Take my advice, please!

http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=2430

[VirtueOnline] May 5, 2005--The article was one I wrote last year with the title "Do We Really Need Bishops." It is still posted here on the website if you want to read it, but in summary what I concluded was this. We don't need Bishops if we mean by this prelates who are remnants of the Christendom model of Bishops as rulers or princes of the Church. We do need bishops if we mean by this leaders who exercise apostolic ministry. The good Bishop liked what I had to say. Since reading my article, he has been working at exercising more apostolic ministry. Naturally, I asked him what this meant.

He told me that he went to the scriptures and turned to the book of Acts. He said that he looked at what the apostles did and concluded that essentially they went from church to church sharing their own faith and encouraging others to share theirs. Seeing this, he decided to change his visitations in his diocese. Now, in addition to Sunday morning visits to do confirmation, he arranges to meet with the church in the week before. Here is what he does.

The Bishop meets with the members of the church over a shared meal. Then he shares his faith in the context of a biblical teaching. He shares what Christ means to him. How he came to believe this. He shares his spiritual struggles and trials as well as how he has grown in his faith. Then he allows folks to ask any questions they may have for him. Lastly, he encourages his people to make efforts to share their faith, "the hope that is in them," with others both inside and outside the church.