The Senior Pastor Is Most Important

[rockytopva]

I believe "Bishop" is the closest term we can come to "Senior Pastor" or basic overseer of the church

1 This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. - 1 Timothy 3

I do visit a SBC when they have 9AM services... Levels of pastors...

Senior (Lead) Pastor - Who I would refer to as Bishop
Worship Leader
Executive Pastor
Associate Pastor of Spiritual Formation and Care
Young Adult Minister
Kids Ministry Director
Kids Ministry Assistant
Youth Minister
Administration helps

They probably pack in 3,000 in both Sunday services combined. - Northstar Church - Staff Leadership

I would attribute the success of this church to good leadership... All lead by a good senior pastor. I would also imagine the Apostle Paul longing for the fellowship of senior pastors as he would come to town.

 

[rockytopva]

I would also venture to say that any congregation this site deems "Christian" has the ability of producing Bishops, or good senior pastors. A good Bishop is one you can put a great deal of confidence in. It is also important that such people continue in good ethics and integrity...

"Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour." Ecclesiastes 10:1

 

[rockytopva]

2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach.
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; - 1 Timothy 3:2

And to look up the word Bishop... "The overseer or presiding officer of a Christian church" - G1984 - episkopē - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv)

A Bishop according to the scripture must also have one wife and children. And a man fulfilling the true calling of Bishop... Or Senior Pastor...

During this imprisonment Bunyan wrote and published his spiritual autobiography (Grace Abounding, 1666). It reveals his incarceration to have been a spiritual opportunity as well as an ordeal, allowing “an inlet into the Word of God.” Bunyan’s release from prison came in March 1672 under Charles II’s Declaration of Indulgence to the Nonconformists. The Bedford community had already chosen him as their pastor in January, and a new meetinghouse was obtained. In May he received a license to preach together with 25 other Nonconformist ministers in Bedfordshire and the surrounding counties. His nickname “Bishop Bunyan” suggests that he became the organizing genius in the area.- John Bunyan - Puritan Writer, Pilgrim's Progress, Allegory | Britannica

Very good for a man whose education has been dubbed, "undoubtedly slight." - https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/magazine/article/john-bunyan-the-man-preacher-and-author

 

[Mur]

One issue that I have with many churches are the hierarchical titles that they assign themselves. Jesus spoke against doing so. I like the practice that some churches use wherein everyone is referred to as "brother" and "sister".

 

[rockytopva]

One issue that I have with many churches are the hierarchical titles that they assign themselves. Jesus spoke against doing so. I like the practice that some churches use wherein everyone is referred to as "brother" and "sister".

Knave (Noun) - A rogue (vagrant), a rascal, deceitful fellow, a dishonest man. And to let John Wesley describe it better...

LONDON
September 20, 1788

My Dear Brother:

There is, indeed, a wide difference between the relation wherein you stand to the Americans and the relation wherein I stand to all the Methodists. You are the elder brother of the American Methodists: I am under God the father of the whole family. Therefore I naturally care for you all in a manner no other persons can do. Therefore I in a measure provide for you all; for the supplies which Dr. Coke provides for you, he could not provide were it not for me, were it not that I not only permit him to collect but also support him in so doing.

But in one point, my dear brother, I am a little afraid both the Doctor and you differ from me. I study to be little: you study to be great. I creep; you strut along. I found a school: you a college! [Cokesbury College] nay, and call it after your own names! Oh beware, do not seek to be something! Let me be nothing, and "Christ be all in all!"

One instance of this, of your greatness, has given me great concern. How can you, how dare you suffer yourself to be called Bishop? I shudder, I start at the very thought! Men may call me a knave or a fool, a rascal, a scoundrel, and I am content; but they shall never by my consent call me Bishop! For my sake, for God's sake, for Christ's sake put a full end to this! Let the Presbyterians do what they please, but let the Methodists know their calling better.

Thus, my dear Franky (Francis Asbury), I have told you all that is in my heart. And let this, when I am no more seen, bear witness how sincerely I am Your affectionate friend and brother,

John Wesley