SUMMARY

1. Those whom the Apostles appointed to take their place were called bishops, and they also received the Apostolic Commission to act as Our Lord’s personal representatives.  These bishops in their turn consecrated others to take their place, and so the line of bishops from the Apostles continued unbroken over hundreds of years right into the 21st century.  The unbroken line is called the Apostolic Succession.

2. It is through the Apostolic succession, that unbroken line going back to the Apostles, that the power to consecrate and ordain bishops, priests and deacons and to confirm is given by Our Lord to each generation of bishops.  Thus it is through the office of Bishop that the Church is able to exist, and that we are able to receive the Sacraments.

3. The Apostolic Succession provides sacramental assurance i.e. that we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation, the gift of Our Lord himself in Holy Communion, and the gift of forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance). This is why it is essential that the unbroken line going back to the Apostles is not ruptured.

References

1. ©The Archbishops’ Council (2007) Common Worship.  The Ordination and Consecration of a Bishop.  Available from:
http://www.cofe.anglican.org/worship/liturgy/commonworship/texts/ordinal/bishops.html  (Accessed 25 August 2010) (Internet).

2. ©The Archbishops’ Council (2007) Common Worship.  The Ordination and Consecration of a Bishop.  Note 2.  Available from:
http://www.cofe.anglican.org/worship/liturgy/commonworship/texts/ordinal/bishops.html  (Accessed 25 August 2010) (Internet).

3. ©The Archbishops’ Council (2007) Common Worship.  The Ordination and Consecration of a Bishop.  Available from:
http://www.cofe.anglican.org/worship/liturgy/commonworship/texts/ordinal/bishops.html  (Accessed 25 August 2010) (Internet).