Are bishops essential?

You're a presbyterian

 

In the New Testament, the terms are interchangeable. As the church grew, it became necessary for bishops to appoint ministers to the different congregations, and that's how the office of priest became distinct from bishop.

 

That isn't what the church tells us! According to C.B.Moss,
" The only ministry which has been universlly recognised is the threefold ministry of Bishops,with Priests and Deacons ordained by them." (CB Moss, The Christian Faith. 1961.)
Moss isn't the only one either. Bishop Thomas Brett, the Non Juring primus tells us quite clearly,"The Constitution of the Church by Christ and His Apostles was under the Bishops and therefore that it was a form not to be altered by any authority whatsoever.( Bishop Thomas Brett. Church Gov., 1690.) He further refers to, "The Divine Institution of Episcopacy."Pg 6.Google Books.)

 

There is no disagreement here. Bishops are in the church from the beginning; presbyters as a distinct office come later.

 

The Bishop is in Anglican theory the descendant of the Apostles, or even a modern day apostle. In the Church in England we were taught that the Apostles were God's chosen for leadership in His Church. Whereas the priests were the descendants of the 70.(Luke.)