I attend a Baptist church and recently the minister has been referred to as Bishop-elect...I have been a Baptist all of my life and never heard of a Bishop in the hierachy of Baptists. Does anyone know about this...references would be great!
2007-01-07 14:52:58 · 3 answers · asked by debdozier 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It's true that Baptists don't have a hierarchy above the local church, but the word "bishop" is just a traditional translation of the greek word "episkopos." This word, for instance, is the one used in the New Testament when I Timothy 3 gives instructions about how to choose a pastor. In the NIV, that's an "overseer" although in the KJV and the NRSV it reads "bishop."
So, it's ok for a Baptist pastor to be called "bishop," as long as it is understood that the title is just the original word for "pastor" and doesn't confer any new powers.
2007-01-07 15:30:33 · answer #1 · answered by wozzeck33 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He is NOT a Bishop in the Apostolic sense (high church) but if he wants to declare himself to be a bishop then nobody can stop him. It would be about as effective as declaring myself to be a woman.
Only the Catholic and Orthodox Churches have Bishops as they have maintained the Apostolic succession.
2007-01-07 15:13:53 · answer #2 · answered by tropicalturbodave 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Baptists, as a rule don't believe in a hierarchical church structure.
This may be the right time for you to finally become Catholic.
2007-01-07 15:00:14 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