Bishops

[Try]

In between Conferences, bishops govern the UMC. It appears that most other Wesleyan/Methodist denominations are not episcopal. Is government by bishops a good thing?

 

[ClementofRome]

As with anything, it is good, not to good and bad. A good Bishop is a very good thing. A not so good Bishop is useless. A bad Bishop can cause great harm and is not a good thing. I suppose we could begin giving examples of the above, but most of us in the UMC have their own war stories.

Generally speaking, the episcopal form of government works and works well. As one who spent some time in a Presbyterian denomination, I see much good at work in the episcopal system. However, just as with politics, power can corrupt. I believe that if anyone would strive to be Bishop that individual take 1 Timothy 3 VERY seriously and apply a mountainous dose of humility and Christ-likeness to the office.

That was a long winded way of saying....yes, "government by bishops is a good thing" (caveat above applied).

 

[WiredSpirit]

Maybe they're just not called "Bishops" in the other Wesleyan denominations. I know the next step up in power in the Church of the Nazareen is the District Superintendant. Maybe they have similar roles as a Bishop.

 

[WesleyJohn]

.

 

[overnight]

I just wanted to say that the Iowa confrenece has a wonderful bishop. He came to our church Sept 19th to celebrate with us our 150th anniversary. He is an excelent preacher (which I hear is not always the case). Secound many many pastors speak well of him. So we are furtunate I think to have a great bishop over Iowa.

 

[herev]

Since it's the only system I know, it's hard to judge, but I agree with Clement's posts--like all systems of church polity, it can be abused, but the system itself is not a bad thing

 

[Try]

On the dubject of Good Bishops, the inimitable William B. Oden just retired. However Will Willimon has recieved a very well deserved promotion.

 

[herev]

On the dubject of Good Bishops, the inimitable William B. Oden just retired. However Will Willimon has recieved a very well deserved promotion.

Willimon is one of my favorite writers. I will find it interesting to see how he approaches the job, since he has not been in a traditional pastoral setting for so long--I will be watching to see what happens with great interest!

 

[ClementofRome]

herev, fill me in with what's going on with Willimon??? Did he leave Duke?

 

[WesleyJohn]

.

 

[herev]

herev, fill me in with what's going on with Willimon??? Did he leave Duke?

He was elected bishop this year at Jurisdictional--Alabama I believe. So, he has left Duke

 

[Polycarp1]

The Bishops of the UMC were originally intended by Wesley to be referred to as General Superintendents (much like the Nazarenes have at present). IIRC, Francis Asbury adopted the title of Bishop, since the job of the General Superintendent is the oversight (episkopé) of the connectional church as Paul specifies is the work of a bishop. I think it's probably important for Catholics, Orthodox, and Anglicans reading this thread to recognize that Methodist Bishops are not a "superior order of ministry," but elders (presbyterioi, otherwise known as presbyters or priests) named to the duty of oversight of the church. (That little differentiation threw me for a loop when I was first reading up on church history as a Methodist.)

 

[herev]

The Bishops of the UMC were originally intended by Wesley to be referred to as General Superintendents (much like the Nazarenes have at present). IIRC, Francis Asbury adopted the title of Bishop, since the job of the General Superintendent is the oversight (episkopé) of the connectional church as Paul specifies is the work of a bishop. I think it's probably important for Catholics, Orthodox, and Anglicans reading this thread to recognize that Methodist Bishops are not a "superior order of ministry," but elders (presbyterioi, otherwise known as presbyters or priests) named to the duty of oversight of the church. (That little differentiation threw me for a loop when I was first reading up on church history as a Methodist.)

My UM History professor is somewhat of an expert on Wesley. He described the letter that Wesley sent to Asbury after Asbury adopted said title as beginning something to the effect of: "Frankie, what have you done?"