Dr [John] Hartley outlines his plan in the latest issue of his parish magazine in an article headed “Let’s collectivise the bishop”. His scheme provides for:
* Reorganisation of all the dioceses to a size that could comfortably be led by one bishop and two suffragans;
* Abolition of the word “bishop”;
* Each diocese being headed by a “College of Oversight” consisting of three people, including at least one man and one woman;
* At every confirmation and ordination, all three people being present, each of them laying hands on all the candidates;
* In appointing the college, all of its members receiving the laying-on of hands from all the members of at least three other diocesan colleges of oversight.
“Oversight”. OK, maybe think up a good Latin term for that…..Maybe, “Super-visor”? No? How about Greek. Maybe “Epi-scopos” ?? —- Uh-oh, back where we started…
ECCLESIOLOGY…that is what we need not silly inventions
This is a joke right, like Thompson attempted the other day over at Holy Smoke?
I can’t think of anything worse.
For two thousand years, the Church knew what it was doing, and did it right, except for a few mis-steps. Now, instead of steadfastness and fedility to that which had worked in the past, and continues to work, we are getting some half-baked ideas.
Is this a joke?
Fr. Kinglsey+
So, thanks to WO and “inclusivity,” the neopresbyterians finally get to undo the Elizabethan Settlement.
Oh, yes, the Methodists and Anglicans are JUST the same — except for their understandings and practices regarding the Holy Eucharist (no talk of “real presence” for the Methodists), or apostolic succession of their bishops (which is a term Methodists use for the office, by the way, even though the Anglican vicar proposes that its use by dropped by Anglicans), or a few other things. Hard to believe this guy could be so misinformed.
While we’re at it, let’s have the altar guild convenor and the head server lay hands on everybody too!
He’s been talking to Genpo?
It’s Presbyterianism…
[blockquote]* Abolition of the word “bishop”;
* Each diocese being headed by a “College of Oversight” consisting of three people, including at least one man and one woman;
[/blockquote]
I believe that’s called a Presbytery.
An elaboration on #1, nwlayman. The English word bishop comes from the Greek, episkopos. Epi = over (as in epicenter); skopos = having to do with sight (as in microscope). Overseer is the direct English translation. The Latin derivative would be Supervisor. The BDAG expands the full word as, “One who has the responsibility of safeguarding or seeing to it that something is done in the correct way.”
With all respect to Dr. Hartley, this plan is in essence creating a diocesan copastorate. That model almost never works well in a parish.
AotF (#11),
I was thinking that also. Great minds etc . . .
I say, confirmation that seminary education in jolly ol’ is on par with that at the ECUSA/TEC/GCC/EO-PAC. One had hoped for a joke, but the chap seems serious. I wonder is his Church History professor still alive or suffering a heart attack immediately from the shock?
I wrote, earlier, what driver8 wrote — so where’s my comment?
Eliminate the fuss over women bishops by eliminating bishops. Oookay.
What 3 and 6 said.
[url=http://sergesblog.blogspot.com/]High-church libertarian curmudgeon[/url]