New Bishop

We’ve been asked to offer our own feedback into the process through which the next Bishop of St Albans will be appointed. At the bottom of this page is a link to a form created at the request of the Vacancy in See Committee to receive people’s thoughts and suggestions. The results from the survey will be used to inform the content of the ‘Statement of Needs’ (a document similar to a parish profile for the appointment of a new parish priest, only longer). Views expressed here will also inform the key characteristics our future Bishop should have.

I would like to see courageous Biblical leadership at the forefront of any considerations. Therefore, I would ask that before you go to the form, you consider the following…

The Church of England

At every ordination and licensing, the minister is required to make a “Declaration of Assent” in which they affirm their loyalty to the “inheritance of faith” as understood by the Church of England. The ceremony begins with the following statement:

“The Church of England is part of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, worshipping the one true God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It professes the faith uniquely revealed in the Holy Scriptures and set forth in the catholic creeds, which faith the Church is called upon to proclaim afresh in each generation. Led by the Holy Spirit, it has borne witness to Christian truth in its historic formularies, the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion, The Book of Common Prayer and the Ordering of Bishops, Priests and Deacons.”

These historic formularies are therefore of great interest in the consideration of a new bishop.

Article 6 speaks about the Bible. It reads, “Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation: so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of the Faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name of the holy Scripture we do understand those Canonical Books of the Old and New Testament, of whose authority was never any doubt in the Church.” The list of books is then given – the 66 books that we find in our Bibles today (i.e. not including the extra books that are often found in Bibles of the Roman Catholic Church).

Article 19 is about the Church. It begins, “The visible Church of Christ is a congregation of faithful men, in the which the pure Word of God is preached, and the Sacraments be duly ministered according to Christ’s ordinance in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same.” (Article 25 teaches there are only two sacraments, baptism and communion.)

Article 20 speaks of the authority of the Church (and the limits of that authority): “The Church hath power to decree Rites or Ceremonies, and authority in Controversies of Faith: And yet it is not lawful for the Church to ordain any thing that is contrary to God’s Word written, neither may it so expound one place of Scripture, that it be repugnant to another. Wherefore, although the Church be a witness and a keeper of holy Writ, yet, as it ought not to decree any thing against the same, so besides the same ought it not to enforce any thing to be believed for necessity of Salvation.”

You can see from these three articles that Holy Scripture is foundational to the church, and that therefore, any future bishop should be someone who accepts (and submits to) the authority of the Scriptures in their own life, understanding them to be the Word of God, and modelling and teaching the same in their ministry. One aspect of Bishop Alan’s ministry which I and others have much appreciated has been his careful exposition of Scripture and the evident way in which he has allowed God’s Word to shape his life and ministry. In your responses, it seems to me that it would be helpful to request (in your own words) that the new bishop be someone who knows the Bible well and respects it as the Word of God…

Article 36 is about the consecration of Bishops and other Ministers. It says, “The Book of Consecration of Archbishops and Bishops, and Ordering of Priests and Deacons, lately set forth in the time of Edward the Sixth, and confirmed at the same time by authority of Parliament, doth contain all things necessary to such Consecration and Ordering: neither hath it any thing, that of itself is superstitious and ungodly. And therefore whosoever are consecrated or ordered according to the Rites of that Book, since the second year of the forenamed King Edward unto this time, or hereafter shall be consecrated or ordered according to the same Rites; we decree all such to be rightly, orderly, and lawfully consecrated and ordered.”

This article specifies and limits what is expected in the rite of ordination. The “Book of Consecration… ” was subsequently incorporated into the Book of Common Prayer (1662) and has been modernised more recently, but its content remains broadly the same. The following statement begins a series of questions put to the candidates:

“Brother, forasmuch as the holy Scripture and the ancient Canons command that we should not be hasty in laying on hands, and admitting any person to government in the Church of Christ, which he hath purchased with no less price than the effusion of his own blood: Before I admit you to this administration, I will examine you in certain articles, to the end that the Congregation present may have a trial, and bear witness, how you be minded to behave yourself in the Church of God.”

