What’s In A Name?
Our word ‘bishop’ comes from the New Testament word episcopos. It’s an Anglo-
Saxon- language-development-thing: episcopos got shortened to episcop. Then somebody thought biscup sounded better than episcop. And from biscup it’s not too far to bishop.The New Testament word episcopos means “overseer”, or “one who has oversight”. You may ask: “Oversight of what, or whom?” In Christian tradition oversight has meant two things:
1) Overseeing the continuing ministry of Jesus Christ in each new time and place;
a) through the ministry of all Christians in general;
b) through the ministry of those ordained to serve the local Body of Christ2) Overseeing and defending the unity and continuity of the Church of Jesus Christ
as it has been handed down.From A Resource Paper Published by the Diocese of Edmonton Executive Council
To Aid Discernment in the process of raising up the next Bishop of the Diocese.
Well, I've taken some time to carefully look at the various materials available from the candidates for upcoming episcopal election of the next Bishop of Edmonton. But before looking at anything specific in regards to candidates' answers, the first question I must ask myself is: what is a bishop?
Overseeing the "continuing ministry of Jesus Christ in each new time and place". An episcopal office is one of continuity. It is to be in fellowship with the communion of the saints throughout the ages. Yet a bishop is to bring the same gospel into new times and places. It is the twofold arena of the Great Commission: time and place. This oversight is, in the office of bishop, for "all Christians". It is universal or "catholic". And in each particular bishop it is local - a bishop has a certain diocese in which to exercise his ministry.
So when I ask what a bishop is, I begin to look at three things. The bishop continues the ministry of Jesus which was handed on to the Twelve, and from them to the next generation, and down to us in this day. This is our responsibility through time - our tie to the generations of Christians who preceded us, and the faith we hand on to those who will follow us. Second, a bishop is a bishop for the whole church. A bishop is not simply a bishop for my own parish, or even for my own diocese. The church is truly catholic when a bishop exercises a ministry in connection with the whole church. Third, a bishop has a specific vocation to exercise ministry for the local congregations under his oversight, and each "new time and place" will have its own challenges and needs. There seems to be a rather organic balance desired here. A bishop needs to be an agent of continuity, but is called to minister in new times and places. A bishop needs to minister locally, but needs to be connected to the catholic church.
For myself, I find that addressing the question "what is a bishop" helps to give a framework within which to approach our episcopal election. By no means is this an exhaustive list of what a bishop is called to be. Read and digest the whole resource paper. Perhaps some of us will skip this step and jump straight into looking at the candidates' materials. But unless I have a sense of what the office calls for, how will I know how to discern? It is of course obvious that only one candidate will become our next bishop. So to all the candidates who have allowed their names to stand we should offer our prayers and our thanks. It is no easy thing to be up for public scrutiny and discernment.
Pray without ceasing.
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