Diocese of Newark
The Search/Nominating Committee
for the 10th Bishop of Newark
Learning Topic Three
From the Nominating Committee for the 10th Bishop of Newark
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The Role of the Bishop
in the Episcopal Church USA
Chief Priest
"You are called to guard the faith, unity, and discipline of the Church; to celebrate and to provide for the administration of the sacraments of the New Covenant; to ordain priests and deacons and to join in ordaining bishops; and to be in all things a faithful pastor and wholesome example for the entire flock of Christ." "With your fellow bishops you will share in the leadership of the Church throughout the world." - The Ordination of a Bishop - The Examination - Book of Common Prayer p 517.The bishop will be a bridge between the local community and all the other parishes and missions of the diocese, and of the diocese with the Church throughout the world.
Leader
A bishop is called to "lead in building community in the life and mission of the diocese. One of the strengths of our Church is the diocese. The bishop can make a difference as to whether parishes look to themselves as isolated units or whether they know they are an integral part of community of churches". A bishop must "uphold the diocese in prayer. A priority of a bishop's time must be prayer. To pray is to affirm that the power for all ministry in the diocese is from God. To pray is to affirm that the role of the bishop is not to be a popular leader but to be God's servant, seeking God's will and direction. To pray is to be open to the love of God". - Reginald Hollis - The Role and Qualities of a Bishop - The Living Church - June 6, 2004 p 29.Thoughts and questions for reflection
How would we as a diocesan community like to see our Bishop as Chief Priest in the encouragement and support of our ministries?
What would we like to have in a Bishop that lifts up lay leadership to serve in significant roles in the Church's work?
Should the Bishop as Leader of this diocese share a similar view on issues facing the Church on a national/international level?
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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 25, 2005, the 19th Sunday after Pentecost.
The purpose of this series of learning topics is to provide information and to stimulate discussion about the search for a new bishop in this diocese.
Our thanks to the Diocese of Southwest Florida for partial or complete reprint of their educational material.
Revised December 8, 2005
© 2005 Episcopal Diocese of Newark.