Episcopal Visit and Confirmations

As an Anglican, one of the things I’m profoundly grateful for is that as a local church we’re not out there on our own. Not only are we part of a worldwide Communion, a Province, and a Diocese, but we also have a godly and loving Pastor. No, not me (though hopefully I occasionally tend toward both). It’s our Bishop, Julian Dobbs—Overseer of ~40 churches, a member of a College ofBishops, led by an Archbishop. Anglican Priests, Bishops, and churches, while having some degree of independence are not autonomous.

Once or twice a year, +Julian pays Redeemer an Episcopal Visit (“Episcopal” means, “of a Bishop”, or “of Bishops”). This is a time for him to get to know us, encourage us, and better shepherd us. It’s also an important time for us to hear his heart and get to know him a just a little better. Normally, when a Bishop visits, he will preach, Baptize, Confirm (three of our friends will be Confirmed Sunday), and preside over Communion…in other words, as our Pastor he serves in the local Priest’s place (or really, on all the other weeks of the year Steve E. and I by virtue of our Ordinations and licensure serve in his place).