[kosta50]

Prior to the power of the state being used to enforce the will of a hierarchy churches choose to cooperate or not. Now they would no longer have that option. While the mono-bishophoric system began to emerge in the 120-130 AD it still did not have any power to force cooperation. For example Clement writes a letter complaining that the church in Corinth has changed their leadership. Other than sending a letter he had no power to deny the church in Corinth the right to do this

How's that different from Eastern Orthodoxy to this day? The Orthodox Church is organized exactly as you describe: the leader is one of the elders. All decisions are Synodal. Neither can the Synod act without the Patriarch, not the Patriarch without the Synod. His vote counts as any other bishops'.

You seem to be oblivious to the existence of the Eastern side of the Church which remains unchanged.

[wmfights]

How's that different from Eastern Orthodoxy to this day? The Orthodox Church is organized exactly as you describe: the leader is one of the elders. All decisions are Synodal. Neither can the Synod act without the Patriarch, not the Patriarch without the Synod. His vote counts as any other bishops'.

I thought this was how your church functions.

You seem to be oblivious to the existence of the Eastern side of the Church which remains unchanged.

I have a rudimentary understanding of the EO. The discussion originated with a RC poster and I was referencing the church formation in the west.