[Cronos]

Jesus is our Shepherd, Cronos, and it is He who directs, cares and feeds us. It is to Him we look and as we do He warns us of wolfs beforehand, and He did do just that saying they would even come from within the fold...some heed...some will not or cannot for they are not His to begin with.

Of course -- we all acknowledge that Christ is the Good shepherd.

Yet Acts 20:28 says Be shepherds of the church of God

and 1 Peter 5:2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be;

"politics is always included as well" -- I agree, sadly, that is why some of the saintliest bishops refused these offices but were practically forced to at times.

I of course disagree with you about leaving and jumping because of an earthly leader. Our true leader is Christ, so if we have a bonehead priest or bishop or pope, that's irrelevant, what is relevant is Christ Himself.

Jumping from ship to ship like many do is really wrong -- you see so many who jump and lose their way terribly (Michael Servetus for one notable example). The trick is to stay and believe in God and God's ability to change things.

If I take the example that we consider The Church to be akin to the royal priesthood of Israel, the native Israelites did not change their Israeliism because of a bad king or high priest. Those that did, ended badly (the Northern tribes). Rather the truth is to stay and let God lead.

[topcat54]

Protestant ministers of the word and elders have always been considered Christ’s undershepherds in His flock.

[caww]

so if we have a bonehead priest or bishop or pope, that's irrelevant, what is relevant is Christ Himself.

But it is relevant in every way...if those who appoint him cannot or will not un-appoint or replace him, then overtime yes indeed it is time to move on. That's not church jumping, that's simply being wise and careful to distinguish when it is time to do so.

we consider The Church to be akin to the royal priesthood of Israel, the native Israelites did not change their Israeliism because of a bad king or high priest.

But Christ did indeed CHANGE the whole equation of the Priesthood. As the body of believers in Christ we do not fashion ourselves as Israel, for we are not Israel. We are under the new covenant. So that ends that discussion. I see no comparrison there... thus no need for the Priesthood as Christ is our Priest entire and alone Him.

IMO the Priesthood of the catholic church is three quarters of the problem. Without them the laity might have opportunity to establish a better relationship with Christ instead of going thru all the hoops and loops the Priest require the laity jump thru. But of course they get their orders from Rome....one hand does feed the other.