Revision #15929
Bishop
Localized for English-speaking readers (msgbatch_01GvFKF6zaroxwZ2RCatyoPp)
Status: approved
Changes from the previous English revision
= ## Definition and Meaning
=
- The Korean term for bishop, *gamdok* (監督), means "to oversee and direct," and it denotes an office that cares for and governs multiple churches and ministers. It translates the New Testament Greek *episkopos* ("one who watches over from above"), from which the English word *bishop* is also derived. Korean Protestant Bible translations render the term as *gamdok*, whereas the Catholic Church and the Anglican Church render it as *jugyo*. The alternate term **presiding bishop** (*gamdok hoejang*) refers to the bishop who represents the entire denomination in the Korean Methodist Church.
+ A bishop is an officeholder who cares for, oversees, and governs multiple churches and ministers. The English word *bishop* derives from the New Testament Greek *episkopos* ("one who watches over from above").
=
+ In Korean usage, Protestant Bible translations render *episkopos* as *gamdok* ("one who oversees and directs"), whereas the Catholic Church and the Anglican Church use *jugyo*. The title **presiding bishop** refers to the bishop who represents the entire denomination in the Korean Methodist Church.
+
= ## Biblical and Historical Background
=
= The qualifications for a bishop appear in 1 Timothy 3:1–7 and Titus 1:7. Acts 20:17, 28 and Titus 1:5–7 refer to the same people as both "elders" and "bishops." For this reason, many interpreters hold that the two terms originally designated essentially the same office. By around the second century, a system is said to have taken hold in which a single bishop led the church of a city, with elders and deacons serving under him.
=
- After the Reformation, churches came to understand this office in different ways. The Anglican Church retained the episcopate, which it regards as continuing from the time of the apostles. The Presbyterian churches identified the biblical bishop with the elder and entrusted oversight of the church to deliberative bodies such as the presbytery rather than to individual bishops. Methodism arose from the movement led by John Wesley, and the Methodist church organized in America in 1784 adopted an episcopal system, which was later carried over into Korean Methodism.
+ After the Reformation, churches came to understand this office in different ways. The Anglican Church retained the episcopate, which it regards as continuing from the time of the apostles. Presbyterian churches identified the biblical bishop with the elder and entrusted oversight of the church to deliberative bodies such as the presbytery rather than to individual bishops. Methodism arose from the movement led by John Wesley, and the Methodist church organized in America in 1784 adopted an episcopal system, which was later carried over into Korean Methodism.
=
- ## Practice in the Korean Church
+ ## Practice in Korean Churches
=
- - **Methodist**: The Korean Methodist Church has a presiding bishop who represents the denomination and conference bishops who lead each annual conference. Districts within an annual conference are overseen by district superintendents. Methodists do not regard the bishop as a separate clerical order distinct from that of the pastor; rather, they understand the episcopacy as a role held for a fixed term by a pastor elected to it. Elections for presiding bishop are reported to have led to legal disputes on several occasions.
+ - **Methodist**: The Korean Methodist Church has a presiding bishop who represents the denomination and conference bishops who lead each annual conference. Districts within an annual conference are overseen by district superintendents. The church does not regard the bishop as a separate clerical order distinct from that of the pastor; rather, it understands the office as a role held for a fixed term by a pastor elected to it. Elections for presiding bishop are reported to have led to legal disputes on several occasions.
= - **Anglican**: The Anglican Church of Korea calls this office *jugyo* and regards it as one of the three holy orders, together with deacon and priest. A bishop has charge of a diocese, ordains clergy, and presides at confirmation (a rite in which a baptized person personally professes the faith and has that profession confirmed). Episcopal orders, once received, are understood to be retained for life.
- - **Presbyterian, Holiness, Baptist, and others**: Most of these denominations have no office of bishop. The moderator of the General Assembly or of a presbytery is a presiding officer who chairs meetings, usually for a one-year term. Baptists place particular emphasis on the autonomy of the local church.
+ - **Presbyterian, Holiness, Baptist, and others**: Most of these denominations in Korea have no office of bishop. The moderator of the General Assembly or of a presbytery is a presiding officer who chairs meetings, usually for a one-year term. Baptists place particular emphasis on the autonomy of the local church.
A bishop is an officeholder who oversees and leads multiple churches and ministers. The term derives from the New Testament Greek episkopos ("one who watches over"). In Korea, the Korean term gamdok refers mainly to leaders of Methodist denominations, while the Anglican and Catholic churches call the same office jugyo.
A bishop is an officeholder who oversees and leads multiple churches and ministers. The term derives from the New Testament Greek episkopos ("one who watches over"). In Korea, the Protestant term for bishop refers mainly to leaders of Methodist denominations, while the Anglican and Catholic churches use a different Korean term for the same office.
Full revision
A bishop is an officeholder who oversees and leads multiple churches and ministers. The term derives from the New Testament Greek episkopos ("one who watches over"). In Korea, the Protestant term for bishop refers mainly to leaders of Methodist denominations, while the Anglican and Catholic churches use a different Korean term for the same office.
Definition and Meaning
A bishop is an officeholder who cares for, oversees, and governs multiple churches and ministers. The English word bishop derives from the New Testament Greek episkopos ("one who watches over from above").
In Korean usage, Protestant Bible translations render episkopos as gamdok ("one who oversees and directs"), whereas the Catholic Church and the Anglican Church use jugyo. The title presiding bishop refers to the bishop who represents the entire denomination in the Korean Methodist Church.
Biblical and Historical Background
The qualifications for a bishop appear in 1 Timothy 3:1–7 and Titus 1:7. Acts 20:17, 28 and Titus 1:5–7 refer to the same people as both "elders" and "bishops." For this reason, many interpreters hold that the two terms originally designated essentially the same office. By around the second century, a system is said to have taken hold in which a single bishop led the church of a city, with elders and deacons serving under him.
After the Reformation, churches came to understand this office in different ways. The Anglican Church retained the episcopate, which it regards as continuing from the time of the apostles. Presbyterian churches identified the biblical bishop with the elder and entrusted oversight of the church to deliberative bodies such as the presbytery rather than to individual bishops. Methodism arose from the movement led by John Wesley, and the Methodist church organized in America in 1784 adopted an episcopal system, which was later carried over into Korean Methodism.
Practice in Korean Churches
- Methodist: The Korean Methodist Church has a presiding bishop who represents the denomination and conference bishops who lead each annual conference. Districts within an annual conference are overseen by district superintendents. The church does not regard the bishop as a separate clerical order distinct from that of the pastor; rather, it understands the office as a role held for a fixed term by a pastor elected to it. Elections for presiding bishop are reported to have led to legal disputes on several occasions.
- Anglican: The Anglican Church of Korea calls this office jugyo and regards it as one of the three holy orders, together with deacon and priest. A bishop has charge of a diocese, ordains clergy, and presides at confirmation (a rite in which a baptized person personally professes the faith and has that profession confirmed). Episcopal orders, once received, are understood to be retained for life.
- Presbyterian, Holiness, Baptist, and others: Most of these denominations in Korea have no office of bishop. The moderator of the General Assembly or of a presbytery is a presiding officer who chairs meetings, usually for a one-year term. Baptists place particular emphasis on the autonomy of the local church.