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In the [[Latter Day Saint movement]], an '''evangelist''' is an ordained office of the ministry. In some denominations of the movement, an evangelist is referred to as a '''[[patriarch (Latter Day Saints)|patriarch]]'''. However, the latter term was deprecated by the [[Community of Christ]] after the church began ordaining women to the [[Priesthood (Latter Day Saints)|priesthood]]. Other denominations, such as [[The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite)]], have an evangelist position independent of the original "patriarch" office instituted movement founder [[Joseph Smith]].
An '''evangelist''' is a person who preaches the [[Christianity|Christian]] [[Gospel]]. The word 'evangelist' comes from the [[Greek language|Greek]] word for 'bringing good news' (εὐάγγελος). Generally, evangelists are [[Protestantism|protestants]], and lead meetings known as [[revival]]s, [[harvest meeting]]s or [[evangelistic crusade]]s.


==Early Latter Day Saint movement==
A more strict [[biblical]] definition of evangelist would equate to a [[missionary]]:
The first use of the term "evangelist" in Latter Day Saint theology were mainly consistent with how the term is used by [[Protestantism|Protestants]] and [[Catholic Church|Catholics]].
Ac 21:8 [[King James Version|(KJV)]] And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the [evangelist], which was one of the seven; and abode with him.


In 1833, Joseph Smith introduced the new office of [[Patriarch (Latter Day Saints)|patriarch]], to which he ordained [[Joseph Smith Sr.|his father]]. The elder Smith was given the "keys of the [[Patriarchal priesthood|patriarchal Priesthood]] over the kingdom of God on earth", the same power said to be held by the [[Patriarch (Bible)|Biblical patriarchs]], which included the power to give blessings upon one's posterity.<ref>[[Joseph Fielding Smith]] (ed.), ''[[Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (book)|Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith]]'' (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book, 1938) pp. 38–39.</ref> The elder Smith, however, was also called to give [[patriarchal blessing]]s to the fatherless within the church, and the church as a whole, a calling he passed onto his eldest surviving son [[Hyrum Smith]] prior to his death. Hyrum himself was killed in 1844 [[Death of Joseph Smith|along with Joseph]], resulting in a [[Succession crisis (Latter Day Saints)|succession crisis]] that broke the Latter Day Saint movement into multiple denominations.
2Ti 4:5 [[King James Version|(KJV)]] But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.


It is not known who first identified the term "evangelist" with the office of patriarch. However, in an 1835 church publication, [[W. W. Phelps (Mormon)|W. W. Phelps]] stated,
Today evangelists generally lead large meetings, possibly in tents or existing [[church]] buildings, in contrast to [[street corner preaching]], which targets listeners who happen to pass nearby on the street.


:"[W]ho is not desirous of receiving a father's or an evangelist's blessing? Who can read the ancient patriarchal blessings, recorded in the bible, for the benefit of the church, without a heart filled with joy ... ?"<ref>W. W. Phelps (1835), ''[[Messenger and Advocate]]'' 1(10): [http://www.centerplace.org/history/ma/v1n10.htm 146].</ref>
Well known evangelists include:


In 1839, Joseph Smith equated an evangelist with the office of patriarch, stating that "an Evangelist is a Patriarch".<ref name = HC>{{cite book | author=Smith, Joseph | author-link=Joseph Smith | editor=B. H. Roberts | editor-link=B. H. Roberts | chapter=The Prophet's Instruction on Various Doctrines | title=[[History of the Church (Joseph Smith)|History of the Church]] | publisher=[[Deseret News Press]] | location=Salt Lake City, Utah | year=1905 | volume=3 | page=381 | chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8LcUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA381 | access-date=2009-07-14}}</ref>
* [[Saint Paul|The Apostle Paul]]
* [[Billy Graham]]
* [[Aimee Semple McPherson]]
* [[Dwight L. Moody]]
* [[Charles Spurgeon]]
* [[Billy Sunday]]
* [[Luis Palau]]


The necessity of an evangelist in the church organization has been reinforced repeatedly, based on the passage in Ephesians 4:11, which states, "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers". In 1834, while writing what he called the "principles of salvation", prominent early Latter Day Saint [[Oliver Cowdery]] stated that:
Other (less-well known) evangelists:


:"We do not believe that he ever had a church on earth without revealing himself to that church: consequently, there were apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, in the same."<ref>Oliver Cowdery (1834), ''[[Messenger and Advocate]]'' 1(1): [http://www.centerplace.org/history/ma/v1n01.htm 2].</ref>
* [[Brother Jed]]
* Mordecai Ham
* [[John Wesley]]
* William Branham


