What is Episcopacy? : The Finnish Bishops’ understandings of the Episcopal Office, 1945–1965

A Pastor among Pastors? The Views of the Lutheran Bishops of Finland on the Episcopal Office, 1965–1985 — Lutheran churches have been far from unanimous in their theology of episcopacy. There is variation among Lutherans for instance in determining the relevance of apostolic succession and the differences between pastors and bishops, as well as whether the induction of a bishop should be named consecration, installation, or ordination. This article examines how the understanding of episcopacy has been developed in the writings of the Lutheran bishops of Finland between 1965 and 1985. During this period, important changes occurred in the Finnish Lutheran understanding of episcopacy. While the episcopal office had most often been understood as part of the one ordained office, similar to the office of vicar or dean, the understanding of the episcopal office developed at this time, nevertheless, towards that of a distinct office, one with a separate ordination in episcopal succession and marked by the signs of the office, such as the bishop’s cord, crozier, and miter.Peer reviewe