Pastors need to near their Bishops – Bishop J.J. Jen
Pastors need to near their Bishops
– Bishop J.J. Jen
Rt.
Rev James Joshua Jen said for the church to have effective communication there
must first be a free flow of communication among the clergy. He was speaking to
the editor of the Lutheran Today at the St. Luke Cathedral in Jalingo. The
Bishop observed that most pastors avoid getting close to their Bishops for no
any just reason and as such cordial relationship that will flourish
communication is affected. According to the Bishop, “when one is elected Bishop
he is not a different person, the same person you know is the one so I do not
see any reason why pastors avoid their Bishops.” When if he thinks the pastors
and even church members prefer to give the Bishop some level of respect by not
disturbing them; the Bishop said, “there is no disturbance as far as this work
of saving souls is concern, we can’t talk closely if we don’t get close,
sometimes as a Bishop I would like to share my views informally with my pastor
friends but they seem to avoid personal relationship. I am not saying that
Bishops should not be respected but what I am saying is that the call is of a
pastor and we are all pastors; Bishop is just an administrative office
therefore, I want to belong among the Pastors. I recall during our last retreat,
we all sat together and discussed as pastors, it was very engaging and
fulfilling.
When
the Lutheran Today sought to find out how close should the pastors be to their
Bishop, Rt. Rev. J.J. Jen said, “I expect that pastors will first understand
the Bishop’s work which is to coordinate and administer the affairs of the
church in the diocese, therefore he cannot work alone, pastors are the ones in
the districts and divisions they have to communicate with the Bishop on several
issues, they must not run away from the Bishop.” He reiterated the need for the
clergy to sort out issues where there are; rather than wait for elections.
“Some pastors would not confront their Bishop with issues as they are affected
but would say “Bari zabe ya zo zamu cire shi.” That kind of approach is not the
best” said Bishop Joshua James.