Joseph Smith echoed Cowdery's statement in 1842, in a letter to a Chicago newspaper editor outlining the church's basic beliefs. Smith said that his religion "believe[s] in the same organization that existed in the primitive church, viz: apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists".<ref>[[Wentworth letter|Letter]] from Joseph Smith to [[John Wentworth (mayor)|John Wentworth]], 1842, reprinted in Joseph Smith, [http://patriot.lib.byu.edu/cgi-bin/showfile.exe?CISOROOT=/NCMP1820-1846&CISOPTR=9801&filename=4893.pdf "Church History"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071026160224/http://patriot.lib.byu.edu/cgi-bin/showfile.exe?CISOROOT=%2FNCMP1820-1846&CISOPTR=9801&filename=4893.pdf |date=2007-10-26 }}, ''[[Times and Seasons]]'' (Nauvoo, Illinois) 1842-03-01.</ref>
==See also==
*[[Evangelism]]
*[[Missionary]]
*[[Televangelism]]


==Community of Christ==
As a specialised usage, '''evangelist''' can designate each of the (anonymous) authors of the four [[Gospel]]s in the [[New Testament]], traditionally known as [[Matthew the Evangelist|Matthew]], [[Mark the Evangelist|Mark]], [[Luke the Evangelist|Luke]], and [[John the Evangelist|John]].
{{Further|Presiding Patriarch}}
In the [[Community of Christ]], which was formerly known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS Church), an evangelist is an office in the Melchizedec Order of the [[Priesthood (Community of Christ)|priesthood]].


An evangelist-patriarch's primary responsibility was to provide special blessings to members of the church; these blessings were considered one of the eight [[Sacraments (Community of Christ)|sacraments]] in the RLDS Church. The local evangelist-patriarchs of the church were governed by an individual with church-wide authority known as the [[Presiding Patriarch]].
----

In the context of [[commerce | commercial]] enterprises which develop or foster a cult following and religious-like fanatacism, the term '''evangelist''' can become an unofficial or even an official role/title. Note in particular the usage at [[Apple Computer]].
In 1984, when the first women began to be ordained to the office of evangelist-patriarch, the RLDS Church changed the title of the evangelist-patriarchs to simply "evangelist". Similarly, it changed the title of the Presiding Patriarch to the "Presiding Evangelist". To be an evangelist, a person must also be a [[High priest (Latter Day Saints)|high priest]] of the Melchizedec Order of the priesthood.

The primary duty of an evangelist in the Community of Christ remains the giving of sacramental "evangelist's blessings"; it is for this reason that evangelists are often referred to as "ministers of blessing". Ideally, an evangelist is free from administrative responsibilities in the church in order to allow them to be fully responsive to the [[Holy Spirit]]. The blessings—which are given by the [[laying on of hands]]—provide counsel and advice and confer spiritual blessings upon the recipient(s). Not only individuals, but also couples, families, households, groups and congregations may receive an evangelist's blessing.<ref>Sharing in Community of Christ: ''Exploring Identity, Mission, Message, and Beliefs'' Fourth Edition, 2018 (Herald Publishing House, Independence, Missouri, USA) p. 50.</ref> Any person, including nonmembers, eight years of age or older can receive a blessing, although the blessing is rarely offered for someone who has not reached adolescence.<ref>''The Sacraments: Symbol, Meaning, & Discipleship'' edited by Andrew Bolton and Jane Gardner 2005 (Herald Publishing House, Independence, Missouri, USA) p. 48.</ref> A recipient may receive multiple evangelist's blessings in their life. Evangelist's blessings may or may not be recorded. If it is recorded in written form, a copy is stored in the church archives at [[Independence, Missouri]].

All evangelists belong to the Order of Evangelists, which is led by the Presiding Evangelist (currently Jane M. Gardner, since 2016).

==The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite)==
In [[The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite)]], the prescribed duties of an evangelist are to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to every nation, kindred, language, and people. An evangelist is part of the [[Quorum of Seventy Evangelists]].

