“This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of bishop, he desireth a good work.”
1 Timothy 3:1 (Authorized Version)
St. Paul encourages St. Timothy as he is discerning appropriate episcopal candidates that should the man desire the position, he is reaching out for it, it is a beautiful undertaking to want. However, St. Paul then explains the qualifications for a bishop. The standards cannot be any higher, as Scripture holds, he must be:
Blameless, a faithful husband only to one wife, vigilant, sober in an age of addiction, behaving as a Christian ought, prone to feed and house the stranger, a teacher, not struggling with alcohol, not violent and striking others, not seeking worldly riches, instead a patient man, not one to start or pursue a brawl, nor coveting with his eyes and heart, but one who governs his own household well and able to lead his children, not a new Christian who is ripe for Satan to lift “up with pride [and] he fall into the condemnation of the devil.” (1 Timothy 3:6, AV). Finally, the man selected must be respected by those outside the church, for the bishop represents the body of Christ wherever he goes and whatever he says or does.
These qualifications from 1 Timothy 3:1-7 are extensive and disqualify the majority of men from eligibility. Further, these standards require deep reflection and prayerful reflection by the ACNA College of Bishops as they elect the next Archbishop from among their ranks. (Article X, Section 3, ACNA Constitution). Since all the candidates are bishops, theoretically each of the men present is required to meet St. Paul’s standard reflected in Scripture. I pray it is so. However, because we are all sinners it further demonstrates why we must join Archbishop Foley’s request for prayer and fasting as we approach the election.
My prayer is simple: Lord, grant the electors the wisdom and discernment to see who you are calling to serve as Archbishop. May he reflect the Ordinal’s call to “teach and exhort with wholesome Doctrine, and to withstand and convince the gainsayers” and “banish and drive away from the Church all erroneous and strange doctrine contrary to God’s Word.” (The Ordinal).
Read the rest at The North American Anglican.
We see through a mirror darkly 