Episcopal polity
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Ecclesiastical polity |
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An episcopal polity is a
History
Churches with an episcopal
Bishops are considered to derive their authority from an unbroken, personal
For much of the
Overview of episcopal churches
The definition of the word episcopal has variation among Christian traditions. There are subtle differences in governmental principles among episcopal churches at the present time. To some extent the separation of episcopal churches can be traced to these differences in ecclesiology, that is, their theological understanding of church and church governance. For some, "episcopal churches" are churches that use a hierarchy of bishops who identify as being in an unbroken, personal apostolic succession.
"Episcopal" is also commonly used to distinguish between the various organizational structures of
More specifically, the capitalized appellation "Episcopal" is applied to several churches historically based within Anglicanism ("Episcopalianism"), including those still in communion with the Church of England.
Using these definitions, examples of specific episcopal churches include:
- The Catholic Church
- The Eastern Orthodox Church
- The Oriental Orthodox Churches
- The Assyrian Church of the East
- The Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church
- The Churches of the Anglican Communion
- The Old Catholicchurches
- Numerous smaller "catholic" churches
- Certain national churches of the Lutheranconfession
- The African Methodist Episcopal Church
- The United Methodist Church
Some
Many
Formation
The
Ignatius of Antioch writing in already the early second century makes a clear distinction of bishops and presbyters, meaning that his letters show that an episcopal system was already existing by his time.[7] However Bart Erhman sees it as significant that Ignatius in his letter to the Romans never mentioned a bishop in Rome.[8] Later also Tertullian very clearly distinguishes the presbyters and bishops as a separate office, Irenaeus made lists of the succession of bishops, though bishop succession lists made by early church fathers are highly contradictory.[9] By the second century it appears that the episcopal system had become the majority, universal view among Christians.[6]
Even schismatic sects such as the Novatians and Donatists would use the episcopal system.[9] Except for Aerius of Sebaste, who contested the episcopal system and started his own sect.[3]
Jerome stated that churches were originally governed by a group of presbyters but only later churches decided to elect bishops to suppress schisms.[6]
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The
Eastern Orthodox Church
The conciliar idea of episcopal government continues in the
Oriental Orthodox churches
The
Both the
Church of the East
Historically, the Church of the East has traced its episcopal succession to St. Thomas the Apostle. Currently the bishops of the Assyrian Church of the East continue to maintain its apostolic succession.
Anglican Communion
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The legislation of
Anglican opinion has differed as to the way in which episcopal government is de jure divino (by the
Functionally, Anglican episcopal authority is expressed
Anglican synodical government, though varied in expression, is characteristically representative. Provinces of the
There is no international juridical authority in Anglicanism, although the tradition's common experience of episcopacy, symbolised by the historical link with the See of Canterbury, along with a common and complex liturgical tradition, has provided a measure of unity. This has been reinforced by the Lambeth Conferences of Anglican Communion bishops, which first met in 1867. These conferences, though they propose and pass resolutions, are strictly consultative, and the intent of the resolutions is to provide guideposts for Anglican jurisdictions—not direction. The Conferences also express the function of the episcopate to demonstrate the ecumenical and catholic nature of the church.
The
Churches that are members of the Anglican Communion are episcopal churches in polity, and some are named "Episcopal". However, some churches that self-identify as Anglican do not belong to the Anglican Communion, and not all episcopally-governed churches are Anglican. The
American Methodist churches
As an offshoot of Anglicanism, Methodist churches often use episcopal polity for historical as well as practical reasons, albeit to limited use. Methodists often use the term connexionalism or connexional polity in addition to "episcopal". Nevertheless, the powers of the Methodist episcopacy can be relatively strong and wide-reaching compared to traditional conceptions of episcopal polity. For example, in the United Methodist Church, bishops are elected for life, can serve up to two terms in a specific conference (three if special permission is given), are responsible for ordaining and appointing clergy to pastor churches, perform many administrative duties, preside at the annual sessions of the regional Conferences and at the quadrennial meeting of the worldwide General Conference, have authority for teaching and leading the church on matters of social and doctrinal import, and serve to represent the denomination in ecumenical gatherings. United Methodist bishops in the United States serve in their appointed conferences, being moved to a new "Episcopal Area" after 8 (or 12) years, until their mandated retirement at the end of the quadrennium following their sixty-sixth birthday.[15] British Methodism holds that all ordained ministers are equal in terms of spirituality. However, for practical management lines are drawn into President of Conference, Chair of District, Superintendent Minister, Minister. However, all are ministers.