This statement is a powerful reminder that the church has been bought by Christ’s own blood, and that it is therefore precious beyond measure. No wonder care must be taken over choosing leaders (it’s worth noting St Paul’s related warning to the leaders of the church in Ephesus in Acts 20:25-31). The questions follow:

• Are you persuaded that the holy Scriptures contain sufficiently all doctrine required of necessity for eternal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ? And are you determined out of the same holy Scriptures to instruct the people committed to your charge, and to teach or maintain nothing as required of necessity to eternal salvation, but that which you shall be persuaded may be concluded and proved by the same?
• Will you then faithfully exercise yourself in the same holy Scriptures, and call upon God by prayer, for the true understanding of the same; so as ye may be able by them to teach and exhort with wholesome doctrine, and to withstand and convince the gainsayers?
• Be you ready, with all faithful diligence, to banish and drive away all erroneous and strange doctrine contrary to God’s Word; and both privately and openly to call upon and encourage others to the same?
• Will you deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world; that you may shew yourself in all things an example of good works unto others, that the adversary may be ashamed, having nothing to say against you?
• Will you maintain and set forward (as much as shall lie in you) quietness, peace, and love among all men; and such as be unquiet, disobedient and criminous within your Diocese, correct and punish, according to such authority as ye have by God’s Word, and as to you shall be committed by the Ordinance of this Realm?
• Will you be faithful in ordaining, sending, or laying hands upon others?
• Will you shew yourself gentle, and be merciful for Christ’s sake to poor and needy people, and to all strangers destitute of help?

Much is often made of the bishop being a “focus for unity” within their diocese (because every minister receives their ministry from the bishop), but these questions point to a greater focus around which the ministers should gather – the “wholesome doctrine” of the holy Scriptures that the bishop is called upon to teach and model. Indeed, the bishop is expected “to banish and drive away all erroneous and strange doctrine contrary to God’s Word.” Therefore, a bishop who keeps unity in their diocese by keeping silent about doctrinal error is not keeping the kind of unity envisaged by this liturgy of ordination. The Church of England is a “broad” church, with room for many preferences, but a key part of the bishop’s role is to hold and defend the core beliefs of the church, and if necessary, rebuking those who stray from them. That means that a bishop needs to know their clergy well and be aware of what is happening in churches all across their diocese. With all of the demands on a bishop’s diary (involvement in the House of Lords, attendance at civic functions, overseeing diocesan synod and other committees, planning diocesan strategy, setting an example in ministry, etc), this role of being pastor to the pastors (shepherding the flock, and driving away wolves) can be lost. In your response, think about the wide range of things that a bishop does and consider what is important for the life of the church.

Also noteworthy is the expectation of the bishop’s lifestyle: they should “deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts and live soberly, righteously and godly,” remembering that it is Holy Scripture which defines what is godly or ungodly. It is definitely worth reading 1 Timothy 3:1-10, where St Paul lays out his requirements for leaders within the church (i.e. what God’s Word says about leaders in God’s church).

What kind of experience do you want the new bishop to have?

Under Justin Welby, himself an experienced manager, it has been suggested that quite a lot of “manager” type bishops have been appointed. We do need someone who is able to cast a vision, manage resources wisely and if necessary oversee change, but is our primary need for a manager? I’m not convinced. Perhaps we need someone who is good at delegating administrative and managerial functions to others so as to free themselves up to focus on other aspects of ministry.

Some bishops, historically at least, have been theologians – rooted in the Scriptures and teaching the faith. We certainly need those deep voices in the church. However, one complaint often voiced is that bishops are out of touch with parish life, which is not surprising if their only parish experience has been a three year curacy before working in a different setting, whether that be as a faculty member or leader at a theological college, as an archdeacon or diocesan officer, the CEO of a Christian mission agency, etc.

Our diocese contains a wide range of settings from the urban and ethnic and religious diversity of Luton to the tiny rural villages of north Bedfordshire and communities like our own. What would an episcopal ministry look like if the bishop had significant previous experience of growing a church (or churches)? (I think this would be very encouraging, especially as the Church of England is generally experiencing decline.) Dare we ask (I suggest we should!) that the incoming bishop is personally committed to evangelism (and has a track record of this).

There are lots of things to think about. When you have given it some thought (and by midnight on 23rd March at the absolute latest), please click the button below to access the form. Complete it prayerfully. And continue to pray.

Many thanks.

Revd Mark Dunstan