One of my favorite chairs in our admittedly strange and eclectic collection of antique furniture is a piece known as "The Bishop's Chair." If anyone ever needed a reason NOT to seek that high office, this chair offers some revealing insight into the episcopacy. [If your church has a bishop's chair, or can find a bishop's chair, or an antique chair that fits the description, you might ask some people to come forward, sit in it, and describe how it feels.]

Yes, it is a handsome chair-grandly oversized to stand higher, wider, sturdier, and straighter than any ordinary chair. The back soars up, toweringly tall and heavily carved with intricate designs. Anyone under 5'2" or thereabouts will find themselves swinging their feet above the floor when they perch on this raised throne. But the back …