Bishop (Mormonism)
In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Bishop is the leader of a local congregation and an office of the aaronic priesthood. The Mormon concept of the office differs significantly from the role of bishops in other Christian denominations, both of which differ from the understanding in various other Latter Day Saint denominations and sects, as the LDS Bishop in some respects is more analogous to a pastor or parish priest, or the Presiding officer of a congregation in other Latter Day Saint Tradtions. Each bishop serves with two counselors, which together form a bishopric.
History of the Office
Edward Partridge became the first man ordained to the office of bishop in the early Latter Day Saint church on February 4, 1831. The duties of the office were to oversee the temporal affairs and accounts of the church. Partridge emigrated to the church's growing colony in Jackson County, Missouri and continued to act as "First Bishop" of the church there. Newell K. Whitney was then called to be "Second Bishop" to oversee the temporal affairs of the church in Kirtland, Ohio. When the Latter Day Saints were headquartered in Nauvoo, Illinois, the membership was separated into "wards" or geographical precincts and a bishop was called to oversee the temporal affairs of each ward. The role of the "First Bishop" was expanded to preside over bishops of the various wards (and thus became known as the office of the Presiding Bishop). After the 1844 succession crisis, the offices of bishop and Presiding Bishop developed separately in the various resulting denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement.
Bishops in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
In the largest Latter Day Saint denomination, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), Bishops are called from among the members of a local congregations known as a ward and traditionally serve for 5 years without pay (the actual length of service can vary). A bishop must be a High Priest in the Melchizedek Priesthood and serves as the Presiding High Priest of the ward. A bishop simultaneously serves as the president of the Aaronic Priesthood. In a branch (congregations not large enough to draw the full complement of leadership positions from its own ranks), the Branch President fulfills the same functions listed below for a bishop; however, in branches where there are no high priests the branch president does not need to be a high priest. See Hierarchy.
Duties
The Bishop holds the primary responsibility for everything in the ward, both spiritually and temporally. Although he can delegate specific assignments to his counselors, the ultimate responsibility falls to him. His duties include presiding over and conducting meetings and worship services, serving as President of the ward's Quorum of Priests, acting as a "Judge in Israel" or "common judge", providing temporary financial relief for ward members, serving as the Presiding High Priest of the ward, and organizing and managing the ward's auxiliary organizations. After being called, a Bishop is ordained a High Priest (if he does not already hold that priesthood office) and then set apart as the Bishop and as Presiding High Priest of the Ward. He is also given the Priesthood Keys which authorize him to serve as a representative for the Lord in performing his duties. - Conducting Services — Each Sunday, the Bishop is responsible for organizing the primary worship services, called Sacrament Meeting. The Bishop and his counselors select speakers from among the members of the ward, assigned high council speakers, and on occasion guest speakers. Infrequently, the bishop or his councelors also speak in Sacrament Meeting. A member of the Bishopric presides at the meeting, introduces the speakers and occasionally concludes the meeting with a few remarks. Once each month, normally the first Sunday of the month, a "Fast and Testimony Meeting is held and no specific speakers are assigned. Instead, those attending the ward that day are invited to stand and bear testimony of the Savior and His work and influence.
- President of the Priest's Quorum — The bishop is the President of the Aaronic Priesthood and the Priest Quorum in the ward. He selects two priests to serve as 1st and 2nd Assistants to the bishop. The bishop is responsible to prepare each priest to worthily serve as a missionary and to prepare to receive the ordinances of the temple.
- Be a Judge in Israel — Members are interviewed by their bishop in order to receive a Temple Recommend. The bishop signs the recommend to indicate that the member is following basic tenants of the Church and is worthy to enter the Temple. Additionally, members seek out guidance from the bishop in overcoming personal challenges. Serious sins must be confessed to the bishop who helps members through the repentence process. In some cases, the bishop presides over a Church Disciplinary Council where the outcome can include admonistment, probation, disfellowshipment, or, excommunication depending on the severity of the sin and the attitude of the wardmember. Additionally, the bishop also has the authority and duty to counsel members on spiritual matters, and sits as a “common judge” in the event of disputes between wardmembers. Bishops typically withdraw from involvement in matters which have been taken to the law.
- Provide temporally for the members of the ward — Bishops also have the responsibility to oversee the payment of tithes and offerings in a ward, including the duty to accurately account for all monies donated within his ward. The bishop also has the authority to authorize financial, specifically the disbursement of fast offerings donated to help the poor, and other assistance to wardmembers according to the guidelines of the Church. He disperses these funds after evaluating the need of families in his ward. The other assitance a Bishop can provide consist of "in kind" assistance in the form of food and household goods from the Bishop's storehouse (which is managed by the Presiding Bishop (see below).
- Serve as the presiding High Priest for the Ward — As the presiding High Priest, the Bishop leads meetings and has the priesthood authority to issue callings, approve the performance of ordinances such as baptisms and the administration of the sacrament.
- Organize and manage the other organizations in the ward — The bishop is responsible for calling the president of each auxillary organization. These organizations are: Sunday School, Relief Society, Young Men's Presidency, Young Woman's Presidency, Primary, Aaronic Priesthod Quorums and Young Women Class Presidencies. Additionally, he approves the recommendations made by each auxillary president for 2 counselors, a secretary, teachers (if applicable) and other callings within the organization. In doing this, the Bishop manages the time donated by members of the ward.
Among Latter-day Saints, the Bishop is considered "the father of the ward" and is usually the leader most intimately involved with Church membership.
Presiding Bishop
See Presiding Bishop The LDS Church also has a Presiding Bishopric which oversees the temporal affairs of the Church (including its Welfare Services) and provides assistance and instruction to the various bishoprics worldwide. However, there is no ecclesiastical or priesthood reporting relationship as the bishop's ecclesiastical priesthood leader is the Stake President.
Levitical Bishops
Interestingly, according to Latter Day Saint doctrines, a Bishop does not need to be a High Priest nor does he need counselors if he is a Levite and a direct descendant of Aaron, Moses' brother. There is no current Bishop serving under this doctrine, and such a Bishop could not fulfill all the duties enumerated above (such as the serving as the Presiding High Priest of the Ward).
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