Thus the authority of your church does not extend beyond your church. The THEORY of Apostolic Succession falls apart when you exam the lives of the Apostles. They were missionaries not Bishops. They did not elevate themselves above the leaders that individual congregations selected.
I have a question for the Catholics and Orthodox on the thread. I will pose it as a hypothetical realizing that there are varying views on the timing, etc., etc.,
But, since the Bible refers to False prophets arising and a person known as THE False Prophet in Revelation who points the way to one known as the Antichrist - what will your response be if your Patriarch or Pope steps up and says follow this person? Since the Apostate church will exist; what keeps you from following a counciliar recommendation to follow a great peace-maker who claims to be aligned with Christianity?
"They did not elevate themselves above the leaders that individual congregations selected."
The position of bishops was established within at least the lifetime of +John. It is an "elevated" position because the bishops are and always have been the successors to the Apostles. But it is always absolutely vital to remember, most especially for bishops, that they are NOT The Church. They are a part of it with a certain role to fulfill in the divine economy of salvation as are the lower clergy, the monastics and especially the laity. Hierarch worship is as bad as scripture worship, WF. Its also as common, which is why the floor of hell is paved with the skulls of bishops.