I grew up in an evangelical nondenom tradition. I’ve since found Anglicanism, and I’ve been working to understand the broader discussions of Christian history. I’ve recently become sold on the idea that Bishops are super-important.

Christianity in America is largely of the “literally anyone can open a Church and teach whatever crap they make up and there’s no authority to contradict them” variety. Naturally that results in a fake god that blesses the actions those random pastors already chose. Thus, evangelical Christianity in America, which broadly resembles Christ not at all.

In the classical Church tradition there are specific people whose sole purpose is to ensure the Church keeps teaching the things it has always taught. Those people are called bishops. And Bishop Budde of the Episcopal Church is an example of why that system works while others have failed so miserably. She keeps the faith, in the very literal sense that she protects and shepherds it.

Some may have problems with her being a woman or SGM-affirming, but that’s beside my point. This is a person doing something Bishops were always meant to do, and (at least in the recent areas of discussion) doing it extremely well.

Episcopal oversight FTW.