2011-09-23

What are we to think of the office of the bishop?

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In the Apostolic church there was no office of the bishop comparable to the present-day office. It has been instituted much later. It is a matter of free choice. It is well to remember what the Lutheran Confessions say: “If the bishops either are heretics, or will not ordain suitable persons, the churches are in duty bound before God, according to divine law, to ordain for themselves pastors and ministers. Even though this be now called an irregularity or schism, it shall be known that the godless doctrine and tyranny of the bishops is chargeable with it, because Paul, (Gal 1:7-9) enjoins that bishops who teach and defend a godless doctrine and godless services shall be regarded as accursed.”