WORDS ABOUT NOT NEEDING A BISHOP OVER OTHER BISHOPS
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Sorry, there’s no clerical/episcopal ladder for ministers to climb in the Ecclesiastical Ecumenical Province of Northeast-Traditional Anglican Church of America (EEP/NE-TACA). It has no central Archbishop, Magisterium, or Patriarch.
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EEP is a thankful culture of churches, denominations and presbyteries that each, as autonomous independent complete bodies, have their own respective leaders. We come together only as the universal (that is, truly catholic), and orthodox (Nicene, Trinitarian) church with unhindered unburdened ministers.
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One of these dioceses in the EEP is NE-TACA, which, like all others, indeed has its own clergy and episcopate into which you could well become incardinated, elevated, and consecrated. But when we are talking about the Ecumenical Province of TACA or the global “Church” by itself, the following verses characterize the Bible’s barring against
having a central person or house over a holy concept that is defined only by Christ, Himself (as the “Pope” is wrongly intended to be the definer of the concept of “catholic” and the Patriarch of Constantinople is falsely revered to be the definer of the concept of “orthodox”), Jesus, Who alone is in charge of all respective leaders and all of us. The following verses signify that true Ecumenism holds that the Bible disqualifies such authoritarian ideas.
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“But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant” (Matthew 20:25-27).
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“For neither does any of us set himself up as a bishop of bishops, nor by tyrannical terror does any compel his colleague to the necessity of obedience; since every bishop, according to the allowance of his liberty and power, has his own proper right of judgment, and can no more be judged by another than he himself can judge another” (The Seventh Council of Carthage; Saint Cyprian of Carthage; Opening Address: Concerning Validity of Baptism of Heretics; Paragraph 1; September 1, A.D. 256).
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“Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand” (2 Corinthians 1:24).
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“Wherever there is a bishop, whether it be at Rome or at Engubium, whether it be at Constantinople or at Rhegium, whether it be at Alexandria or at Zoan, his dignity is one and his priesthood is one. Neither the command of wealth nor the lowliness of poverty makes him more a bishop or less a bishop. All alike are successors of the apostles” (Letter 146: The Epistle to Evagrius; Saint Jerome; Paragraph 1; d. A.D. 420).
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“Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:2-5).
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Please consider joining EEP and getting trained as a Priest, Deacon, Deaconess, or other Able Minister of the Word by NE-TACA. Click NEXT.