Diocese of Newark
The Search/Nominating Committee
for the 10th Bishop of Newark
Learning Topic Four
Nominating Committee for the 10th Bishop of Newark
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The Role of the Bishop
in the Episcopal Church USA
Bishops in the Early Church
The etymology of the word bishop comes from the Greek word episkopos, which can be generally translated as "bishop, overseer, superintendent, supervisor, or foreman." The English words episcopacy, episcopate and episcopal are derived from the word episkopos.In the Roman Church election of a bishop is normally performed by the Pope, who has the final decision in the choice of a candidate. Elsewhere the dean, the chapter of the cathedral, or some other ecclesiastical body existing specially for this purpose chooses he bishop. Throughout the history of the Church secular rulers have from time to time secured the right to nominate candidates to vacant sees, but theoretically this has always been subject to ecclesiastical approval.
The beginnings of the Episcopate in early times have long been debated, partly because of the ambiguity of the New Testament evidence, and partly on account of its relevance to the many contemporary forms of Church government. It seems that at first the terms episcopos and presbyter were used interchangeably (cf. e.gl. Acts 20: 17 and 20: 28). But for St. Ignatius in the early 2nd century, Bishops, Presbyters and Deacons are already quite distinct.
Elsewhere, notably in Egypt, the threefold ministry was not established until considerably later. By the middle of the 2nd century all the leading centers of Christianity had Bishops, and from then until the Reformation, Christianity was everywhere organized on an episcopal basis. The title of Bishop was retained after the Reformation in certain Lutheran Churches. -- Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church --p 171 - 172
Bishops in the Episcopal Church USA
In the American colonies many clergy were missionaries for the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (SPG) of The Church of England. The SPG sent more that 350 clergy to the Colonies between 1701 and 1776, but there were no Anglican bishops in the Colonies. Colonial parishes had few ties with each other and were all under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of London. After 1776 the Church of England withdrew its support. The need arose to reorganize the Anglican Church in the new republic. The name "Protestant Episcopal Church" originating in Maryland, grew in popularity as the leaders sought to unite in 1782.In 1783, ten Connecticut clergy met at Woodbury and elected Samuel Seabury as their Bishop, instructing him to seek consecration in Great Britain. Yet British law prohibited consecration by Anglican bishops of those who refused to take the oath of allegiance to the Crown. Seabury petitioned the Scottish Episcopal Church, it being the only independent Anglican body outside of Britain and Ireland. On November 14, 1784, Samuel Seabury was consecrated by three Bishops of the Scottish Episcopal Church in Aberdeen, Scotland, becoming the first Bishop of the Episcopal Church USA. For this reason, the shield of the Episcopal Church USA combines the red cross of St. George, patron saint of England, and, in the upper left corner, the diagonal blue cross of St. Andrew, patron saint of Scotland.
After necessary changes in English law, the Archbishop of Canterbury and three other Bishops consecrated William White as Bishop of Pennsylvania and Dr. Samuel Provoost as Bishop of New York in 1787. Sometime later, Dr. James Madison was consecrated Bishop of Virginia. Meeting in Philadelphia in 1789, a convention of Episcopalians accomplished our union into a national Church. A constitution was written, as were canons; the English Prayer Book was revised; and Dioceses were formed. There was no further need to seek the consecration of American bishops in Great Britain after the four American Bishops consecrated Thomas Claggett at Holy Trinity, New York, in 1792. From this point on, the episcopate of the Church in America was independent.
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This page was prepared by the Nominating Committee for the 10th Bishop of Newark and will be available as a learning leaflet to be reproduced as an insert in parish bulletins of October 2, 2005, the 20th Sunday after Pentecost.
The purpose of this series of learning topics is to provide information and to stimulate discussion about the search for a new bishop in this diocese.
Our thanks to the Diocese of Southwest Florida for partial or complete reprint of their educational material.
Revised December 8, 2005
© 2005 Episcopal Diocese of Newark.