TLDR: On Saturday, May 3rd, 2025, former Saint Dunstan’s Rector, Rob Price, was elected as the next Bishop Diocesan of Dallas. Read on for a few of my thoughts on the leadership of Bishops.
One of my former Associate Rectors in Louisiana, who was the chaplain for the election of our bishop in 2011, used to say that “Almost everyone is in agreement about the necessity of Bishops. It is this particular Bishop people don’t like.” This was his humorous way of saying that no Bishop will ever have 100% approval rates. I would like to focus on the first part of his sentence. I am one of those people who believes in the necessity of Bishops. I come to this belief on historical and theological grounds. Bishops are the natural descendants of the Apostles during the second half of the first century of Christianity and after the Apostolic Age drew to a close in the year 100. Before we had priests in the Christian Church, we had Bishops. In fact, in the ancient Church it was believed that “Wherever the Bishop is, the Church is.” This statement is a summary of a longer statement from Saint Ignatius of Antioch, which states, “Wherever the bishop appears, there let the people be; as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.” As representatives of the Apostles, Bishops are the chief pastors, responsible for the oversight and care of all clergy and lay people of the Diocese. They are also responsible for the teaching of sound doctrine, as the rite of ordination of a Bishop makes it clear, “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.” (BCP, 517).
In the Anglican tradition, Bishops are elected by lay and clergy electors duly gathered in convention to select a leader. What this means is that our Bishops are democratically elected. Their job descriptions are: (a) To guard the faith, unity, and discipline of the Church, (b) to celebrate and provide for the administration of the Sacraments, (c) to ordain priests and deacons for the Church, (d) to be a faithful pastor and wholesome example for the entire flock of Christ (BCP, Ibid). Additionally, they have responsibilities to the national and worldwide communion, as part of a Church with a global reach. Their job is a sacred commission to be instruments of unity and communion for their Diocese and for the world. The website of Saint Matthew’s Cathedral, where Rob is currently the Dean, puts it this way, “The bishop has his seat of office in his Cathedral Church at the See City or Capitol of the diocese. The bishop, by virtue of the office, has inherent rights at all times and in every parish, mission and congregation within the diocese, because he is the chief pastor of all the people in the diocese.” What an awesome, and all-encompassing responsibility to place on any human! It is for this reason that Bishops deserve our prayers and our support. Without a loving community of believers, Bishops and their families would crumble under the pressure of this job.
As we celebrate Bishop-Elect Price, I want to celebrate this congregation. You truly are a training, equipping, and sending congregation. Not only have you raised phenomenal clergy throughout the years, but you have now raised a Bishop. Your commitment, support, correction, advice, stewardship, prayer, and love have produced bountiful fruits. Now, almost 31,000 faithful souls in Dallas will benefit from the leadership of a pastor who was himself raised by all of you for over 13 years. I want all of you to pray for Rob, Kate, Matthew, Thomas, and Christopher during this time of transition as Rob prepares himself for his Episcopal Ordination. Beyond that, I want all of us to cover him with our prayers for a successful episcopate that will bless his people and his family.
I encourage those who knew Rob to send congratulatory notes to Saint Matthew’s Cathedral at 5100 Ross Avenue, Dallas, TX 75206.
May our Lord continue to bless you,
Fr. Roman+
