Jeff Murph reflects on Spiritual Authority

Questions of Realignment
What about being under the ‘spiritual authority” of the Episcopal Church?

By The Rev. Jeff Murph, Rector St. Thomas Episcopal Church Oakmont PA.

Though this is not usually a question that progressives tend to ask (or even frame in the same way), many traditional and conservative Christians have expressed the concern about being spiritually connected (or even worse, spiritually under) the Episcopal Church. This view is one that perceives not only human beings but even Creation itself as having a greater dimension than what can simply be seen or tested empirically. It is a view that accepts that there is a spiritual reality to the world in which we live, a reality that has an effect and interconnection with all of God’s Creation.

Perhaps the most familiar passage of Scripture that reflects this perspective is Ephesians 6:12, which comes immediately before the famous “armor of God” section. “For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” The New Testament, of course, makes it clear that Jesus, by his work on the cross, has completely defeated these spiritual powers in rebellion against God. Now, all authority has been given to him (Philippians 2: 9-11, 1 Peter 3:22). This removal of authority from spiritual evil does not, however, mean that they no longer have any power. Indeed, as Martin Luther’s famous hymn says of the Enemy, “his craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal” (Hymn 688). As a consequence of being transferred from darkness to light (Colossians 1:13), however, we are now citizens of a different kingdom. The last thing we would want would be to return to that darkness and to that cruel ruler.

In the question of realignment (especially in light of theological statements made by the Presiding Bishop that do not seem to find any warrant in Scripture), one principal reason for leaving the Episcopal Church is to escape to a safer spiritual pasture. No longer is it safe, many realigners say, to stay in such a foggy and confused and fatally compromised church. Many point to the danger of the spiritual authority of a heterodox Presiding Bishop, reflecting the general Anglican understanding that bishops are shepherds, charged with spiritual authority for a diocese.

It is true that the bishop is charged with spiritual authority over a diocese. In fact, the priests exercise their ministry under his. It is not, however, true that the Presiding Bishop exercises this same kind of authority over the whole United States. Unlike an Archbishop, the American Presiding Bishop is primarily a convener (calling the leaders of the church together) and the enforcer of discipline set by the whole church. She has no authority to articulate doctrine. Neither does she have any authority in any diocese at all unless the canons of the Episcopal Church are broken in that diocese. In fact, she cannot even enter a diocese to function ecclesiastically without the local bishop’s permission. With these limits, it is hard to imagine any Presiding Bishop as the spiritual authority over the American Church.

What does articulate doctrine for the Episcopal Church? Quite simply, the Book of Common Prayer. General Convention can approve a prayer book after a lengthy trial period and with two consecutive conventions voting affirmatively. The current Book of Common Prayer, approved in 1979, contains all the historic formularies usually recognized in the Anglican Communion: the three creeds, the Thirty-nine Articles, the Outline of the Faith (called the Catechism), and, of course, the liturgy.

Finally, Anglican Christians have always understood that the real spiritual authority of the Church is Jesus, of course, who is the actual Head of the Church. It is not really St. Peter who will determine who will enter heaven or not but the blood of Jesus Christ. Those congregations who place themselves squarely under the authority of Jesus have nothing ultimately to fear either from powers and principalities nor from unfaithful bishops. Over the centuries, there have unfortunately always been unworthy shepherds; sometimes the Church has been in great suffering because of their unfaithfulness. Yet Jesus the Head always has brought his Church back to the Truth by the power of his Holy Spirit, raising up obedient shepherds and leaders for his people. “May the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5: 23-24)