The visitation this Sunday of Bishop Suffragan Allen Shin gives us an opportunity to reflect on the ministry of bishops in The Episcopal Church. As a former diocesan bishop, I know many people are unfamiliar with the role of bishops. The language we use can sometimes further the confusion. The word “Episcopal” comes from the Greek word, episkopos, which literally means “overseer.” We are, therefore, a church which grants authority for the oversight of the ministry of a diocese (a geographic territory) to a bishop or bishops who work in partnership with other lay and clerical leaders. In this, we model our ministry after the work of the apostles of the early Church.
In our tradition, bishops are democratically elected by both clergy and lay leaders. They may remain in office until they are 72 years old and, once they are ordained a bishop, they remain a bishop in whatever role they assume afterwards. (For example, my official title is “Rector of Saint Bartholomew’s Church in the City of New York” and “Ninth Bishop of Kansas, Resigned.” In other words, I remain a bishop, but I no longer serve as a Diocesan Bishop.)
Bishops are intended to be outward and visible signs of the unity of the Body of Christ. Only bishops may Confirm, Receive, or Re-affirm individuals into the church. When a bishop visits a parish and lays hands on a confirmand, there is a connection which goes back to the earliest apostles, and even to Christ himself. We are reminded that in the Episcopal Diocese of New York, we are, in many ways, a single church meeting in 192 different worshipping communities. There are 111 dioceses in The Episcopal Church, 11 of them in other countries or territories outside the United States. The Episcopal Church is a province of the worldwide Anglican Communion; the third largest movement in Christianity (behind the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox traditions.) It’s important to remember that all of us at St. Bart’s are a part of this very diverse and international community.
In the ordination of a bishop, we say, “(A bishop) in God’s holy Church is called to be one with the apostles in proclaiming Christ’s resurrection and interpreting the Gospel and to testify to Christ’s sovereignty as Lord of lords and King of kings. (The bishop) is called to guard the faith, unity, and discipline of the Church; to celebrate and to provide for the administration of the sacraments of the New Covenant; to ordain priests and deacons and to join in ordaining bishops; and to be in all things a faithful pastor and wholesome example for the entire flock of Christ.[i]” Diocesan bishops are in charge of the discipline of clergy (a particularly difficult ministry) and seek to be the primary vision bearers for their diocese.
Bishops Suffragan assist their diocesan bishop and have a portfolio of ministries they lead under the direction of the Diocesan. Bishop Shin is responsible for a wide variety of ministries within the diocese. “The title of Bishop Suffragan is used in two senses: first, it refers to any bishop whom an Archbishop or Metropolitan may summon to assist at synods and ‘give ... suffrage’ and second, to ‘an assistant Bishop appointed to help the Bishop of the Diocese.’ The word ‘suffrage’ comes from the late Medieval English for ‘voting tablet’ or ‘vote,’ and is derived from the Latin word meaning ‘to vote for or support.’
“During the Middle Ages, 'suffragan' referred to bishops assisting the Metropolitan, [who we now refer to as] a diocesan bishop. Reflecting a structure based upon the Roman Empire (as well as the ancient custom of dividing large dioceses into smaller ones,) each city with its territory was under the governance of a bishop, with a natural headship falling to the bishop of the territory's important city. Gradually in each province the bishop of the key city came to possess rights over his ‘comprovincial bishops, later called suffragans.[ii]’”
Today, many large dioceses have a Bishop Suffragan, who has been elected by the diocese and serves with the Bishop Diocesan. Assistant Bishops, like Bishop Mary Glasspool, are bishops who have been ordained to the episcopate to lead in other dioceses, but who have been hired by a different diocese to serve in a particular role.
The Episcopal Diocese of New York’s website says that, “The Rt. Rev. Allen K. Shin was elected to be Bishop Suffragan of The Episcopal Diocese of New York on December 7, 2013, at a special election convention held at The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine, and was later consecrated at the Cathedral on Saturday May 17, 2014.
“Born in South Korea, Allen K. Shin and his family moved to Washington, D.C. in 1972, where he attended Gonzaga College High School, a Jesuit school for boys.
“He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan University in 1983, majoring in Music/Vocal Performance. He then spent four years in New York City working as a professional singer, before taking up a position as a choir director at a Korean Episcopal church in Chicago.
Having gone through the discernment process in Chicago, Shin studied for his Master of Divinity degree at the General Theological Seminary in New York City, graduating in 1996. He was ordained to the diaconate in the Diocese of Chicago in June of that year, and to the priesthood in the Diocese of New York that December. Also in 1996, he was called as Curate/Assistant to the Church of St. Mary the Virgin in New York City, where he remained until 2001, at the same time taking up the position of Assistant Officer, Episcopal Asiamerica Ministry at Episcopal Church Center, which he held until 1999.
“In 2001, he earned the degree of Master of Sacred Theology from the General Theological Seminary. He then went to England, where from 2002 to 2005 he pursued post-graduate studies in Patristic Studies at the University of Oxford. During the course of his studies, he also held the position of Honorary Assistant Priest at All Saints Church, Margaret Street, London. He then remained at the University of Oxford from 2005 to 2010 as Fellow and Chaplain of Keble College.
“He returned from England to the United States in 2010, to take up the position of Rector of St. John’s Church, Huntington, NY, in the Diocese of Long Island where he served until his election to Bishop Suffragan.” Bishop Shin is responsible for congregational vitality and parish development within our diocese and is a deeply respected member of the House of Bishops where he serves as a member of the Theology Committee.[iii]”
It is always a joyous occasion when a bishop visits a congregation in his or her diocese. On Sunday we will celebrate those individuals who are making vows to more deeply become a part of our community of faith and our way of life.
I hope you will join me in warmly welcoming Bishop Shin to St. Bart’s!
Faithfully,
The Right Reverend Dean E. Wolfe
Rector
______________
[i] The Book of Common Prayer, (1979), page 517
[ii] Judith Marsh Carlson, History of Bishops Suffragan: Beginnings to the Reformation, Council for the Development of Ministry, Report in Response to 1994 General Convention Resolution BOO9, Episcopal Archives, https://www.episcopalarchives.
[iii] The Episcopal Diocese of New York, 2024, accessed April 26, 2024m www.dioceseny.org/the-diocese-bishop-shin