Question:
What is the ministry of a Bishop?
Answer:
We depend upon the ministry of bishops to provide leadership, vision, wisdom, guidance, public witness and pastoral care.
In this church, according to Chapter 7 of the ELCA churchwide constitution, there is one office of ordained ministry, the office of Word and Sacrament. As ordained ministers, bishops are called as chief pastors of a synod or of this church. Bishops, therefore, are persons who adhere to our Lutheran confessional understanding of the Christian faith. The faith of a bishop is espoused in his or her response to these questions asked in the service of Installation of a Bishop:
- Will you be faithful in your office? Will you discharge your duties in accordance with the Holy Scriptures and the Confessions of the Lutheran church and in harmony with the constitution of this synod?
- Will you be diligent in our study of the Holy Scriptures and in your use of the means of grace? Will you pray for God’s people, nourish them with the Word and Holy Sacraments, and lead them by your own example in faithful service and holy living?
- Will you give faithful witness in the world, that God’s love may be known in all that you do?
We carry many images, expectations, and experiences of what a bishop is and does. The root of the word “bishop” is from a Greek verb, which means “to look at, care for, pay attention to.” It implies tender, vigilant love and care. In the Greek political and religious world, the noun, episkopos, referred to a person with responsibility for oversight or inspection. The writer of 1 Peter refers to Jesus as “the shepherd and guardian of your souls” (2:25). Other scriptural images connected to the work of care and oversight are; shepherd, guide, leader, laborer and witness. This ministry is alongside of and for the purpose of building up and encouraging the ministries of all the people of God. The use of the term, episkopos, to refer to leaders within the Christian community was a late development within the New Testament churches (e.g., Philippians 1:1). Through the centuries, some churches have chosen to use the title “bishop” while others have used other terms. Lutherans in the United States began to use the title “bishop” in the early 1970’s. Until then, the leaders were called “presidents.”
The ministry of a synodical bishop is described carefully in provision 10.31 of the ELCA churchwide constitution and in Chapter 8, provision S8.12 and following, in the Constitution for Synods. “As the synod’s pastor,” the bishop is called to oversee, administer, preach, provide pastoral care, advise, supervise, ordain, advocate, interpret, and serve as synodical ecumenical officer. This work takes shape within the mission goals, context, and structure of each synod. The individual serving as bishop also shapes the office.
Question:
What is our mission together?
Answer:
Like a congregation preparing to call a pastor, the Churchwide Assembly or a Synod Assembly must consider its specific situation and its vision. As you approach the election of a bishop, consider:
- What are this church’s or synod’s priorities for ministry?
- What are our greatest challenges, opportunities, resources and liabilities?
- Where do we want to be in the next five to ten years?
- What priorities and emphases do we have for leadership?
- What qualities, experiences, skills, and leadership styles would serve us best?
These questions are equally appropriate for the election of a new bishop or with the possibility of reelecting the current bishop.
Question:
Who may serve as Bishop?
Answer:
The Constitution, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Constitution for Synods states that the presiding bishop and synodical bishops “shall be an ordained minister of this church” (see churchwide constitutional provision 13.21. and synodical constitutional provision S8.11.). there are no further requirements or limitations. Thus, we may nominate from a pool of more than 17,000 ordained pastors. In addition to a deep and abiding faith commitment, pastors who might serve as bishop will need to have broad skills in pastoral care and preaching, administrative leadership and the ability to lift up a vision for this church and its ministry. Pastors who serve in all the various arenas of ministry in this church – congregations, agencies, institutions, and synodical and churchwide staff – have gifts and skills that may commend them for consideration in the calling of a new bishop.
The task of electing a bishop is best served when the nominating process encourages careful consideration of many pastors of this church who bring a variety of skills and experiences, each of whom could serve ably as bishop. The conversation needs not only to be about the nominees but, most importantly, about the needs of this church.
Question:
How many Bishops are there in the ELCA?
Answer:
There are 65 synodical bishops and one presiding bishop.
Question:
What is the length of a Bishop’s term?
Answer:
A bishop is elected for a six-year term. Some synods have term limits for their bishops but the Northwestern Ohio Synod does not.
