The Office of Bishop

“Bishops represent and serve Christ and the Church as chief pastors, catechists, and missionaries in the tradition of the apostles.  They are to confirm and ordain, and to guard the faith, unity, and discipline of the Church.” (To Be A Christian: An Anglican Catechism, Question 143)

According to The Ordinal of the Anglican Church in North America, those ordained to the office of bishop are charged with weighty responsibilities.  A bishop is to engage faithfully and energetically in these forms of service:

  • To instruct the people of his diocese out of the Holy Scriptures
  • To exhort the people of his diocese with wholesome doctrine and to resist and correct those who contradict such doctrine
  • To banish from his diocese all erroneous doctrine and to call upon the people of his diocese to do the same both publicly and privately
  • To maintain, such as he is able, love and peace among the people of his diocese and to exercise discipline with it as this office is committed to him by the Word of God and the Order of the Church
  • To be faithful in examining, confirming, ordaining, and sending forth the people of God
  • To exercise gentle and merciful care for the poor and the needy and to all strangers in need

The Gulf Atlantic Diocese of the Anglican Church in North America seeks candidates who possess the requisite character and stamina for the office of bishop, men who possess a sound, living and joyful faith and whose life and teaching can serve as an example and encouragement to the diocese.  Candidates should be able to exercise the office of bishop as set forth in The Ordinal and should, therefore, be committed to:

  • Teaching and preaching the Holy Scriptures in a way that edifies, encourages, and empowers the diocese for mission
  • Acting as a guardian and interpreter of the apostolic faith
  • Raising up faithful lay people for ministry
  • Raising up, forming and encouraging faithful deacons and priests
  • Attending to the needs of the poor and the strangers in our midst and encouraging parishes to so the same in their communities
  • Regularly visiting parishes to preach, confirm, encourage, and support
Next: The Duties of the Bishop