Roles of a Bishop
Father of the Ward
Bishops in the Church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) are the ward (congregation) leaders. The leaders of the Church, including bishops, are lay ministers, or men who are not paid for the service that they render. A bishop has many responsibilities. He is sometimes referred to as the “father of the ward” because he is responsible for seeing that the needs of the individuals in his ward, both temporal and spiritual, are met. Two other men, the first and second counselors, are called to assist the bishop in his duties. The duties of a bishop are numerous and varied but may be broken down into five areas of responsibility: Presiding High Priest; President of the Aaronic Priesthood; Common Judge; Coordinating God's Work of Salvation and Exaltation in the ward; and Records, Finances, and the Meetinghouse.
Presiding High Priest
In this capacity the bishop is given the keys to spiritually lead his ward. He is the ward’s primary spiritual leader. His authority remains within the bounds of his ward. He has no presiding authority over any other part of the Church. He teaches, uplifts, and inspires, and sets an example of serving with "holiness of heart." He is a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ. The bishop provides guidance and counsel to other leaders in the ward. He encourages them in their responsibilities.
The bishop has responsibility for the ward Relief Society and Young Women organizations. He guides the ministering efforts of the Relief Society and the elders quorum.
He directs the administration of the sacrament, naming and blessing of children, baptisms and confirmations of eight-year-old children, and ordination of deacons, teachers, and priests.
He leads the ward council and ward youth council. He plans sacrament meetings and presides over ward meetings unless a member of the stake presidency, an Area Seventy in his area, or a General Authority attends. He is responsible for callings and releases in the ward. He guides and counsels other leaders in the ward.[1]
President of the Aaronic Priesthood
This is probably the foremost responsibility of the bishop. He is the president of the Aaronic priesthood in the ward. “The bishopric is the presidency of [the Aaronic] priesthood, and holds the keys or authority of the same” (Doctrine and Covenants 107:15; see also verse 20). His first counselor has responsibility for the teachers quorum and his second counselor has responsibility for the deacons quorum. The bishop, assisted by his counselors, supports parents in teaching youth. He helps youth serve faithfully, make and keep sacred covenants, and prepare to receive the ordinances of the temple. He helps young men prepare to be ordained to priesthood offices and to serve full-time missions. If young women desire to serve full-time missions, he helps them prepare. He oversees the Aaronic Priesthood quorums and Young Women classes. He also meets regularly with each youth. The bishop counsels with the ward Young Women president. He and his counselors also regularly participate in Young Women meetings, service, and activities.[2]
Common Judge
The bishop is the common judge in the ward as stated in Doctrine and Covenants 107:71-74. Striving to follow the Savior, Jesus Christ as a righteous judge, he helps youth and adults qualify for and be worthy of a temple recommend. He conducts interviews and meets with ward members who seek spiritual guidance, who have weighty personal problems, or who have committed serious sins, helping them draw on the healing power of Jesus Christ.[3]
Coordinating the Work of Salvation and Exaltation
The bishop coordinates the work of salvation and exaltation in the ward.
The bishop helps members live the gospel. He helps them strengthen their faith in Heavenly Father and in Jesus Christ and His Atonement (see Doctrine and Covenants 20:29). He teaches them to pray and study the scriptures.
He helps his ward members to make covenants by receiving the ordinances of salvation and exaltation. He encourages them to keep their covenants. In addition, he helps men prepare to be ordained to priesthood offices, helps members prepare to receive a temple recommend and temple ordinances, and guides the elders quorum and Relief Society in their responsibilities.
The bishop has a divine mandate to seek out and care for those with temporal needs (see Doctrine and Covenants 84:112). He guides the elders quorum and Relief Society presidencies as they lead ministering efforts in the ward.
He coordinates the efforts of the elders quorum and Relief Society presidencies as they lead the ward’s efforts to share the gospel and strengthen new and returning members and in temple and family history work.[4]
Record Keeping
The bishop oversees ward records, ward finances, and the meetinghouse. He may assign much of the work with records and finances to his counselors and clerks. Doctrine and Covenants 107:68 reads, “For the office of a bishop is in administering all temporal things.” In this area, the bishop is responsible for the ward's finances and records. He receives members tithes and offerings, and coordinates the ward's budget. (See also Doctrine & Covenants 85:1) He also has the responsibility to teach tithing and the law of the fast and to conduct tithing declaration.[5]