Diocese of Newark
The Search/Nominating Committee
for the 10th Bishop of Newark
Learning Topic One
From the Nominating Committee for the 10th Bishop of Newark
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The Role of the Bishop
in the Episcopal Church USA
Apostle
What does it mean to be an apostle? The word apostle means "one who is sent forth". Jesus sent forth his devoted followers into the world to preach the Gospel and practice their ministry of redemption and forgiveness. Bishops are considered successors of the apostles in the sense that they have inherited the apostolic message. The Book of Common Prayer asks and requires that the bishop be a serious student of the Scriptures whose understanding of the world is enlightened by the wisdom of the Scriptures. The bishop speaks as the leader of the diocesan community. It is the role of an apostolic teacher to bring people to maturity in their Christian faith so that they too can function as teachers of the faith.Prophet
The bishop is also a prophet who preserves and proclaims God's revelation. On behalf of the Church, the Bishop witnesses to the truth of God in the world. In the ordination service the bishop is assigned the exemplary role we all reaffirm at baptism to "persevere in resisting evil, to proclaim by word and example the Good news of God in Christ,Éseek and serve Christ in all persons loving our neighbors as ourselves and to strive for justice and peace among all people, and to respect the dignity of every human being". During the ordination service the Bishop Elect commits to "enlighten the minds and stir up the conscience of the people", and to be "merciful to all, showing compassion to the poor and strangers, and to defend those who have no helper."A bishop is called to lead the church's vocal witness to God's justice and mercy and to live a life that testifies to the Kingdom of God in the secular sphere of public and private life.
Scripture References:
Matthew 25:31-46
1 Cor. 4:1 "Stewards of the Mysteries of God"Book of Common Prayer:
BCP p.304-5
BCP p.517-18
Topic Summary Statement
and Themes for Reflection
ÉThe roles of Apostle and Prophet are essential parts of the office of the bishop. The early church emphasized these qualities in choosing successors to the early leaders. How do we look at these qualities in this day and age? What are other terms for these concepts? Does modern society hold its leaders to this calling?
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This page was prepared by the Nominating Committee for the 10th Bishop of Newark and will be available as a learning leaflet to be reproduced as an insert in parish bulletins of September 11, 2005, the 17th Sunday after Pentecost.
Our thanks to the Diocese of Southwest Florida for partial or complete reprint of their educational material.
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Revised December 8, 2005
© 2005 Episcopal Diocese of Newark.