Bishops

Monday, October 6, 2025

Happy Monday, my friends! Growing up Roman Catholic, visits from the diocesan[1] bishop were special occasions filled with liturgical pomp, theological importance, and practical opportunities. Bishops were held to be the successors of the Apostles and therefore accorded significant respect. In congregations where the pastor held significant, sometimes unchecked authority, the bishop was also a next level power and, practically speaking, the pastor’s supervisor and boss. The airing of grievances against the pastor was commonplace. In days gone by, the bishop might conduct a “pontifical high mass,” a service that outside the local see was rare enough that Catholics might only experience a handful in their lifetimes. Depending on the bishop and the size of the diocese, several staff members might accompany the bishop on his[2] visit.

My journey through Christian denominations has taken me through traditions with strong episcopal[3] structures and those without bishops at all. Most Anglican (Episcopal), Lutheran, and Methodist traditions have bishops whose responsibilities and positions mirror those of Roman Catholic bishops. In the broad Reformed Tradition (Presbyterian, UCC, etc.), bishops are rare. In Pentecostal traditions, the office of bishop is typically reserved for senior clergy who may or may not have a part of the governing structure but typically derive their authority and influence from their own records of service, advocacy, and preaching. The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries (TFAM) has a House of Bishops who identify, name, and consecrate new bishops, but who are limited in their actual authority over the ministries, clergy, and people affiliated with TFAM.

Columbus falls within TFAM’s Midwest Region, and our regional bishop is the Rt. Rev. Tim Wolfe. For the last few months, I’ve been coordinating Bishop Tim’s visit to Central Ohio on the invitation of both LOVEboldly and Blue Ocean Faith Columbus (BOFC). Accustomed as I am to Roman Catholic and Anglican bishops who stereotypically have long lists of wants and needs, Bishop Tim’s laid-back style makes this visit relatively stress free. Yet, I want him to enjoy his time with us and I want to grow TFAM’s presence in Central Ohio and Ohio more broadly. Plus, as many of you know, I’m a ball of nervous energy when it comes to coordinating events. While Bishop is here he will have time for coffee one-on-one with me, headline “Brunch with a (Queer) Bishop” with LOVEboldly, meet with the LOVEboldly board, attend an informal dinner with TFAM-affiliates in Central Ohio, meet with the BOFC board, and preach at BOFC’s Sunday service. He will also be traveling with an episcopal assistant and an armor bearer. Thank you to the folks who educated me about the latter position which is a master of ceremonies, communications coordinator, and personal assistant rolled into one position with an epic title.

I have to admit that I struggle with bishops. Yes, I prefer the Pentecostal understanding of bishops as senior clergy recognized for not only their gifts and leadership, but also for their service and commitment to their tradition and the people they’ve been called to serve. I consider Bishop Tim to be a mentor and friend. I’ve had the privilege of knowing and learning from bishops in other traditions as well including the Most Rev. Dr. Daniel Conlon (Roman Catholic) who was one of the bishops of the Diocese of Steubenville while I was growing up; the Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson (Episcopal) who was influential in my journey to reconcile my sexuality and my Christianity; the Rt. Rev. Duncan Gray, Jr. (Episcopal) who received me into The Episcopal Church and would often check-in on me whenever he saw me on campus at Sewanee; the Rt. Rev. Dr. Neil Alexander (Episcopal) who served at Sewanee; the Most Rev. Michael Curry (Episcopal) who I met during an internship and became Facebook friends with later; the Rt. Rev. Dr. Scott Benhase (Episcopal) who I served with at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church before he was elected Bishop of Georgia; and now, along with Bishop Tim, the Rt. Revs. Alex Byrd, William Barber, II, Vanessa Brown, and the rest of our amazing TFAM bishops. However, I’m also deeply convinced by and committed to the primacy of the local church. One of the key features of religion and Christianity is doing life together in a local setting. Dioceses, districts, conferences, and other regional, national, and international groups are good for bringing people together, but they often foster the error that what is right for one congregation or group is or even could be right for other congregations and groups. Though attractive from the perspective of Christian unity, that mindset unfortunately leads to marginalization more readily than it leads to any benefit. Bishops in denominations and traditions with strong episcopal polities often become the arbiters of congregational ministry and destinies even if they lack thorough understandings of what makes individual congregations unique.

Regardless of your theological understanding of bishops, they provide tangible links to our past and inspiration for our futures. The best bishops support clergy and communities in leading and ministering in their own contexts. Recently, I sent a lengthy email to Bishop Tim outlining my reflections on TFAM’s Holy Convocation in July, my hopes for my current ministries, and my goals for the future. His response included the reminder that I was expressing sentiments shared by clergy the world over and through time. He said that not to dismiss my thoughts, but to reinforce that this was a natural part of my calling as a pastor and leader. That sort of insight born from experience is precisely the kind of episcopal leadership the church needs today.

How have you been impacted by bishops and other senior clergy in your tradition? What is your theology concerning bishops?

Let us pray: God, your church has designated bishops with different levels of authority and responsibility, yet they form a significant part of Christian history and tradition. Bless our bishops, whatever their place or position. Grant them the wisdom and grace to respond to your call in and on their lives and ministry. Raise up, we humbly pray, good people to serve as bishops, ever mindful that by serving your people, they serve you. We ask this in the name of your son, our redeemer and liberator, Jesus. Amen.

Blessings on your weeks, my friends! Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you.

Faithfully,

Ben +

PS. It’s not too late to RSVP for “Brunch with a (Queer) Bishop” on Saturday, October 11, at 11am at Black Sheep Kitchen. Seats are limited so email me today (bhuelskamp@loveboldly.net)!

[1] A “diocese” is the administrative district that is overseen by a bishop. In the United States there are typically at least two dioceses in every state with the older or “more important” diocese being designated an archdiocese. Each (arch)diocese is named after the see, the city in which the bishop either resides or from which they work. In Ohio there are six Roman Catholic dioceses: the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, the Diocese of Toledo, the Diocese of Columbus, the Diocese of Cleveland, the Diocese of Youngstown, and the Diocese of Steubenville. True of almost any ecclesiastical structure, there are exceptions and quirks. For instance, the Diocese of Charleston covers the entire State of South Carolina, the Archdiocese of Washington (DC) includes several counties in Maryland, Virginia has no archdiocese, and New York City is in two dioceses (the Archdiocese of New York covering Manhattan, Staten Island, the Bronx, and several other counties, and the Diocese of Brooklyn covering Brooklyn and Queens.

[2] Recall that all Roman Catholic clerics are male.

[3] “Episcopal” refers to polities which include bishops. The Episcopal Church, for example, is so named because they have maintained a polity in which bishops are significant figures. That said, an episcopal polity is not limited to churches which have “episcopal” in their names.