Kill all the Bishops

[Gnomistry 1115]

Spoiler

No. That was to get your attention.

 

[!]A document is sent out from the office of the Archbishop of Vuillermoz to his brother clerics [!]

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Polity

A Imperium Compages

 

How the Presbyterate and Episcopacy are meant to be understood;

The powers of the High Pontiff

 

ANNO autem DOMINUS noster: 

Sexaginta duo milia septingenti

 

His Excellency, ☨ Bram Virgilius Calistovich -  Archbishop of Caeruleum ♗

 

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Index:

I. Foreword

II. Presbyterian Polity

III. Episcopal Polity

IV. Canonist Polity

V. The Role of the High Pontiff

VI. Onword

 

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I. Foreword 

 

Venerable brethren, I have penned this discussion out of full academic inquiry and analysis and I expect it to be considered as such, purely academic. If this text were to be actualized, and I believe it can be, I want to voice the fact that this would not be canonically erroneous and even has my favor. The discussion I present before you all is on the polity of the Canonist Church. This term (polity) for the purpose of our discussion refers to the organizational structure of our ecclesastical body.  It should be understood that if one were to read the Holy Scrolls they would see that at the beginning of our body -the ordination of Sts. Evaristus and Clement by the Exalted Owyn through the Great Commission - we were at a different organizational structure than the one we currently occupy.  Furthermore, the current structure seems to have been created to mirror other faiths that were around during the development of our own. The structure we have now is one of tradition nonetheless and that must not be ignored. However, I posit that the authority to restore the ecclesastical  body to the originally outlined polity is vested within the powers of the High Pontiff, as successor of the High Priesthood and Vicarius Dei. It is my opinion that this polity, presbyterian polity should be considered moving forward. In my concluding briefing I will outline the reasons behind this opinion as questions, let you all stand witness and be judges on the matter. This document assumes knowledge on our scriptures. Due to a number of factors, verses will not be included within this text lest some reformist onlookers were to misinterpret the writings and feel my authority as Archbishop and Canon Lawyer as grounds for some concoction of rebellion and not academic discussion. As such, references and citations will be omitted and I ask you all to keep these letters close to you and out of the sight of the unordained. I would wish to debate this topic further which is why I have kept my discussion short, allowing for opinions to visit me and more writings to flow forth from it.

 

II. Presbyterian Polity

 

Presbyterian polity refers to the priestly order of church governance structure that we find in the Holy Scrolls. Therein, the only references on clerics of the Creatorist faith established by the Exalted Prophets speak of Priests and High Priests. We know that the High Priests were elected by the Exalted within the Holy Scrolls: Evaristus and Clement from Owyn, and James from Godfrey. Priesthood implies being ordained and as such the Canonist clergy continue in this way of elevating men to be stewards of the sacraments in full authority of the institution established by the Exalted, vessels for GOD’s will on this terra. There are two options within this system for authority, there is a High Priest and then there are Priests below them. We know that the High Priesthood evolved into the office of High Pontiff, as such the title for all High Pontiffs includes the greatly-needed line “Successor of the High Priesthood of the Church.” Under this polity Priests may elevate Priests, they have full authority to ordain those who are engaged in studying the faith.

 

III. Episcopal Polity

 

As a result of history, a new class of clerics emerged to work their way into the organizational structure of the Church: the Bishops or Episkopos. This class assumed the responsibility of elevating priests to their status and possessing the power to elevate the High Pontiff through their membership in a hierarchical college of electors of which they are members by the authority of their rank. These clerics of higher status came to represent large swaths of land from an administrative standpoint that included the lesser priests below them who they raised up. Furthermore, this class was presented with a special status of elevated respect and power equal by authority and presentation with the nobility: a royal priesthood, princes of the Church. 

 

IV. Canonist Polity

 

With the emergence of this group (the Bishops) it had become commonplace knowledge that the presbyters or priests lost their authority to ordain those to their ranks. This emerged without much ecclesial recollection as to by which mechanism or pronouncement it came about. Golden Bulls did mirror this language of change and defined Bishops with the rank and status as authorities who had the power to ordain and govern priests. Because of this, we know this power came from a pivot in the organizational structure of the Church stemming from the Pontificate. A change in polity. In the environment we currently work in there has been a loosening of episcopal authority over the presbyterate. Priests have been given the authority to exercise elevated ministries such as ordaining other clerics to the priesthood and even coronating sovereigns.  This shows a lessening of the royal priesthood of old and confuses the distinction between the two classes. 

 

V. The Role of the High Pontiff

 

As presented by my historical digression and explanation of both polities we have come to understand that the Pontificate holds the authority to alter the polity of the Canonist Church. The Pontificate has the authority to establish norms and organize the ordained in a way that best serves the needs of the people of the age. This power should therefore be enumerated.

 

VI. Onword

It is my opinion that the High Pontiff should evaluate the role of polity within the Canonist Church. We the Curia should evaluate the role of polity within our communion. Would it be beneficial for the Church to make a pronouncement on the ordination of priests... being sanctioned by other priests? Would we see growth from such a move? Would we see a revitalization of  activity and ministerial participation (keeping in mind the sanctioning of clerical marriage) ? A synod can still work under  presbyterian polity, what is cut but outward privilege and style? Would this better integrate our Church into a modernizing Empire? Couldn’t prelates of high distinction and power still exist under this polity? These are all questions I posit in a spirit of academic discussion. We know from the work of High Pontiff Jude I in detaching presbyters from bishops and their dioceses that it is possible for resident clerics to occupy authority positions and power within kingdoms without having the job of sole clerical ordainers. I believe we would have a unique opportunity to bring about a new age, a new spirit within the Church.. I open the discussion to you, my brother clerics.

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