As a bishop or as bishop

Question

The Anglican Church has urged US church leaders to apologise for ordaining a gay priest as bishop.

The call was made by the Lambeth Commission, set up after the ordination of Gene Robinson threatened to split the worldwide Anglican church.

Commission chairman Irish Anglican leader Robin Eames concluded: "There remains a very real danger that we will not choose to walk together."

The report called for a moratorium on the consecration of gay candidates.

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In the first sentence, you will read the words 'ordaining a gay priests as bishop'. Shouldn't it be 'ordaining a gay priests as a bishop' ?

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Either way is OK.  'As a bishop' means as one member of that hierarchy; 'as bishop' means as that title.  'Mr. Kerry may be elected President.'

MrPedantic · Answer

Hello Andrei

There's a 3rd, article-less construction:

'He was ordained bishop last month.'

This form is often used in ecclesiastical announcements.

MrP

CalifJim · Answer

Verbs with predicative compliments.

A: X -without the article - role - the role / title / occupation of X

1) bishop
2) as bishop
3) to be bishop

B: an X - with the article - individual - a person who is an X ; a person who is one of any number of X's

1) a bishop
2) as a bishop
3) to be a bishop

When the noun can be considered a role, either the A series or the B series is possible, the A series being slightly preferred. Otherwise, only the B series is possible. * = Wrong!

They appointed him bishop.
They appointed him a bishop.
*He considered himself happy man.
He considered himself a happy man.
They treated him as king.
They treated him as a king.
*They treated him as intruder.
They treated him as an intruder.

1, 2, or 3: acknowledge, appoint, consider, deem, elect, nominate, ordain, ...
1 or 2: label, ...
1 or 3: declare, judge, think, ...
2 or 3: intend, mean, portray, train, treat, ...
1: call, name, term, ...
2: accept, address, classify, use, ...
3: allow, feel, guess, know, recognize, suspect, ...

I consider Peter a good judge of character.
I consider Peter as a good judge of character.
I consider Peter to be a good judge of character.

The committee appointed Richard chairman.
The committee appointed Richard as chairman.
The committee appointed Richard to be chairman.

The opposition labeled the candidate a traitor.
The opposition labeled the candidate as a traitor.
*The opposition labeled the candidate to be a traitor.

The judges declared John the winner.
*The judges declared John as the winner.
The judges declared John to be the winner.

*His father portrayed him a criminal.
His father portrayed him as a criminal.
His father portrayed him to be a criminal.

His classmates used to call him "Biff".
*His classmates used to call him as "Biff".
*His classmates used to call him to be "Biff".

*Unfortunately, no one accepted him leader.
Unfortunately, no one accepted him as leader.
*Unfortunately, no one accepted him to be leader.

*I have always known him an honest man.
*I have always known him as an honest man.
I have always known him to be an honest man.

[English Verb Classes and Alternations by Beth Levin was the model for these.]

As a bishop or as bishop

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