Out of Ur reports on what they see as Christianity's new bishops (guys like Rob Bell and Mark Driscoll). Here are their reasons for why this happening:
First, denominations are waning and few church leaders look to denominational leaders as experts on how to think theologically or practice church ministry well. Even in traditions who ordain bishops, the influence of these leaders to affect the thought and practice of those they serve is diminishing.
Second, geography has shrunk through the use of media such as the internet and especially the blogosphere, thus giving the masses access to leaders they’d otherwise never have encountered. And unlike TV and radio, the internet allows followers to interact with one another and reinforce allegiance to bishops. Getting a following today doesn’t require years of moving up the church hierarchy, but the ability to get attention and keep it.
Third, there seems to be a growing populist mindset among our generation that prefers to select our leaders rather than have them selected for us. I’m sure this has a lot to do with distaste for institutions and hierarchy and all of that Strauss and Howe generations stuff.
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