Ordinary Power and the Role of Ordinaries in Church Governance
In the complex structures of ecclesiastical law, the term ordinary (from the Latin ordinarius) refers to an officer of a church or civic authority who possesses the inherent power to execute laws by virtue of their office. While the term is most commonly associated with Western Christianity, the concept of a ruling authority is universal across various denominations, though the titles and specific applications may differ.
In Western traditions, such as the Catholic Church and the Church of England, these officers are known as ordinaries. In Eastern Christianity, the corresponding role is known as a hierarch, derived from the Greek hierarkhēs, meaning a president of sacred rites or high-priest.
Historically, the term also extended into civic life. During the 17th and 18th centuries in England, the title of Ordinary was applied to prison chaplains, specifically those who provided spiritual care to condemned prisoners at Newgate before their executions.
Key Facts
- Ordinary Power is authority granted by the nature of an office, as opposed to delegated power granted by a person.
- Local Ordinaries govern specific geographical or personal jurisdictions, such as diocesan bishops.
- Vicarious Ordinary Power allows an official to exercise the power of another (e.g., a Vicar General exercising a bishop's power).
- Hierarchs are the equivalent of ordinaries in Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic traditions.
- Divine Law can be the source of ordinary power, such as the primacy of Peter in the Catholic Church.
Understanding Ordinary Power in Canon Law
Canon law divides the power to govern the church into three distinct functions: legislative (making laws), executive (enforcing laws), and judicial (judging based on law). An official's authority to govern stems from one of two sources: it is either granted to the office itself or delegated to an individual by someone already holding governing power.
Ordinary power is authority inherent to the office. This can be further categorized as:
- Proper Ordinary Power: The office possesses the governing power in its own right.
- Vicarious Ordinary Power: The office possesses the inherent power to act as an agent for someone else's power.
The source of this power may be ecclesiastical law (positive enactments created by the church) or divine law (laws believed to be given by God). For instance, the Catholic Church views the episcopate and the primacy of Peter as divinely instituted, meaning the Pope and diocesan bishops hold ordinary power regardless of specific church enactments.
It is important to note that not every official with ordinary power is called an "ordinary." To be an ordinary, one must typically possess ordinary executive power. For example, a judicial vicar (officialis) has vicarious ordinary judicial power but is not an ordinary because they lack executive authority. Conversely, a vicar general is an ordinary because they possess vicarious ordinary executive power.
Local Ordinaries in the Catholic Church
Local ordinaries are those who exercise ordinary power within particular churches or equivalent communities. This group includes a wide variety of roles depending on the nature of the jurisdiction.
Primary Local Ordinaries
- The Pope: The Bishop of Rome, who serves as the ordinary for the entire Catholic Church.
- Eastern Catholic Leaders: Patriarchs, major archbishops, and metropolitans who govern their respective autonomous particular churches.
- Diocesan Bishops: Also known as eparchs in Eastern traditions, they govern a specific diocese.
Jurisdictional Areas Equivalent to a Diocese
Under Canon 368 of the Code of Canon Law, certain areas are treated as equivalent to a diocese and are led by specific prelates:
- Territorial Prelate: Leads a geographical area not yet designated as a diocese.
- Territorial Abbot: Leads an area associated with an abbey.
- Apostolic Vicar: Usually a titular bishop leading a vicariate, often in mission territories.
- Apostolic Prefect: Leads a prefecture not yet ready to become a vicariate.
- Permanent Apostolic Administrator: Leads an area that cannot be made a diocese for serious reasons.
Other Specialized Ordinaries
The Church also recognizes ordinaries for specific groups or circumstances, including military ordinariates, personal prelates (such as Opus Dei), and ordinaries for former Anglicans. Additionally, a diocesan administrator may be elected to govern a vacant diocese on a caretaker basis.
While some ordinaries head a particular church, others are classified as local ordinaries without heading a community, such as vicars general, protosyncelli, episcopal vicars, and syncelli. Furthermore, major superiors of religious institutes and societies of apostolic life are ordinaries for their members, though they are not considered local ordinaries.
Governance in the Eastern Orthodox Church
In Eastern Orthodox Christianity, the hierarch (ruling bishop) holds absolute authority within his diocese. To maintain order, no other bishop may perform sacerdotal functions within that diocese without an express invitation; unauthorized entry is known as eispēdēsis ("trespassing").
Unlike a centralized monolithic structure, the Orthodox Church views itself as existing in its fullness in each local body gathered around its bishop. This Eucharistic definition means that each local community celebrating the Eucharist is the church in its fullness. While all bishops are considered equal regardless of titles (such as Patriarch or Metropolitan), the bishop's role is both sacramental and hierarchical.
A hierarch's authority is derived from election and consecration. However, they remain subject to the Sacred Canons and the Synod of Bishops. If overruled by a local synod, a bishop retains the right of appeal (Ékklēton) to their ecclesiastical superior and the synod.
Summary of Ecclesiastical Ordinaries
| Role | Type of Power | Jurisdiction | Tradition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pope | Proper Ordinary | Universal Church | Catholic |
| Diocesan Bishop | Proper Ordinary | Diocese / Eparchy | Catholic / Orthodox |
| Vicar General | Vicarious Ordinary | Diocesan Executive | Catholic |
| Judicial Vicar | Vicarious Ordinary | Diocesan Judicial | Catholic |
| Hierarch | Proper Ordinary | Local Diocese | Eastern Orthodox |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between ordinary power and delegated power?
Ordinary power is authority attached to the office itself by law, meaning the person holds the power because they hold the position. Delegated power is authority granted to an individual by a person who already possesses the power to govern.
Why is a judicial vicar not considered an ordinary?
Although a judicial vicar possesses vicarious ordinary judicial power, they lack ordinary executive power. In canon law, the title of "ordinary" is reserved for those who possess ordinary executive authority.
What is eispēdēsis in the Eastern Orthodox Church?
Eispēdēsis, meaning "trespassing" or "jumping in," is the uncanonical act of a bishop performing sacerdotal functions within another bishop's diocese without an express invitation.
Who are the local ordinaries in a mission territory?
In mission countries where a diocese has not yet been established, the local ordinaries are typically apostolic vicars (usually titular bishops) or apostolic prefects.
How does the Orthodox view of the Church differ from a centralized model?
The Eastern Orthodox Church is not seen as a single centralized institution but as a collection of local bodies. It is defined Eucharistically, meaning the full presence of Christ and the fullness of the Church exist in each local community gathered around its bishop.