Bishop Hines Speaks of National Church
Diocesan Press Service. February 5, 1974 [74032]
GREENWICH, Conn. -- Presiding Bishop John E. Hines told the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church that he believes a strong concept of a national Executive Council and of the office of the Presiding Bishop "is a healthy situation, contributing to vitality in the Church. "
He noted the trend toward decentralization in the Church -- and "in the contest between the Executive, the Legislative, and the Judiciary branches of our government" -- but he said "care should be taken to guard" the strong place of the national Executive Council in the life of the Church.
The Executive Council, he said, is more visible than the Church in the triennial General Convention, the highest legislative body in the Church. The Council is the visible sign of "'a national Church ' which has been seeking a center of cohesion. " Thus, he said, the Council "becomes the focus both of hope and despair on the part of many in the Church."
Interacting with the Executive Council, he said, "is a strong concept of the office of the Presiding Bishop. "
"This is not to be confused with an authoritarian concept of the office of Presiding Bishop -- and certainly not a monarchial concept." However, he said, "there can be strength without surrendering to the corruptions of ' inordinate power.'"
"The office of Presiding Bishop should -- in my opinion -- periodically come under review in the operations of this Church," Bishop Hines said. "Church people are sometimes stretched between the charm of nostalgia and the mirage of utopia, " he said, so that some may be persuaded "to exchange a difficult reality for an appealing but impotent symbol! "
"This Church," he said, "is on the right track in its honest probing for the enduring substance of 'primus inter pares.' "
Bishop Hines also paid tribute to two bishops who served as executive vice presidents under him. Bishop Stephen F. Bayne, deputy for program from 1968 to 1970, died on January 18. Bishop Roger Blanchard, executive vice president of the Council since 1970, will retire on May 31, along with Bishop Hines.