What We Believe About Bishops

In the Apostolic Age, when new churches were founded, the founding Apostle was, naturally enough, the leader of the congregation. As each Apostle moved on, however, the congregation was put under an'overseer', according to the New Testament. The term in the Greek of the New Testament is episcopus, and an Anglo-Saxon corruption of that word is bishop.

As one standing in apostolic succession, the bishop has the power to ordain and confirm, powers not given to the pastors of congregations.

The New Testament speaks of the requirements for a bishop: he must be blameless, as the steward of God...a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, and temperate; holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught (Titus 1:7-9). In other words, a bishop must be a guardian of the faith and not an innovator, one who holds to the belief of the Church as it has been taught everywhere, at all times, by all believers; and above reproach in personal conduct. A genuine bishop must be ordained in apostolic succession, a man who believes the creeds without hesitation, and one who does not give offense by his beliefs, his lifestyle, or his conduct.

In order to find a bishop who meets these requirements, Holy Cross Anglican Church has come under the supervision of the Bishop of Bolivia.