Why bishops

Yes, we Anglicans are currently somewhat divided. And yet it is our Bishops and Archbishops who are gathering to represent us, and to lead us toward unity. It has held together for thousands of years, and the system of governance is one important reason for that.

In fact, the Christian Church was one church worldwide for one thousand years, and two churches for another five hundred after the split between East and West. Makes you wonder? Anglicans believe that despite our current divisions, holding to and reforming our episcopal system of governance will only serve to help keep us united.

Does a church denomination have to have bishops to be truly Christian? Do we consider non-episcopal churches our brothers and sisters in Christ? But our beloved brothers and sisters are missing out on a blessing. Anglicans believe that one of our gifts to the unity of the worldwide church might someday be the episcopate. Someday, when other reformational churches are working with Rome and the East to try to figure out how we could possibly re-unite, the Anglicans would be ready to offer a bridge.

The bridge would be a restoration of the episcopate to our fellow reformational churches. Photo: Consecration of St. Within the Presbyterian system the teaching elder is the Bishop or Pastor and he does lead everyone else in a local church.

The Presbytery is a group of elders from Presbyterian churches in a certain geographical territory. Elders includes pastors and ruling elders. The Presbyerian system is closer to Episcopalian government than one would think at first. Also ,I have some youtube videos. Look up Joshua Collins then Views on baptism evovled.

You can find it and other Bible related messages on youtube. Thank you Joshua. Joshua brings up a good point re. The Presbytery regional body of elders essentially functions as a collective bishop. Until the are willing to reform and do away with all the clearly unbiblical practices the can be no hope for unification.

We are Protestant for a reason and we should always remember that. Thank you Samuel. In other words, we all discern a way forward together.

Other obligations of a bishop. Search Search. Church shores up ability to support victims, survivors New Popular. Bishops Conference publishes inaugural annual report Popular. A discussion guide based off Pope Fr…. Religious Links. Bishops have three main responsibilities: To Teach. Other obligations of a bishop Must live in the diocese for most of the year, unless on official business in Rome or when attending a Church Council.

Has a serious duty to be present at his cathedral during the seasons of Lent and Advent, and on the feasts of Easter, Pentecost, Christmas and Corpus Christi.

Every 5 years a bishop must send a report to Rome. Bishops must visit Rome to meet with the Pope at least once every 5 years and visit the tombs of the Apostles Peter and Paul. Bishops must regularly visit each part of their diocese. Zucchetto Skull Cap : Bishops wear a purple zucchetto while cardinals wear red and the Pope wears white. Coat of Arms: A bishop chooses symbols appropriate to himself and his diocese.

The arms of the diocese may occupy the left side whilst his personal arms occupy the right. Motto: In order to motivate the faithful and to set himself a specific direction, a new bishop will select a set of meaningful words, often written in the official language of the Catholic Church, Latin, on the bottom of the Coat of Arms. How do we address our Bishop? In conversation, Bishop Shane would like to be addressed as Bishop Shane. Tel: 03 Fax: 03 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots.

You need JavaScript enabled to view it. By ordination to the episcopacy, bishops receive the fullness of the Sacrament of Holy Orders and become successors of the Apostles.

Through this Sacrament, a bishop belongs to the college of bishops and serves as the visible head or pastor of the local church entrusted to his care. As a college, the bishops have care and concern for the apostolic mission of all the churches in union with and under the authority of the Pope—the head of the college of bishops, the Bishop of Rome, and the successor of St.

With the bishop, priests form a presbyteral priestly community and assume with him the pastoral mission for a particular parish. The bishop appoints priests to the pastoral care of parishes and to other diocesan ministries. CCC, nos.