What is the difference between a Bishop and a Preacher in the COG?
Discussion
7 comments
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Bishop is the level of a ministers license in the COG. There are 3 levels/tiers of licenses in COG. All are obtained by application to state office but there are requirements that need to be fulfilled in order to get the specific license. First is Exhorters. After that, you must hold that license for at least a year (depending on state office guidelines) and then you may apply to get the Ordained license. And finally, after 10 years of service (again, up to state office), you may apply for the Bishop license.
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Thank you so much for the great answer and information. I always wanted to know.
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there are stages of ministerial license. It has changed since I was in the COG so I am not certain I can answer that question.
From what I know you can be an exhorter then be ordained (we used to be licensed after exhorter) An ordained minister can preach and pastor regardless of their gender. (perhaps some exhorters may pastor)
An ordained bishop is a male and can sit on the GA floor in the general council and have the privilege to vote for resolutions that are passed on the the General assembly and the general assembly has the final vote to accept or deny the resolutions.
Any ordained bishop is qualified to be voted into the executive council of 18 men who meet between assemblies and deal with any business that comes before them. They are qualified to serve as general overseer, 1st, 2nd, 3rd assistant and General secy and treas.
The executive committee assigns state level administrative bishops, state overseers.
All ordained bishops are male and a woman can only aspire to ordination level.
I am not sure about the process an exhorter goes through to the next level. That has changed since I was in the ministry.
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I’m currently in CAMS and will be taking my Exhorters in January. I can go into MIP next fall.
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Should the denomination use titles that come from the Bible to describe requirements that aren’t in the Bible? What about those who are biblically ‘bishops’ but not in the denomination? And what about those who are not in the Biblical role who hold the title in the denomination? Doesn’t this create confusion?
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Yes
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