Bishop
From MormonWikia
A Mormon Bishop, in brief, is a man who is in charge of a congregation or “ward.” A ward is a group of Mormons—organized by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—in one geographical area, who meet together for church each Sunday. Bishops can be compared to a pastor, minister, or parish priest in other churches, as each bishop is in charge of one ward, and each ward has one bishop. Bishops are in charge of the welfare of the members in the ward, both temporal and spiritual.
Bishops in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are not paid, nor are they required to be educated or “special” in any way except that they are called of God. They sacrifice a great deal of time to serve their wards, and often spend many hours during the week to administer to the ward as well. The position cannot be applied for or campaigned for. Bishops do not do all of the work in a ward; they delegate many duties to ward members by giving them callings (these are optional and also unpaid) where they can serve the ward. Bishops also have two counselors to help with their duties, and the bishop and his counselors together compose the “bishopric” of each ward.
[edit] What Bishops Do
Bishops are called to oversee the different groups or auxiliaries in the ward, like the Relief Society, Primary, Young Men, Young Women, High Priests Quorum, Sunday School, and Elders Quorum. They support these organizations as well as call people to serve in them. Bishops also collect tithing (they do not receive any of the funds), preside over and conduct Sacrament meetings, and meet with other members in the different auxiliaries to keep the ward organized and running.
A bishop is also responsible to make sure that any ordinances performed in the ward are done properly, including baptisms, confirmations, priesthood ordinations, baby blessings, and the administration of the Sacrament each Sunday.
Bishops have worthiness interviews with members of their wards for the purpose of issuing temple recommends, giving callings, assisting with repentance, and making sure ward members are spiritually and temporally okay. Bishops can help members with spiritual problems by counseling them or by other means. Bishops are also in charge of any welfare given to local members. Bishops help assess needs and spending and can help members who truly need the Church’s assistance. They spend a fair amount of time visiting ward members as well, especially those who are sick, elderly, or struggling in other ways.
[edit] Qualifications of Bishops
1 Timothy 3:2-7 says that a bishop needs to be “blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.” In other words, bishops should be good men without bad reputations who take care of their families and treat their children well.
A bishop in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints must also hold the office of High Priest in the Priesthood. Bishops are called by revelation from God, just like any Mormon is called to a calling. A stake president will call a potential bishop, and when the appointment is approved by the president of the Church, the potential bishop is brought in for an interview to determine worthiness and willingness. The potential bishop’s wife is also interviewed to make sure that he treats his family properly and that she is willing to support him in the calling. If the man accepts the calling, he is sustained in a church meeting. Sustaining is when members raise their hands to show that they are willing to support this bishop and that they believe that the stake president was inspired by God to call him. After he is sustained, the new bishop is ordained as a bishop and set apart; both of these ordinances bless him with the abilities and authority needed to act as bishop of the ward.
Bishops usually serve in wards for about five years, and continue with their regular jobs during that time. After that time, a new bishop is called to replace him. When a bishop is released (and replaced), he is still called bishop, having been ordained to that office of the priesthood, but he does not continue to preside over his ward.
As per the church's general handbook of instructions, all that is said about a bishop in terms of duties, responsibilities, and calling applies to a branch president.