===Quorum of Seventy Evangelists===
The [[Quorum of Seventy Evangelists]] is responsible for management of the International Missionary Programs of the church and assists Regions of the church with their individual Domestic Missionary Programs. The Quorum of Seventy oversees the activities of its Missionary Operating Committees to ensure the fulfilling of Christ’s commandment to take the gospel to the entire world.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thechurchofjesuschrist.org/evangelist.htm |title=Evangelists<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2007-09-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008101840/http://www.thechurchofjesuschrist.org/evangelist.htm |archive-date=2007-10-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2007, the officers of the Quorum of Seventy Evangelists were:

*Evangelist Eugene Perri, President
*Evangelist Alex Gentile, Vice-President
*Evangelist Jeffrey Giannetti, Secretary

==The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints==
{{Main|Patriarch (Latter Day Saints)}}
In [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS Church), an evangelist is considered to be an office of the [[Melchizedek priesthood]]. However, the term "evangelist" is rarely used for this position; instead, the church has retained the term "patriarch", the term most commonly used by Joseph Smith.

The most prominent reference to the term "evangelist" in the LDS Church's literature is found in its "[[Articles of Faith (Latter Day Saints)|Articles of Faith]]", derived from the [[Wentworth letter]]—a statement by Smith in 1842 to a Chicago newspaper editor—that the church believes in "the same organization that existed in the primitive church", including "evangelists".<ref>[[Articles of Faith (Latter Day Saints)|Articles of Faith]] [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/pgp/a-of-f/1.6?lang=eng 1:6].</ref> Smith taught that "an Evangelist is an Patriarch".<ref name = HC/>

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==

*Edwards, Paul M., [https://www.dialoguejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/Dialogue_V17N03_8.pdf "RLDS Priesthood: Structure and Process"], ''[[Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought]]'' '''17'''(3) (1984) p.&nbsp;6.
*{{cite web|last1=Howard|first1=Richard P.|title=The Ministry of Patriarch-Evangelists: A Brief Historical Survey|url=http://www.cofchrist.org/common/cms/resources/Documents/priesthood/Ministry-of-Patriarch-Evangelists.doc|publisher=Community of Christ|access-date=10 February 2016}}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
*[[The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite)|The Church of Jesus Christ]] (2005). ''Faith and Doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ''. Bridgewater, Michigan: The Church of Jesus Christ.
*Valenti, Jerry (1986). "Volume 56", "Welcome to The Church of Jesus Christ". Bridgewater, Michigan: ''Gospel News'', 9.
*[[Stephen M. Veazey|Veazey, Stephen M.]] (2006). ''Faith & Beliefs: Sacraments in the Community of Christ'' (Independence, Missouri: [[Herald House]]).

[[Category:1833 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:Community of Christ]]
[[Category:Latter Day Saint hierarchy]]
[[Category:Leadership positions in the Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite)]]
[[Category:1833 in Christianity]]

Latest revision as of 18:32, 4 November 2023

In the Latter Day Saint movement, an evangelist is an ordained office of the ministry. In some denominations of the movement, an evangelist is referred to as a patriarch. However, the latter term was deprecated by the Community of Christ after the church began ordaining women to the priesthood. Other denominations, such as The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite), have an evangelist position independent of the original "patriarch" office instituted movement founder Joseph Smith.

Early Latter Day Saint movement[edit]

The first use of the term "evangelist" in Latter Day Saint theology were mainly consistent with how the term is used by Protestants and Catholics.

In 1833, Joseph Smith introduced the new office of patriarch, to which he ordained his father. The elder Smith was given the "keys of the patriarchal Priesthood over the kingdom of God on earth", the same power said to be held by the Biblical patriarchs, which included the power to give blessings upon one's posterity.[1] The elder Smith, however, was also called to give patriarchal blessings to the fatherless within the church, and the church as a whole, a calling he passed onto his eldest surviving son Hyrum Smith prior to his death. Hyrum himself was killed in 1844 along with Joseph, resulting in a succession crisis that broke the Latter Day Saint movement into multiple denominations.

It is not known who first identified the term "evangelist" with the office of patriarch. However, in an 1835 church publication, W. W. Phelps stated,

"[W]ho is not desirous of receiving a father's or an evangelist's blessing? Who can read the ancient patriarchal blessings, recorded in the bible, for the benefit of the church, without a heart filled with joy ... ?"[2]

In 1839, Joseph Smith equated an evangelist with the office of patriarch, stating that "an Evangelist is a Patriarch".[3]

The necessity of an evangelist in the church organization has been reinforced repeatedly, based on the passage in Ephesians 4:11, which states, "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers". In 1834, while writing what he called the "principles of salvation", prominent early Latter Day Saint Oliver Cowdery stated that:

"We do not believe that he ever had a church on earth without revealing himself to that church: consequently, there were apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, in the same."[4]

Joseph Smith echoed Cowdery's statement in 1842, in a letter to a Chicago newspaper editor outlining the church's basic beliefs. Smith said that his religion "believe[s] in the same organization that existed in the primitive church, viz: apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists".[5]

Community of Christ[edit]

In the Community of Christ, which was formerly known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS Church), an evangelist is an office in the Melchizedec Order of the priesthood.

