Bishop

Wednesday, 02 April 2014 10:44

The Bishop is responsible for the activity of the church as a whole. For a discharge of his office he is responsible to the synod assembly.

The Bishop is elected by the synod assembly as one of the ordained ministers in active service, who has served for at least 15 years in church ministry. The term lasts 6 years and the bishop can be elected, at the maximum, twice. He can discharge his function until age of 65 years.

At present the function of the bishop is executed by Mgr. Jan Wacławek.

The bishop´s responsibility is to:

Ordain ministers, install pastors and senior pastors, and to install other agents of the church and of diaconate in office.
Dedicate new or renovated sacral objects and other church premises and diaconal objects, and other internal equipment.
Visit congregations and keep up an active contact with them.
Represent the church outwardly and negotiate on behalf of the church council.
Preside over the church council and oversee the implementation of its resolutions.
Publish circulars.
By agreement of the church council to publish pastoral letters.
Exercise visitations in the circuit and congregations.
Convene a church-wide conference of ministers to discuss various and pastoral affairs.
Preside over examining boards (Pro ministerio exam).
Grant permission to preach God´s Word to the preachers of other churches and students of theology. The ministers of the GEKE (Leuenberg Agreement) member churches with whom SECAC concluded a fellowship of pulpit and altar do not need this permission.