Almighty God, who in the place of Judas chose your faithful servant Matthias to be numbered among the Twelve: Grant that your Church, being delivered from false apostles, may always be guided and governed by faithful and true pastors; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Remember: There are no false apostles. We’re just living into the tension, folks.
As one who celebrates St. Matthias’ Day as his Ordination Anniversary, I thank God for all faithful pastors who are maintaining the truth of the Gospel and Scriptures despite the heretical pressures from TEC.
#1: Yep, Judas Isacariot had his line of apostolic succession as well.
[url=http://www.vulcanhammer.org/?p=523]The 1662 BCP is a little more direct about this.[/url]
But I quibble. Great minds think alike!
Oooooooo. Good one, Gordian!
I’ve always wondered why we don’t go back to selecting bishops by casting lots, rather than voting for them. Wouldn’t it be better to rely on the Holy Ghost for guidance?
Of course, as Sir Humphrey Appleby once explained, today nobody’s quite sure if the Holy Ghost understands what makes a good Church of England bishop.
I’ve always liked Matthias, but as my father has always said “The Church chose Matthias, God chose Paul”.