wfn.org | Commentary: What does a bishop do?

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May 16, 2002  News media contact: Tim Tanton7(615)742-54707Nashville, Tenn.
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NOTE: A photograph of the Rev. J. Richard Peck is available at
http://umns.umc.org/photos/headshots.html.

A UMNS Commentary
By the Rev. J. Richard Peck*
 
Most laypeople see a bishop only at a special anniversary celebration,
presiding over an annual conference or serving as the celebrant of an
ordination service. The rest of the time, the bishop disappears from the
landscape.

Just what does a bishop do?

Ask retired bishops how they spent their time, many say most of their time
was spent answering mail. "We counted an average of 43 first-class letters a
day," says retired Bishop Robert Spain. The former bishop of the Louisville
(Ky.) Area says he spent hours recording answers to these inquiries and
concerns. His secretary later typed the letters for his signature.

When speaking with active bishops, it becomes clear that e-mail has
radically altered their operating style. Most say they personally reply to
e-mail messages and ask their assistants to handle routine requests for
information. The bishops report receiving as many as 60 e-mail messages a
day. Some use pre-prepared responses, others write original responses to all
mailings. In the long run, bishops today may spend more time responding to
e-mail messages than they or their predecessors spent replying to regular
letters a decade ago.

It would be difficult to count the number of people who "demand" to see the
bishop about a burning issue in their congregation or district. While
bishops cannot always see people as quickly as demanded, most of them do
allow time for such persons.

It will come as no surprise that bishops attend a lot of meetings.
Conference agencies frequently need the presence of a bishop, and the
episcopal leaders also represent the Council of Bishops at meetings of
international United Methodist and ecumenical bodies.

Of course, bishops are responsible for all clergy appointments in the annual
(regional) conferences they serve. They spend hours working with district
superintendents to give careful attention to the needs of pastors and
churches.

Twice a year, the bishops gather at Council of Bishops meetings, where they
share common concerns and discuss ways to strengthen the church. The
international body also addresses difficult ecclesiastical and social
justice issues. At full strength, the council has nearly 150 active and
retired bishops from the United States, Africa, Europe and the Philippines.

During a recent council meeting, the bishops discussed ways to prepare
clergy and laity for cross-racial appointments, addressed concern over child
and sexual abuse, conferred on ways in which difficult issues such as
homosexuality can be helpfully addressed, and received reports and issued a
statement on the crisis in the Middle East. 

Noting that the president of the council now serves for only one year, the
bishops discussed structures that might ensure greater continuity. 

Bishops also meet in regional groups called "colleges" to discuss particular
issues within five jurisdictions in the United States. One college of
bishops deals with concerns in Africa, Europe and the Philippines. 

Do bishops take a day off each week? An informal survey found that most
bishops are unable to do so. Every Sunday, you will find them in local
churches celebrating anniversaries, dedicating new structures or preaching
for a special occasion. Even when bishops plan a day away from the office, a
new crisis frequently changes that plan.

Newspaper reports on actions taken by the Council of Bishops, General
Conference or annual conference, frequently occupy some of the bishops'
daily agenda. Such reports may take words out of context, be filed under
inflammatory headlines, or be inaccurate, but bishops are expected to
define, defend and explain actions of these groups.

An irony of being on the Council of Bishops is that one is unable to vote at
General Conference. Various members of the council preside over the
quadrennial assembly, one member is elected to address the conference, and
the bishops have a right to petition the body, but they cast no votes during
the 10-day international gathering. Nevertheless, the bishops are frequently
asked to defend action by that legislative assembly.

While serving as secretary of state, Henry Kissinger was once asked how it
feels to hold a high position in the most powerful nation of the world. The
veteran statesman said he felt no such power since he was always struggling
with the limitations of his position. Lay people may feel bishops have
ultimate power and are responsible for everything that is wrong about the
church, but bishops, as Kissinger, feel frustrated by the disciplinary
limitations placed on their offices.

# # #

*Peck, former editor of Newscope, Circuit Rider and the International
Christian Digest, is the information officer for the Council of Bishops.

Commentaries provided by United Methodist News Service do not necessarily
represent the opinions or policies of UMNS or the United Methodist Church.

*************************************
United Methodist News Service
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