Class Reflection 17

Its interesting to talk about the concept of apostolic succession, and how in the Reformed tradition we see the first time "Church" exists without a direct link to it. I think the ramifications for us today take the form of at least two significant things. On the one hand, the early Reformed leaders speak to us as permission givers, saying, "Go and be the Church. You don't need to be commissioned in a formal way by a bishop - you have been commissioned by Jesus and by the Holy Spirit." On the other hand, however, there is something lost in seeing our community as being not just those with whom we "do Church" today, but also with those who have gone before us, listening to their voices, and weighing what they have to say.