Off the top of my head, I don't think it takes too much imagination to argue that the historical Anglican position (of Cranmer et al.) is that Bishops are deacons (still) and elders (presbyters). Bishops are senior presbyters with a super-local ministry especially connected to providing ministry in the church and safeguarding sound doctrine, rather like Timothy and Titus in the New Testament.
The language is confused but there are thus basically 2 orders of ministry:
(1) Deacon
(2) Elder (a) presbyter pastors (b) presbyter bishops.
Bishops are seen as a good ancient idea not essential to the unity or existence of the church.
Archbishop Usher’s reduced episcopacy is consistent with this and should not be thought un-Anglican, though it would be a dramatic change to the structures as they now operate.
Bishops are meant to act collegiately in fellowship with one another and with their local presbyters. The monarchical tyranny of some Bishops is not required by the historic formularies.
As well as the Formularies (Prayer Book, Ordinal, Articles) and the Books of Homilies, I think Ministry In Three Dimensions and Roger Beckwith, Elders in Every City might be worth looking at on this subject. Maybe even Christopher Cocksworth, Being A Priest Today.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
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2 comments:
How do you justify the division of presbyter into pastor and overseer? It seems to me that these terms are describing the same thing.
Thanks for the references. I shall chase them up one day.
Yes, thanks Daniel: sorry I should have been clearer. I'm not suggesting that the New Testament vocabulary divides up in this easy way and I wouldnt die in a ditch over those terms. What I am saying is that there seem to be senior presbyters in the New Testament who act a bit like Bishops. Arguably the apostles, Timothy and Titus might act in that sort of way. Calvin acted like that. Clerks and moderators and key movers and shakers probably do in Presbyterianism. And some of our Anglican heros kinda do.
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