If I thought there was a proper form of polity that was a true mark of the church, I'd have [to] go with the episcopate. Good thing I don't believe there is such a thing, or I'd be in trouble.

One can distinguish between bishops and episcopal succession being of the essence of apostolicity (so that, if every bishop died, so too would the church) and their being the ordinary bearers and guardians of apostolicity among those baptized into the apostolic Faith, for the well being and full being of the church.

In the latter case, restoration of the historic episcopate to all parts of church would certainly be something to be striven for, but would not be regarded as the sina qua non of their being a church at all.