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

overseer of pastors and churches functions as supervisor, apostle, and as spiritual director.

• As supervisor the bishop functions as a superintendent, coordinating and organizing the outreach, personnel, and resources of churches under his/her care to make maximum impact for the Church’s edification and the Kingdom’s advancement. • As an apostle , the bishop functions as one charged with the ongoing care of new churches and their leaders, doing all they can to ensure the protection, edification and development of them. • The bishop as a spiritual director provides challenge and encouragement to budding ministries and churches as they mature in Christ. • The authority and ministry of the bishop closely relates to and depends upon the association that churches and pastors maintain, either regionally through the locale church, or through affinity and shared identity of denomination or tradition. • Congregations in the city desperately require the benefits and blessings of godly association with other like-minded fellowships, as well as the continuous godly oversight that bishops can provide. • The Scriptures are clear that the faithful bishop will experience God’s full blessing and reward at the Second Coming of Christ, who personally will give them the unfading crown of glory.

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I. Models and Analogies for the Episcopate

Video Segment 2 Outline

A. The bishop as supervisor

As therefore the Lord did nothing without the Father, being united to Him, . . . so neither should you do anything without the bishop and presbyters. ~ Ignatius (c. 105, E), 1.66, 67., Ibid., p. 70.

The bishop, as one exercising oversight over the flock of God, is a superintendent, a supervisor, coordinating and organizing outreach, personnel, and resources to make maximum impact for the edification of the Church and advance of the Kingdom.