The Ministry of the Christian Church

work by Gore

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 30, 2026

Quick Summary

Charles Gore's The Ministry of the Christian Church (1888) expounds the Anglo-Catholic perspective on the church's apostolic succession. Gore, an Anglican bishop and theologian, advocated for a liberal approach within Anglo-Catholicism, emphasizing the need to reconcile Christian theology with scientific and historical knowledge, and to translate faith into social action.1

The concept of ministry in Christianity varies across denominations. Traditionally, in the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican churches, ministry is episcopal, based on the orders of bishop, priest, and deacon. The Protestant Reformation challenged this, with Martin Luther introducing the "priesthood of all believers," which diminished the unique authority of ordained offices. Different Protestant traditions, such as Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Congregational churches, developed distinct models of ministry and church governance.2

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Charles Gore
…successor of the Apostles in The Ministry of the Christian Church (1888) and Roman Catholic Claims (1888). Unlike some Anglo-Catholics, however, he did not think it sufficient to confront the aggressive secularism of the time with a blunt affirmation of the church’s supernatural life and apostolic authority. It was also…
Read More
…successor of the Apostles in The Ministry of the Christian Church (1888) and Roman Catholic Claims (1888). Unlike some Anglo-Catholics, however, he did not think it sufficient to confront the aggressive secularism of the time with a blunt affirmation of the church’s supernatural life and apostolic authority. It was also…
Read More