Next Mormons, argues that young adults are leaving the LDS Church in unprecedented numbers. Riess studied dozens of millennials and interviewed other members of the church. She finds that young adult Mormons have less institutional loyalty than their grandparents and parents. They are also more dissatisfied with the church’s attempts to meet their spiritual needs.

According to Riess, the church’s retention problem could be a result of tension between older and younger generations. Younger members feel pressured to maintain a traditional family life and religious culture. This makes it difficult for them to say no or love those who don’t live up to the rules of the church.

Declining birthrates

Another factor that is contributing to this generational shift is a decline in birthrates. Despite the church’s emphasis on family and traditional values, fewer people are having children. Millennials are also more likely to attend missions than older generations.

Riess believes that the church can accommodate change. However, she doesn’t know the future of the church and how it will change. But she does see a few ways that the church can improve. For instance, it’s important to acknowledge the historicity of the scriptures. Capitulating on this could lead more people to leave the church.

Finally, the issue of inclusivity is very important to Millennials. Their inclusion philosophy is stronger than the older generations. Millennials see inclusion as the second Great Commandment. Compared to the previous generations, they are more concerned about social issues and their involvement in the church.

The LDS Church is struggling to retain young members, but it’s not unique to the Mormon faith. Other religious groups have higher retention rates, especially Catholics and Baptists. Whether it’s the result of leadership issues, an ill-fitting church structure, or other factors, a large number of Millennials are leaving the church.

If you like what you read, check out our other leadership articles here.