An evangelist-patriarch's primary responsibility was to provide special blessings to members of the church; these blessings were considered one of the eight sacraments in the RLDS Church. The local evangelist-patriarchs of the church were governed by an individual with church-wide authority known as the Presiding Patriarch.

In 1984, when the first women began to be ordained to the office of evangelist-patriarch, the RLDS Church changed the title of the evangelist-patriarchs to simply "evangelist". Similarly, it changed the title of the Presiding Patriarch to the "Presiding Evangelist". To be an evangelist, a person must also be a high priest of the Melchizedec Order of the priesthood.

The primary duty of an evangelist in the Community of Christ remains the giving of sacramental "evangelist's blessings"; it is for this reason that evangelists are often referred to as "ministers of blessing". Ideally, an evangelist is free from administrative responsibilities in the church in order to allow them to be fully responsive to the Holy Spirit. The blessings—which are given by the laying on of hands—provide counsel and advice and confer spiritual blessings upon the recipient(s). Not only individuals, but also couples, families, households, groups and congregations may receive an evangelist's blessing.[6] Any person, including nonmembers, eight years of age or older can receive a blessing, although the blessing is rarely offered for someone who has not reached adolescence.[7] A recipient may receive multiple evangelist's blessings in their life. Evangelist's blessings may or may not be recorded. If it is recorded in written form, a copy is stored in the church archives at Independence, Missouri.

All evangelists belong to the Order of Evangelists, which is led by the Presiding Evangelist (currently Jane M. Gardner, since 2016).

The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite)[edit]

In The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite), the prescribed duties of an evangelist are to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to every nation, kindred, language, and people. An evangelist is part of the Quorum of Seventy Evangelists.

Quorum of Seventy Evangelists[edit]

The Quorum of Seventy Evangelists is responsible for management of the International Missionary Programs of the church and assists Regions of the church with their individual Domestic Missionary Programs. The Quorum of Seventy oversees the activities of its Missionary Operating Committees to ensure the fulfilling of Christ’s commandment to take the gospel to the entire world.[8]

In 2007, the officers of the Quorum of Seventy Evangelists were:

  • Evangelist Eugene Perri, President
  • Evangelist Alex Gentile, Vice-President
  • Evangelist Jeffrey Giannetti, Secretary

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints[edit]

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), an evangelist is considered to be an office of the Melchizedek priesthood. However, the term "evangelist" is rarely used for this position; instead, the church has retained the term "patriarch", the term most commonly used by Joseph Smith.

The most prominent reference to the term "evangelist" in the LDS Church's literature is found in its "Articles of Faith", derived from the Wentworth letter—a statement by Smith in 1842 to a Chicago newspaper editor—that the church believes in "the same organization that existed in the primitive church", including "evangelists".[9] Smith taught that "an Evangelist is an Patriarch".[3]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Joseph Fielding Smith (ed.), Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book, 1938) pp. 38–39.
  2. ^ W. W. Phelps (1835), Messenger and Advocate 1(10): 146.
  3. ^ a b Smith, Joseph (1905). "The Prophet's Instruction on Various Doctrines". In B. H. Roberts (ed.). History of the Church. Vol. 3. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret News Press. p. 381. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
  4. ^ Oliver Cowdery (1834), Messenger and Advocate 1(1): 2.
  5. ^ Letter from Joseph Smith to John Wentworth, 1842, reprinted in Joseph Smith, "Church History" Archived 2007-10-26 at the Wayback Machine, Times and Seasons (Nauvoo, Illinois) 1842-03-01.
  6. ^ Sharing in Community of Christ: Exploring Identity, Mission, Message, and Beliefs Fourth Edition, 2018 (Herald Publishing House, Independence, Missouri, USA) p. 50.
  7. ^ The Sacraments: Symbol, Meaning, & Discipleship edited by Andrew Bolton and Jane Gardner 2005 (Herald Publishing House, Independence, Missouri, USA) p. 48.
  8. ^ "Evangelists". Archived from the original on 2007-10-08. Retrieved 2007-09-05.
  9. ^ Articles of Faith 1:6.

References[edit]