Final answer:
The early Christians appointed deacons to manage the distribution of charity within the Church structure. These deacons helped to visibly demonstrate the Church's teachings on compassion, aiding in its growth and popularity. Church reforms later ensured that clergy duties, including charity distribution, were carried out with integrity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The early Christians appointed deacons because a bunch of people were relying on charity from the Church but they were also preaching and teaching so deacons had to oversee distribution of charity.
In the structure of the early Church, bishops were the head of each city's congregation and had a staff that included priests and deacons. The deacons were tasked specifically with social service functions such as caring for the poor. This was part of the overall strategy of the Church to not only preach compassion but also to actively demonstrate it through organized charity efforts. The practice of organized charity by the Church played a significant role in attracting new converts.
Following the reform movements, simony was condemned and bishops were expected to be elected by the clergy, and priests were told to practice celibacy to prevent Church positions from being treated as inheritable fiefs. These requirements would streamline the Church structure and allow the deacons, clergy, and bishops to better serve their communities, including managing the important duty of charity distribution.