Patout Burns: Presbyters Serving as Pastors in Roman Africa

Both the literary and archeological evidence for Christianity in Roman Africa indicate that presbyters served as heads or leaders of local congregations under the general supervision of a bishop and with varying degrees of independence. The legislation of the African church regulates the services that presbyters could provide, such as baptizing a catechumen, privately admitting a penitent to communion (both allowed), making chrism, consecrating a virgin, or alienating church property (not allowed). Correspondence indicates that presbyters were responsible for rural congregations; archeological evidence suggests that they were in charge of regional urban congregations and cemetery shrines. Other episcopal practices—travel to meetings and the imperial court—imply that presbyters substituted for them.