More Baptist pastors adopt bishop title

[chev1958]

This is a couple of months old, but I just found it today while researching something else ...


More Baptist pastors adopt bishop title
Boston Herald
July 21, 2010

The Rev. John M. Borders III approached the pulpit at Morning Star Baptist Church on a recent Sunday wearing his usual suit and tie. He adjusted his glasses, as he often does, and proceeded to deliver to the packed sanctuary a thunderstorm of a sermon on a theme from Revelation: “No more delays!’’

In the pews, some sOBbed. Some shouted, "Yes, Lord!" Some just breathed, until Borders concluded with a hushed prayer.

The only outward sign that something was different was the new ring on the pastor's finger, a thick gold ring with a purple stone. It symbolized his recent elevation, in a ceremony in Memphis two weeks before, to the position of bishop.

The title of bishop, accompanied by such emblems of authority, was uncommon among hierarchy-spurning Baptists until recently, but it is being adopted by a growing number of Baptist pastors, most of them African-American.

Borders and other new bishops have acquired some of the ceremonial garb — croziers (pastoral staffs), zucchettos (skullcaps) and chasubles (rOBes) — that their spiritual forefathers left behind when they broke from the Church of England in the 17th century.

Some, including Borders, have even embraced the doctrine of apostolic succession — the belief in an unbroken line from Jesus’ apostles to today’s bishops. Borders, a sOBer man who regards his flock with OBvious affection, spoke lightly of his role as shepherd during his sermon.

"When I watch you," he said with a smile, "I see a congregation of miracles."

But he also believes the new title has been a spiritual catalyst, deepening his faith and clarifying his role as mentor to more than two dozen men and women who have become ministers or pastors under his tutelage over the course of nearly three decades.

"I'm changing; I feel myself getting closer to the Lord Jesus Christ, and I think I understand my mission more," he said. "The notion of being a successor to the apostles, even in a spiritual point of view, kind of grounds you differently."

The naming of Baptist bishops, which remains controversial among some traditionalists, is a departure for a church descended from the Puritans.

Baptist denominations do not have strict hierarchies; congregations are independent churches whose pastors are hired and fired by vote of the congregation.

"As late as the 19th century, a Baptist would have thought a preacher who wore a rOBe was being like a Catholic, and therefore terrible," said Paul Harvey, a historian at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Historically, he said, Baptist bishops were “unheard of.’’

But in recent years, that has begun to change. Scholars cite a number of reasons: Baptists, like other Christian denominations, are facing heavy competition from independent churches, particularly those run by charismatic pastors who use the title of bishop to establish authority and build their personal brand.

The title is increasingly being used more formally in African-American Baptist churches, where the practice of calling senior pastors bishops has been unusual. African-American Baptist ministers have historically been powerful figures in their communities and pillars of their congregations; some see the title as a recognition of that role.

"I think we see this emergence in spiritual leadership from a people who have known oppression," Borders said. "It's a self-identification that we're gaining; it's a valuing of our own leadership."

And in some cases now symbolic garb and elaborate rituals are accompanying the title. That's now possible because the 400-year-old fear of an all-powerful hierarchy has faded into a distant memory, and it now feels "safer to borrow and reappropriate historic practices that once were considered to be theologically prOBlematic," said James Farwell, professor of religious studies at Bethany College in West Virginia.

Baptists who endorse naming bishops point to passages in St. Paul's letters to Timothy and Titus that speak approvingly of the office; some see the trend as harkening back to Christianity's early roots.

"Some have even moved toward identifying with certain North African churches, like Coptic churches, in a sort of fellowship as part of asserting an African heritage in Christianity," said Bill J. Leonard, a Baptist minister who is dean of the School of Divinity and professor of church history at Wake Forest University.

The Rev. Miniard Culpepper, pastor of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Dorchester, said the emergence of Baptist bishops may cause some "growing pains" among traditionalists. But for a pastor like Borders, who has mentored so many, he said the title is appropriate.

"As the church grows and develops, it forces and gives birth to new titles," Culpepper said.

[trc123]

I have no issue with the term or office of the bishop within the New Testament Church because it is in my KJV Bible:

(1Ti 3:1) This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

(1Ti 3:2) A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sOBer, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

(2Ti 4:22) The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen. The second epistle unto Timotheus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Ephesians, was written from Rome, when Paul was brought before Nero the second time.

