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A few thoughts about *bishop* in the COG.

Friendly Face Posts: 144 **5/8/17 1:04 pm**

Since GA 2016, I have thought periodically about the (in)appropriateness of the term *bishop* in our church. While I agree with some of the reasons given for restricting *bishop* to a group smaller than all of those at the third level of ordination, below are the primary reasons that I think we should keep *bishop* in this broader sense. I offer them as an affirmation of our leadershipï¿½s recognition that this topic could benefit from public discussion in our church.

1. Although many ordained bishops do not provide oversight of regions of churchesï¿½one of the most important responsibilities of bishops in the history of Christianityï¿½they do provide oversight of our churchï¿½s doctrine and polityï¿½another of bishopsï¿½ most important historic responsibilities. Bishops called the Son *of one essence* with the Father, called the Holy Spirit the *Lord and Giver of Life,* and gave us the rest of the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed. Bishops continue to meet to determine doctrine and polity, whether at the Second Vatican Council or the Church of God International General Council. This is the work of overseers, the work of bishops, because it is pastoral work of a particular kind. It is *pastoring* the universal church in its various traditions.

2. Keeping *bishop* maintains important continuity with other historic church traditions who also have a three-tiered structure for ordination and use *bishop* for the third level of ordination. The terminology helps bind together church traditions thatï¿½in my opinion, correctlyï¿½believe in episcopal church government. If we are going to consider terminological change for our levels of ordination, perhaps it should be *exhorter* to *deacon* and *ordained minister* to *presbyter* or *elder,* rather than *bishop* to something else. *Exhorter* to *deacon* could parallel nicely with other churches who affirm that ordination as a deacon can be either a permanent status or a step towards other levels of ordination, since some COG exhorters remain exhorters and some do not. It could help rehabilitate *exhorter* as a level of ordination at which one discerns whether or not to proceed to other levels of ordination or faithfully to fulfill the responsibilities of an exhorter for the rest of oneï¿½s ministry, something in which there should be no shame. In this way, *stopping at exhorter* would not necessarily be a failure to follow through with oneï¿½s ministerial ambitions.

3. There is already a mechanism in place for making the distinctionï¿½an important one that needs to be made, I believeï¿½between bishops who provide oversight of regions of churches and bishops who do not. We do not need to change the name of the level of ordination itself to do this. We use terms like *administrative bishop* and *presiding bishop,* which do not distinguish different levels of ordination but different roles carried by various persons, all of whom are *bishops* by ordination. Neither should we restrict the constituency of the IGC to those who are administrative bishops or executive bishops since a group that small should not have exclusive hold on such a grand responsibility.

4. Another of the most important responsibilities of a bishop is *to pastor pastors,* to be a shepherd to those who have direct oversight of a local church. This can come in the form of the practical training and advice that many administrative bishops provide well for their pastors. And yet, those of us who are theological educatorsï¿½even if we are not administrative bishopsï¿½also *pastor (future) pastors* by teaching them the historic Christian faith. We have devoted our lives to careful and detailed academic study of the Christian faith in order to teach itï¿½in all of its breadth, complexity, and beautyï¿½to others who will in turn teach it to others. This, too, is the work of a bishop. And, by the way, several of us are women.

I do not oversee a region of churches or even pastor a single church. However, I, and many others, help oversee the doctrine and polity of our church and *pastor pastors* by teaching them the Christian faith. We do not perform all of the historic responsibilities of bishops, but we perform enough of the most important ones to retain the title *bishop.*

I am a bishop, and I take that responsibility seriously.

I also look forward to continued discussion of this issue in our church.

I would like to learn from your insights as well.

5. Title Touters

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 15570 **5/8/17 1:56 pm**

Another reason to maintain the current nomenclatural component of "bishop" is to give the "Title Touters" one more option. I remember the GA in which all Ordained Ministers became Bishops. Prior to that GA, not one of them used the title "Ordained Minister Doe" or "Rev. Doe, OM." However, before many of them arrived home they had already contacted the local Office Depot, Staples, etc., and ordered a doorplate, desk plate, business cards and church stationary, designating themselves as "BISHOP Doe." Many of em came home, an while not directly sayin to the church "I'm a bishop now, so please address me as 'Bishop Doe,'" they got the point across that they wanted the church to commence callin em Bishop Doe. Hey, I've even stood behind em in the funeral home line during visitation an seen where they signed the visitors ledger as "Bishop Doe."

I agree with Chris, we can't take this title away from em. They would be too many bleedin hearts an wounded spirits.

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 16646 **5/8/17 2:03 pm**

Wasn't Bishop an attempt to close the door on women at the highest level?

Bishop Paula White wouldn't sound right, would it?
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[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 12817 **5/8/17 2:26 pm**

If we understand the term in its primary NT usage, it simply denotes one who has oversight of a congregation, an elder/shepherd/pastor. The whole hierarchical structure of postapostolic Christianity, with the concept of translocal bishops, archbishops, and so forth, is what people typically think of when they hear the title, "bishop." But in the beginning it was not so. If we are faithful to our restorationist roots, we will seek to restore the NT structure and function of the church.

Hey, DOC Posts: 50 **5/8/17 7:15 pm**

We should also call all of the pastors wives First Lady.

01000001 01100011 01110100 01110011 Posts: 24285 **5/8/17 9:27 pm**

Acts Enthusiast Posts: 1865 **5/8/17 9:49 pm**

I recently read an online bio of one of our ministers. On his website he not only touts the fact that he is a bishop but also listed that he was a son of a bishop. That led to all types of inappropriate humor in my mind.

Officially I'm an OB, but I have no intention of ever using the moniker. My congregation addresses me in a myriad of different ways, but I always announce myself by my first name. Just like the KJV, if it was good enough for Peter, James, and John, I figure it's good enough for me.

Acts Enthusiast Posts: 1865 **5/8/17 10:35 pm**

Paul was an Apostle. There were times he cited that fact. But there was also a continuing humility. He was "the least of the apostles", "the least of all saints", and ultimately "the chief of sinners". I don't judge anyone that goes by the title of "bishop", but it's just not my practice. To each his own.

01000001 01100011 01110100 01110011 Posts: 24285 **5/8/17 10:45 pm**

DaSheik

Acts Enthusiast Posts: 1274 **5/9/17 7:30 am**

[quote="Da Sheik Officially I'm an OB, but I have no intention of ever using the moniker. My congregation addresses me in a myriad of different ways, but I always announce myself by my first name. Just like the KJV, if it was good enough for Peter, James, and John, I figure it's good enough for me.[/quote]

Never thought of that before. I am a "bishop" as well and never really use the title unless I am trying to be a punk. Simply put my name is Wayne and hopefully that lets people know who I am.

Re: DaSheik

Acts Enthusiast Posts: 1994 **5/9/17 8:33 am**

Golf Cart Mafia Consigliere Posts: 3382 **5/9/17 8:53 am**

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 15570 **5/9/17 11:34 am**

[quote="diakoneo"]

01000001 01100011 01110100 01110011 Posts: 24285 **5/9/17 10:50 pm**