In late August and early September, Rev’d Thornton’s homilies touched on the subject of the Apostolic Succession, the historical line of authority from Christ and his apostles to this day. The churches that maintain the apostolic successions of presiding bishops from St. Peter to the present are the Anglican Communion churches (including, of course, the Episcopal Church in the United States), the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and some Lutheran churches.

Attached to this page is a document that names the presiding bishops who descend from Jesus Christ and his apostles, especially St. Peter and St. John. This document was published by the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas as part of their search for a new diocesan Bishop. Click here to see the chart.