From Missouri-
Who is a minister? What is a bishop? From different ends of the career telescope, two Episcopalians, one a bishop-elect, the other a retiring bishop, see the answer to both questions in servanthood.
After six distinguished years as dean of Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, the Very Rev. Terry White was elected June 5 as bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky, where he will be consecrated Sept. 25.
White told me, “Jesus said that he came not to be served, but to serve. Servanthood is at the heart of our call as the baptized community.”
The Rt. Rev. Barry Howe, who retires in March as bishop of the Diocese of West Missouri, agreed that “all are ministers of the church. The laity are to represent Christ in their daily lives” and in the life of the church as servants.
“The bishop is only different in the sense of being the chief pastor in a diocese, to guard the church’s faith, unity and discipline, and to ordain others for carrying out the sacramental ministry of the church.”
As servants, all people in an Episcopal diocese have a part in choosing their bishop. Howe said the process “comes from the people and not from any ‘decree from above.’ ”
Read more:
http://www.kansascity.com/2010/08/10/2139516/two-episcopal-servants-moving.html#ixzz0wIS7rRTF
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