wfn.org | Lutherans discuss episcopacy in a global perspective at Gettysburg meeting

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2000-192

Lutherans discuss episcopacy in a global perspective at Gettysburg meeting

by Eva Steege

     (ENS) Lutheran bishops from Africa and Sweden, joined by a historian 
from England, addressed the issue of "Episcopacy in Global Perspective" at a 
recent Luther Colloquium at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg, 
Pennsylvania.

     The topic is timely for Lutherans and Episcopalians in the wake of both 
churches endorsing "Called to Common Mission," a proposal for full communion. 
A minority within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) still 
object to the agreement because it calls for Lutherans to share the historic 
episcopate, a symbolic link back to the earliest church.

     Planners of the meeting hoped to move the conversation beyond the 
controversies over CCM to explore the future of the episcopacy. The ELCA is 
one of the few Lutheran church bodies in the world where the historic 
episcopate is controversial.

No simple pattern

     Bishop Martin Lind of the Church of Sweden said that it was evident from 
the confessions that ordained ministry is instituted by God and that the 
office of bishop is a gift of the Spirit of God. Although the episcopacy in 
Sweden has changed in recent decades, he maintained that the question of 
continuity is still important.

     Lind pointed out the tendency of the early Christian church to borrow 
secular terms. The ancient Greek word for bishop meant "overseer," and at 
first had no sacred meaning or anything to do with exercising power. Persons 
with spiritual gifts were integrated into the life of the body of Christ with 
a special commission of mutual care. "And the gift of oversight," added Lind, 
"cannot be exercised without flesh and blood."

     Lind also noted that there was no simple pattern of ministry in early 
church history. In the second and third centuries a three-fold pattern of 
bishop, presbyter and deacon developed as church practices and circumstances 
changed. "The fact that there were different orders or patterns in the early 
church for the ordained ministry means that no special pattern can 
fundamentally be said to be the only way of organizing the ministry," he 
said.

     For Martin Luther and the 16th century reformers, it was evident that 
priests and bishops had a special role in the church, Lind said. Luther was 
fundamentally arguing for the priesthood of all believers and yet he 
maintained that the ministry was divinely instituted by God. The first five 
articles of the Augsburg Confession describe God, the nature of sin, the Son 
of God, the principle of justification by grace, and the office of ministry. 
For the reformers, Lind argued, it was "important that someone give the 
sacramental words to the rest of us."  

     The Church of Sweden maintained the historic episcopate following the 
Reformation. While it was not emphasized from the Lutheran viewpoint, in the 
early 20th century the historic succession of bishops played a role in 
relations with the Church of England. "Apostolic succession is primarily 
found in the apostolic life and teaching of the church," Lind said, " and it 
is apostolic witness that lets us recognize a church as Christian."

Examining roles

     Prof. Gillian Evans, who teaches history at Cambridge University, cited 
a 1990 report that attempted to set the parameters of the role of bishops in 
the Church of England. That role served three intersecting "planes" in the 
church--the local church where the bishop serves with and among the people; 
the church throughout the world where the bishop serves with other bishops; 
and the continuity of the church's life over time.

     Evans did not question the necessity for bishops but urged the church to 
reexamine the different roles of bishops. "Is it right that the exercise of 
power and authority needs to be involved in any attempt to understand 
collegial ministry of oversight?" she asked, noting that Luther was right in 
charging that the exercise of power can lead to abuse of power.

     The 1990 study listed the qualities needed for the second and third 
planes of a bishop's life. They included faithful discipleship to Jesus 
Christ grounded in a life of prayer, readiness to listen to the church and 
the world, sound learning, willingness to dialogue with others. "Where in 
this list are the big questions, the continuity questions?" she asked. 
"Bishops, priests and laity are engaged in the same ministry. Are bishops 
getting above themselves and forgetting this?"

     Evans said that it is time to back to first principles and even further, 
asking what an authentic bishop looks like. Luther wanted bishops to go 
everywhere with the people. This is a plane of the church's life that lies 
unbroken from the first days, she said, suggesting that a bishop with and 
among the people is less in danger of becoming a managerial monster.

Episcopacy as ecumenical office

     Bishop Manas Buthelezi of South Africa who traced the roots of his 
church back to mission work by Americans and Europeans. In 1937 a local synod 
chose a bishop who was then consecrated by a bishop from Sweden. So when a 
newly merged church took shape in 1975 the historic episcopate was not an 
issue.

     Buthelezi said that the constitutional provisions for bishops in the 
Lutheran Church in Southern Africa required that bishops be spiritual leaders 
and shepherds, serving as the spiritual leaders of the church within borders 
of their dioceses. The bishop is also pastor to pastors, he said.

     "The episcopacy itself is an ecumenical office," Buthelezi argued. It is 
customary therefore for a bishop to invite leaders of other churches to 
events because the office is ready and available for ecumenical 
conversations.

     But the bishop is also a sign of the wholeness of the church, he added. 
When bishops visit parishes they provide an opportunity for people to express 
their love and loyalty to the church. 

--Eva Steege is a second year student at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at 
Gettysburg and is the former communications specialist for the new England 
Synod, ELCA.