Foundations of Christian Leadership, Mentor's Guide, MG07

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F O U N D A T I O N S O F C H R I S T I A N L E A D E R S H I P

impact and authority touches every phase of the work. One only needs to look at the tragedies of Jim Baker and Jimmy Swaggart to see the power of one person to influence a movement. How would you answer the criticism that denominations tend to be too influenced by the dominant personality of individuals rather than the will of the people to lead the movement in a godly way?

A Highly Efficient Structure

Another trend among many evangelicals today is the move to traditions which are led with strong episcopal authority. Plainly stated, many Bible-believing Christians are leaving the independent movement and are going to high church traditions. In other words, at the same time that there has been a marked increase in the number of independent congregations, you also see many evangelical leaders going to traditions which are known for their strong centralized leadership structures. They argue that these traditions have a deep sense of history, a keen identity as churches, and a respectful appreciation for tradition. Many are entering traditions like the Orthodox and Anglican churches, which are governed by episcopal structures which allow for strong, efficient leadership of the whole. Such structures are administratively efficient, and tend to reduce the possibility of renegade or maverick leaders or congregations to gain ground. What do you make of this trend, that so many Bible-believing Christians in the West are moving to more traditional, historical, and episcopal kinds of church and spirituality?

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The Christian Leader as Bishop ( Episkopoi )

Segment 1: Definition and Overview

Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis

The NTGreek term episkopos (“bishop”) can be interpreted as overseer; the term has a history that originated with the Septuagint (i.e., the Greek OT), various usages of the term in the classical Greek tradition, and finally in its use by the apostles in the New Testament itself. In one sense the terms for “pastor,” “elder,” and “bishop” all refer to the same office, with emphases on different roles and responsibilities of Christian leadership in the church. The use of the concept of elder as overseer may have some resonance with council of elders in Jewish rulership where an elder could

Summary of Segment 1

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