(Tit 1:7) For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

(Tit 3:15) All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen. It was written to Titus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Cretians, from Nicopolis of Macedonia.

(1Pe 2:25) For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

[chev1958]

Because other religions have usurped the title, most Baptists shy away from the title. The term "bishop" implies religious hierarchy nowadays. Plus the article had a photo of this bishop, with his RCC-style hat and rOBe. (The photo below right)


How about this article from 2007:

Baptist church installs first bishop, breaking tradition

By Steven G. Vegh
The Virginian-Pilot

From foot-stamping preaching to old-time hymns, St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church sounds and looks a lot like a classic black Baptist church.

But that was a bit less true on Saturday, when St. Mark broke with Baptist tradition to consecrate the Rev. Curtis E. Edmonds Sr. as bishop, the first in the congregation's 105-year history.

As Edmonds knelt, bishops from a variety of denominations, including Pentecostal, laid hands on him, ratifying his spiritual authority as bishop.

"Anoint him from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet," prayed Bishop Rudolph Lewis of New Light Full Gospel Baptist Church of Virginia Beach. "We install him, by your spirit, in Jesus' name! Let the people say 'Amen.' "

"Amen!" echoed about 1,000 spectators.

Bishops are the exception rather than the rule with black Baptists, where deacons and trustees often hold as much clout as pastors.

But over the past 15 years, some Baptist churches have elevated pastors to bishops, citing biblical precedent and their ministers' influential leadership. Bishops already are incorporated in historically black denominations such as the Church of God in Christ and the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Saturday's ritual was studded with symbols rare in Baptist tradition. Edmonds wore a floor-length scarlet cassock. He solemnly received emblems of his new office: a bishop's ring, a pointed miter for his head, a gleaming crosier, or crook, and a cope - a white cape with red accents. (left photo)

[JerryNumbers]

Man loves authority, and the title bishop makes them feel they have much more authority, of course, most of those people are actually feeling closer to old Satan, not God the Father.

If, and only if bishop was used in the place of pastor and those other things were not attached, I would have no prOBlem. Before my time many Baptist pastor were addressed as Elders, which I have no prOBlem with, for they were addressing the same office we of today do.

I need no rings on my fingers and no rOBe over my shoulder while serving my Lord to elevate me.

I think this is just another sign that day is drawing near.

[John81]

I've seen this in black churches. Most black churches I've visited it's OBvious the church leadership and many in the congregation are caught up in that which is showy. They love to be distinquished for what they wear. This includes the pastor and deacons who often wear something to identify them as such on down to the women in the congregation who parade around in their fancy hats loudly calling attention to them.

This is part of the reason many younger blacks think Christianity has failed them. So many of the black churches are worldly. A maximum security prison I worked in showed that over 60% of the inmates considered themselves to be Baptist. This was because of the high number of blacks whose ancestors had Baptist roots from the South. When they migrated north to the cities they formed their own Baptist churches which have taken on so much of the world.

A couple friends and I visited several black churches in and around the Chicago area and I heard more about politics and race than about Jesus.

[Invicta]

The bishop's mitre is the mitre of Dagon.

[John81]

The bishop's mitre is the mitre of Dagon.

Didn't "he" fall on his face before the Ark of the Covenent?

[chev1958]

The bishop's mitre is the mitre of Dagon.

Can you elaborate a little further on your point?

[Pastor Matt]

Bishop is better than King.

[JerryNumbers]

Bishop is better than King.

Yet nothing is better than the Lord of lords, nor the King of kings.

[amblivion]

While I don't see anything Biblically wrong with it, I have my reservations about using it. When I start talking about my church and pastor, I don't want people to start thinking I am Catholic.

Oh and Bishop is better than Queen.

[Pastor Matt]

Yet nothing is better than the Lord of lords, nor the King of kings.

You got that right.

[OLD fashioned preacher]

Oh and Bishop is better than Queen.

Not in chess

[trc123]

My KJV Bible uses and that is good enough for me. Don't you believe the KJV Scriptures? Why would you not want to follow the Scriptures?

[amblivion]

Not in chess

Lolz...I had no clue what BroMatt was talking about. I just said that because it sounded good. I guess I had an epic fail.