Page "Apostolic succession" Paragraph 29

Churches that claim some form of episcopal apostolic succession, dating back to the apostles or to leaders from the apostolic era, include the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches, the Church of the East, the Anglican Communion, and some Lutheran Churches ( see below ).

The Anglican Communion ( see below ) and those Lutheran Churches which claim apostolic succession do not specifically teach this but exclusively practice episcopal ordination.

While some Anglicans claim it for their communion, their views are often nuanced and there is widespread reluctance to ' unchurch ' Christian bodies which lack it.