The recognition that apostolic succession is not of divine constitution but rather represents a gradual development in the early church need not necessarily entail that there is anything particularly wrong with episcopal church government as such. On prudential grounds, one could make a case for elevating one presbyter into a unique role above others or even calling such a presbyter a different term. But requiring such a structure—as well as limiting valid ministry to those churches adhering to it—unnecessarily injures and divides the church.
