The Bishop is coming! The Bishop is coming! This Sunday The Rt. Rev. Ian Douglas is coming to St. Matthew’s and making his first episcopal visitation since being elected as the Diocesan Bishop of Connecticut. He will be at the 10:00 am liturgy as preacher, celebrant, and as the chief pastor of the diocese he carries with him a vision for the whole diocese (which makes up the entire state of Connecticut). It is customary for a bishop to make a pastoral visit every three years to our parish and I thought it would be good to point out some of the unique aspects of the ministry of the bishop.
The word “bishop” comes from the Greek word, “Episkopos” which means overseer or superintendent and in the early church was the primary leader of the Christian community. As the church grew, the Bishop had “presbyters” or priests to be in charge of churches that were still under the jurisdiction of the bishop. While a bishop has the same sacramental duties that all priests have, only they have the authority to confirm or ordain. Over time the role of the bishop developed to meet the needs of the church as it continued to spread throughout the world. However, during the Reformation period, many Protestant churches eliminated the office of the bishop. When our church was being formed though just after the Revolutionary War, the founding fathers and mothers felt so strongly that we have bishops, that our church carried the name Episcopal – a church led by bishops. Interestingly, a major difference between the Church of England and the Episcopal Church was the democratic process that elected our American bishops as opposed to the English bishops who are appointed by the crown.
There are some special symbols that go with being a bishop. The most obvious one is the tall, pointed hat that is called a mitre. This headdress dates back before the 11th century and has two strips of fabric hanging from the back that according to some bishops represent the Old and New Testaments. The bishop also carries a large crosier (staff) and this custom goes back to the 7th century and signifies that he is the Chief Pastor/Shepherd of the flock. While the bishop uses these symbols specifically during church services, a bishop also normally wears a pectoral cross and a ring bearing the seal of the diocese at all times.
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We also believe that our bishops are in “apostolic succession” which means that there is a direct line through their ordination to the first apostles. This continuity gives us our rich history and powerful traditions that anchor us in our time. So when our bishop is among us we are reminded that we are part of the greater story of the Christian Church. Not only are we members of the Diocese of Connecticut, we are also part of the Episcopal Church which is part of the Anglican Communion, which is one of the branches of the Christian faith. So come and be with us this Sunday and have a “global” experience!
Mary Grace+
