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On Church Government

Today’s bulletin at St. Matthews had this article by Roger Salter in it. The first of it shows a bit of his sense of humor. Be sure to click the “Read More” link to read all of it.

EPISCOPRESBYGATIONALISM
Cursory Musings on Church Government

When the new bishop was to enter his diocese, famous for its association with railways, it was decided that he should travel the extent of his see, and enter his cathedral city, by train. A competition was launched to suggest a name for the train on this very special occasion and the winning entry was ingenious. The locomotive was “christened” The Episcopuffer. At all the stations along the route the bishop alighted to greet the awaiting crowds acquainting them with his platform for the future. The spectacular event of the journey was the loss of the archdeacon?s glasses as he poked his head out of the window to wave to spectators and had his bifocals removed by the rush of the wind created by the velocity of the train as it bore its load of ecclesiastical dignitaries across rural England — Wiltshire, Dorset, Barset, etc. One wonders if the cathedral clergy and staff followed closely in the legendary Wabash Can(n)onball. Presbyterian attendants at the bishop?s enthronement could have chartered the Flying Scotsman and Independents could have travelled in separate carriages. If the pope had had a mind to attend he could have travelled by Superchief, ensuring, of course, that the driver avoided collision with the Ulster Protestants in the Orange Blossom Special. Calvinists could have checked that all points along the line were correct, charismatics could have kept an eye on signals, and Pelagians, no doubt, would have joined in with the chorus of “the little I know I can, I know I can“.