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9./ How does the 5th Epochal Revelation Papers suggest we call the evolutionary Christian Church leaders.

9./ How does the 5th Epochal Revelation Papers suggest we call the evolutionary Christian Church leaders.

According to the Fifth Epochal Revelation Papers (The Urantia Book), the Christian church—as it has developed historically—is described as an evolutionary religion (or part of evolutionary religion), in contrast to pure epochal revelation. It is not a new term invented for its leaders specifically, but the revelation frequently refers to the Christian church as an evolutionary outgrowth: a human institution that arose from Jesus' teachings but became mixed with cultural, social, political, and theological compromises over time (e.g., Papers 195 "After Pentecost," 196 "The Faith of Jesus," and discussions in 170, 194).The text does not prescribe a single, special title or derogatory label for Christian church leaders (such as priests, pastors, bishops, popes, or clergy). Instead, it uses conventional terms like:

• church leaders
• religious leaders
• ministers
• clergy
• priests (in historical contexts, e.g., Jewish priests or later Christian ones)
• theologians
• ecclesiastics

These appear in neutral or descriptive ways, often in critiques of how institutionalized Christianity diverged from Jesus' original gospel of the kingdom.

Key attitudes and contexts from the revelation:

• The Christian church is portrayed as the major evolutionary religion rooted in Jesus' teachings but shaped by human evolution, compromises (e.g., Greek philosophy, Roman organization), and institutional developments (Paper 195:0–10). It is called the "Christian church" or "the church" that emerged post-Pentecost.
• Leaders of this church are acknowledged as part of an evolutionary progression in religion (Paper 92 "The Later Evolution of Religion" discusses great religious leaders in evolutionary contexts, and Paper 195 notes the need for new spiritual leaders devoted solely to Jesus' teachings).
• The book calls for new teachers and spiritual leaders who focus on the religion of Jesus (personal faith-sonship, brotherhood) rather than religion about Jesus (theology, rituals, institutions). It suggests modern Christianity needs "new leaders, spiritual men and women who will dare to depend solely on Jesus and his incomparable teachings" (195:9.4), implying current leaders often prioritize social/material issues over spiritual regeneration.
• There is no mocking or unique nickname like "evolutionary Christian Church leaders" as a formal designation. The phrase "evolutionary Christian Church" or similar appears in secondary Urantia-related writings (e.g., commentaries by readers like Meredith Sprunger), describing the church as an evolutionary institution that the revelation seeks to leaven or regenerate, but not in the Papers themselves as a suggested way to address its leaders.
• The revelation encourages respect for sincere religious workers while critiquing authoritarianism, dogmatism, or neglect of the spiritual core (e.g., warnings against tradition-bound religion obstructing truth advance).

In essence, the Papers suggest referring to them simply as Christian church leaders, clergy, or religious leaders of the evolutionary Christian church—highlighting the evolutionary (human-developed, progressive but imperfect) nature of the institution they guide, while urging a shift toward more spiritually focused leadership aligned with Jesus' gospel. The emphasis is on appreciating the church's role in preserving Jesus' message amid evolution, while anticipating a spiritual renaissance through renewed, Jesus-centered teachers rather than institutional hierarchies.