A Stained Glass Window Shows Us Three Things Every Bishop Should Do
This is the Calling of the Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America.
In a few days, the bishops of the Anglican Church in North America will meet in a special, super-sealed meeting to elect a new Archbishop for the next five years. The leader will succeed Foley Beach, who has steered our fledgling denomination for the past ten years. (Two five-year terms.)
In a Conclave, If You Are Tagged, You Are It.
Who it will be is anyone’s guess. There is no caucusing for this role and position. The position description has not been published or approved. The public is not allowed to participate in their discussions or deliberations. No report will be issued after the fact. The result will be announced.
No one runs for this office. But I have been told that no one can run away from it either. If you are tagged, you are it.
The bishops meet in a session called a “Conclave.” The term comes from two Latin words: “con” (meaning with) and “clave” (meaning key). In a conclave, contrary to all fire codes, the bishops are locked with a key in a room until the job is done. (This practice was established in 1274 to regulate a papal election. Seclusion was enforced to reduce outside influence and hasten the decision.
It is pointless to speculate who will be elected, but it will be someone we know. There are only two dozen candidates (or so) since the archbishop must be an diocesan bishop to be eligible.
Stained-Glass Symbols
My wife and I designed a stained-glass window for Christ Church in Plano many years ago. As I think about the archbishop and the task before him, my mind returns to that window. I think it is an excellent symbol of the purpose of the church and, thus, the purpose of a bishop and archbishop.
The vines around the circumference of the rose window symbolize the truth Jesus exclaimed in his discourse on unity from John 15:5: “I am the vine. You are the branches.” Jesus is speaking of the union he has with his people. Our connection with the Vine is essential. Apart from him, we can do nothing.
Preserving our unity each other and with Christ is the role of the bishop, as stated in the Ordinal — the Prayer Book liturgy that lists the roles and tasks of the bishop. The bishop is to guard the church's faith, discipline, and unity. In other words, the bishop’s role is to keep us together.
Church history is not kind to bishops on this matter. It has been very rough over the centuries. We are a fractured family. But unity can only happen if we remain connected to the Vine.
The Sword and Trowel
The next two items in the glass symbolize why unity is a difficult assignment for anyone. Unity is needed, but the church‘s overriding task often causes division, disagreement, and discord.
The two other symbols in the glass are a sword and a trowel, images of the church's two roles. These implements come from Nehemiah 4. As the story goes, men were conscripted to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem in dangerous and contemptuous times. They were told to always have two tools in their hand or at the ready: a trowel and a sword.
Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other. 18 And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. -Nehemiah 4:17–18
Their work was to reconstruct the wall of the ancient city and to defend the wall and their work. To build and to battle. Thus it was, is now, and ever shall be.
This is the role of the church and her bishops — building and battling for the sake of the Gospel.
I am indebted to G. Campbell Morgan for this insight and the images of building and battling, of trowels and swords. His exposition on the Call of the disciples (Luke 14) is masterful and inspired me two decades ago when I first read it.
In his own words:
This is the mission of Jesus, to build and to fight… In other words, said Jesus, “I need men upon whom I can depend. I am not in the world to give the world a spectacle. I am in the world to reconstruct, and I can only reconstruct as I destroy. I am a Builder, but I am a Waster too. I am here to fight in order that I may put an end to war, and lead humanity to God and so to peace.” To build, and to battle. The coming of His Kingdom, of which we have spoken, can only be accomplished in this twofold way.
This is the job of every Christian called to be a disciple. I believe it is the unique calling of the bishop to ensure it. It is the unique calling and burden of the new Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America.
And that is why we pray as we await the white smoke of their choice.
Lord have mercy.
The Rev. David Roseberry, an ordained Anglican priest with over 40 years of pastoral experience, offers leadership services to pastors, churches, and Christian writers. He is an accomplished author whose books are available on Amazon. Rev. Roseberry is the Executive Director of LeaderWorks, where his work and resources can be found.