Episcopal government in other denominations
The
Most Anabaptist churches of the plain dress tradition follow an episcopal system, at least in name. Congregational governance is strongly emphasized, and each congregation elects its pastor. Bishops enforce inter-congregational unity and may discipline pastors for breaking from traditional norms.
Although it never uses the term, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) is episcopal, rather than presbyterian or congregational, in the sense that it has a strict hierarchy of leadership from the local bishop/branch president up to a single prophet/president, believed to be personally authorized and guided by Jesus Christ.[citation needed] Local congregations (branches, wards, and stakes) have de jure boundaries by which members are allocated, and membership records are centralized.[citation needed] This system developed gradually from a more presbyterian polity (Joseph Smith's original title in 1830 was "First Elder") for pragmatic and doctrinal reasons, reaching a full episcopacy during the Nauvoo period (1839–1846).[citation needed]
See also
- Canon law
- Collegiality (Catholic Church)
- Conciliarism
- Conciliarity
- Episcopal subsidy
- Magisterium
References
- ^ Harper, Douglas. "bishop". Online Etymology Dictionary.
- Perseus Project.
- ^ a b "Philip Schaff: History of the Christian Church, Volume III: Nicene and Post-Nicene Christianity. A.D. 311–600 – Christian Classics Ethereal Library". ccel.org. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
- ^ Harper, Douglas. "presbyterian". Online Etymology Dictionary.
- ^ Encyclopedia of Religion and Society, William H. Swatos, Jr. Editor Lutheranism Hartford Institute for Religion Research, Hartford Seminary. Retrieved on September 4, 2006.
- ^ a b c Philip Schaff: History of the Christian Church, Volume II: Ante-Nicene Christianity. A.D. 100–325 – Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org)
- ^ "Philip Schaff: History of the Christian Church, Volume II: Ante-Nicene Christianity. A.D. 100–325 – Christian Classics Ethereal Library". ccel.org. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
- ISBN 978-0-19-534350-2.
- ^ a b "Philip Schaff: History of the Christian Church, Volume II: Ante-Nicene Christianity. A.D. 100–325 – Christian Classics Ethereal Library". ccel.org. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
- ^ Decrees of the First Vatican Council, Session 4 : 18 July 1870 – First Dogmatic Constitution on the Church of Christ. Daily Catholic Online edition retrieved on September 1, 2006.
- Eusebius of Caesarea, the author of an Ecclesiastical Historyin the 4th century, states that St. Mark came to Egypt in the first or third year of the reign of Emperor Claudius, i.e. 41 or 43 AD. "Two Thousand Years of Coptic Christianity", Otto F.A. Meinardus, p. 28.
- ^ Marcus Holden and Andrew Pinsent, The Catholic Gift to Civilisation (London: CTS), pp. 13ff
- ^ Cosin, Works, Vol. IV (Oxford, 1855), p. 402
- ^ "History". The Scottish Episcopal Church. 5 November 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2019., detailed history
- ^ Still in Production Archived 2005-04-27 at the Wayback Machine. UMC.org. Retrieved on 2013-07-23.
- ^ Book of Concord. pp. Article XIV. Of Ecclesiastical Order.
Further reading
- Bannerman, James (1868a). The church of Christ : a treatise on the nature, powers, ordinances, discipline, and government of the Christian church. Vol. 1. Edinburgh: T. T. Clark.
- Bannerman, James (1868b). The church of Christ: a treatise on the nature, powers, ordinances, discipline, and government of the Christian church. Vol. 2. Edinburgh: T. T. Clark.
- Fairweather, E. R., and R. F. Hettlinger. Episcopacy and Reunion. First English ed. London: A.R. Mowbray & Co., 1953, cop. 1952. ix, 118 p. N.B.: First published in 1952 by the General Board of Religious Education of the Church of England in Canada, Toronto, Ont.
- Phillips, Walter Alison (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 9 (11th ed.). pp. 699–701.
- Swete, H. B., ed. Essays on the Early History of the Church and the Ministry, by Various Authors. London: Macmillan and Co., 1918.
External links
- Vatican: The Holy See Official Website of the Papacy
- Catholic Encyclopedia: Bishop
- The Website of the Archbishop of Canterbury Official Website of the Church of England
- Episcopacy Archived 2012-08-29 at the Wayback Machine
- United Methodist Council of Bishops Official Website of the United Methodist Church
- Methodist Episcopacy: In Search of Holy Orders By Gregory S. Neal
- An Agreed Statement on Conciliarity and Primacy in the Church Archived 2011-07-09 at the Wayback Machine by the Orthodox/Roman Catholic Consultation in the United States of America, 1989.