If Jesus Christ is the head of the Church, why do we also speak of other ‘heads,’ such as the bishop, or the head of the ‘Russian Orthodox Church?’
As the Apostle Paul writes of the Church, God’s building: no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ himself (1Co 3:10–11). In the ontological and eternal sense, therefore, the Church, as the Body of Christ, can have no Head but Jesus Christ.
Because the Church abides and is manifested through all generations, she needs an ever-living Head, able to save “to the uttermost” (Heb 7:25; see Q266, Q402), and such a Head is Jesus Christ alone.
Even the Apostle Paul, who had “concern for all the churches” (2Co 11:28), takes no higher title than “minister”, servant, of the Church (Col 1:24–25; see Q360). Knowing that Christ is head not only of the Church but of all things (Eph 1:22; Col 2:10; see Q151, Q256), we see why other “heads,” “rulers,” or “teachers” can bear such titles only in a secondary and representative sense, never in competition with or replacement of Christ. Likewise, Christ is the “chief Shepherd” (1Pe 5:4; Heb 13:20; see Q306, Q358) and the only “good Shepherd” (Joh 10:14–16), who permits some of his servants to serve as “shepherds to the Church of God” (Act 20:28; see Q256, Q357).
Thus, although “head” or “teacher” (2Ti 1:11) may rightly be used of the bishop, who presides over the Eucharistic assembly and takes the place of Christ in reciting the words of institution, or of a senior figure such as the primate of a patriarchate, this is never in a sense meant to detract from Christ’s unique and eternal headship.
