When a Bishop Becomes a Layman

I look forward to hearing an entire sermon series and even attending enough to stake out my "own" pew.

C. Ray Miller
Bishop, 1973-1993

December 1992

I admit it: I am one of my church's most delinquent members. As bishop, I attend different churches Sunday after Sunday in other pastors' churches, speaking to people I don't really know. In ways, a bishop is a man without a church of his own.

That will change in nine months, when I retire. After nearly 41 fulfilling years in the ministry, I'll begin functioning as a layman. That appeals to me. I look forward to sitting back and being fed without having to lead in the service. To hearing an entire sermon series. To developing close relationships with my fellow members. To helping my church prosper by teaching a class, serving on a commission, or becoming involved in any of the other ways open to laypersons. Maybe I'll even attend services long enough to stake out my "own" pew.

After dealing with scores of churches over the years and watching laypersons build and tear down churches, I've got a pretty good idea of the type of layman I would want to be, no matter what church I attended. If I were a layman (as I soon will be), here is how I would act.

1.I would use my spiritual gifts--administration and encouragement--for His glory. I use those gifts one way as bishop; I would use them a different way as a layman. Maybe I could organize an evangelistic outreach, turn it over to others to implement, and encourage them in their efforts.

2. I would encourage the pastor(s) with my attendance and participation, and would regularly send notes of appreciation to my church's leaders. I know that such notes mean a lot to a leader.

3. I will support change in worship services, and not get hung up on wanting to sing the Doxology every Sunday or always taking the offering just before the sermon. I have noticed that growing churches tend to be flexible, frequently changing the order of service so that you don't necessarily know what's coming next. This brings a freshness which is often lacking in churches bound to a rigid format.

4. I would help free up the minister to devote more time to prayer and preaching the Word. I wouldn't insist that he come visit me. And I would guard his time, so he doesn't get bogged down in such details as decorating the bulletin board or turning out the lights after services. I would try to ensure that such things are delegated to others.

5. While insisting that we adhere to our Confession of Faith, I would be flexible in such matters as what the church does on Sunday night, whether Sunday school precedes or follows a worship service, the mode of baptism, or the "accepted" view of the End Times. We do some things that no longer meet any needs whatsoever, but we think we must do them to be evangelical. That's wrong.

6. When I disagree with the pastor, I would go to him directly. I wouldn't talk with other members first, trying to stir up contention. In far too many situations, laymen don't follow this biblical method. Instead, members choose sides, and the church's ministry suffers.

7. When a new pastor is assigned, I would welcome him with a note of appreciation and pledge my support. I would tell him what ministries I am involved with, and commit myself to continuing in those ministries or being open to new ones, as he would desire.

8. I would never withhold my tithe because I disagree with the pastor or board. That, to me, is robbing God. I've seen this happen far too often. In some cases, a person refuses to give further support until a new pastor is assigned. In my experience, this adversely affects the person withholding his tithes more than it does the church or pastor.

I'm sure I wouldn't be a perfect layman, but I would do my best to be cooperative and to honor God as a layman, just as I have tried to honor Him as a bishop.

From the December 1992 issue of the United Brethren magazine.