It seems our Orthodox friends are acting like Anglicans. Their fight, and possible schism even, is about who is bishop over what. Apparently, Anglicans have no monopoly on geographical fundamentalism.

(I have a simple solution to any Orthodox disputes, by the way: the longest beard wins.)

I suspect episcopal governance (i.e. by bishops) is Biblical. But some serious problems sure are caused by bishops who are obsessed with their own authority and make an idol of it. North American Anglicanism is plagued by bishops that don’t hold to the authority of the Bible nor respect the authority of the Anglican Communion. But if you cross their authority, then watch out!

Maybe a requirement for bishops should be that they not be power hungry control freaks? Some of the greatest bishops in church history had to be made bishop against their will. That should tell us something.