Many folk have asked me what it's like to be a bishop, and the short answer is that I feel I have been given a job with opportunities from heaven and a diary from hell! Let me expand a bit on that!
Exciting opportunities
The most exciting opportunity of the last year was probably just before Easter.
People have begun to describe me as 'the teaching Bishop' and with the agreement of my episcopal colleagues and the rural deans in my area of the diocese (East Sussex), I did a Lent course of five weeks in four different centres, Monday to Thursday each week, where I took people through John 13-17. These consisted of 45-50 minutes of exposition, broken up with a short discussion in the middle and an open question time at the end.
We opened with a hymn and ended with five minutes of prayer led by me, one hour and 20 minutes maximum each session, then had coffee for those who could stay. I was warned that if I got 200-300 a week over the four venues, I would be fortunate.
In the event, in the goodness of God, we had nearly 2,000 people a week! These came from many different church traditions. The moving thing was that it wasn't just evangelicals who came, and it showed me the great hunger there is for the gospel and the Word of God to be preached - and if a bishop does it, people will turn out in force.
Packing out the pews
After all, bishops are meant to teach and defend the faith, and there was a wonderful opportunity for me, by God's grace, to do what I am meant to do! It was humbling and exciting. Over 1,000 copies of my book The Last Word (on the Upper Room), were sold, and 430 copies of The choice we all face: two ways to live were given out at the end of the services to those who requested one. God was so gracious to us. One event had 50 turned away on the first night as 700 people crowded into church and sat on kneelers, steps and the floor! I was moved by talking to one lady who had prayed for such a thing to happen every week since 1967 and under God I believe she must take much of the credit. There was certainly nothing special about the speaker but the Word of God has not lost its ancient power. What God has spoken by his Spirit, he still speaks!
Many other opportunities come as well - some limited influence in church appointments, civic events and special events of one kind or another. Shortly after I became bishop, I had five minutes to speak to over 4,000 people on the seafront at Eastbourne (where we live) who were mourning the death of Princess Diana.
Of course, life consists of many more routine things! For example, many confirmation services, with increasing numbers of people who have come to faith through Alpha courses and the like. Recently, I baptised a 12 year-old girl and an 82 year-old woman who were joyfully united in Christ, though of very different generational tastes! What a thrill the Church of Christ is! I do so love preaching the gospel at confirmation services.
Increasing post
An average day for me would be 25 letters that need a reply! If I get a day behind, you can see what happens! I have a very good secretary for 25 hours a week, but I am not the world's best administrator - I know it needs to be done and behind a letter is a person, so I take it seriously - but I am a preacher and a 'people person' really and the constant admin I find the hardest part of the job.
My area is large, some 180 churches covering all of East Sussex, so sometimes the good has to be sacrificed to the best. I was talking to one bishop recently who helpfully said that a strategic sense of studied neglect was a good practice! (in order to do more important things). The constant pressure of the work can be very demanding but it is also a real privilege and a joy, and I have been given wonderful colleagues to work with (including a marvellous wife, and an excellent Archdeacon!).
Important priorities
The priorities of being a bishop are no different than in parish ministry. There, my priorities were (1) do and encourage evangelism; (2) preach and teach the Bible; (3) pastor the flock, and pray about all these things! My priorities now are no different, only they are set in a different context and area. I do (1) and (2) whenever and wherever I can, and spend a good part of my time trying to 'pastor the pastors'.
Recently, I heard that 130 ministers a month resign from the Southern Baptist Ministry in the USA. That is a huge denomination in different circumstances, but I still think there are many Christian leaders in the UK who are discouraged and under pressure. They need encouragement and when I am able, I try to give it to the folk I have responsibility for. A few have lost their way, some lack a confident faith in the gospel, but many are just a bit 'weary and worn' as well as doing a fine job in Christ's service. Whatever your denominational structure, pastors need pastoring too!
My problem is that my area is too big for me to do it very effectively. Someone said to me recently that if we prayed as much for our 'clergy' as we criticised them, the church would be in a healthier condition! Wise words! My wife, who is such a wonderful personal support to me, does quite a lot of work with clergy wives, who likewise need support and encouragement.
Lambeth
The Lambeth Conference came and went this summer and it was a privilege to be present. To meet and make friends with many bishops from abroad (especially Africa), who are fine gospel men often living in danger and poverty, was a real delight. Many came from churches that have seen spectacular growth. For example: in 1989, Nigeria had 11 dioceses, now it has 64! The problem at Lambeth was from liberal, revisionist bishops (largely from the USA, as well as some Canadian, New Zealand and South African) who just don't believe the truth of Scripture at many points.
The key debate, as you will know, was about practising homosexuals. We had a real battle, but those who upheld the teaching of the Bible that sexual activity outside heterosexual marriage is displeasing to God, won by 526 to 70 votes! The issue rumbles on in the West, but the moral high ground of the Anglican Communion is held by conservatives, thank God. I was involved in the thick of the fight, which wasn't easy, but the outcome was tremendous. The Lambeth resolutions were uniformly biblical and orthodox.
Personal & family matters
Bishop Eric Kemp and the other area bishop, Bishop Lindsay Urwin, have been wonderfully kind to me and they are great to work with. Folk have welcomed me warmly in the diocese, even when I must have been, and am, a bit of a shock to some!
We love living in sunny Eastbourne but we miss being earthed in a local parish, and miss the good folk of St. Peters, Harold Wood, where I was vicar. The children took a little time to settle but we are now happy as a family and my wife and children belong to a good local church, which I attend when I can. The vicar and his wife have been a great support and encouragement, and we are so grateful too for the prayers of many friends around the country. Those prayers mean a great deal to us, especially when busy and travelling a lot (I do 25,000 miles plus a year).
We covet your prayers that I may be a faithful gospel-preaching, Bible-teaching bishop, whose priorities and passion for Christ's Kingdom remain unaltered, and that by God's grace we may further his work in some little way in East Sussex.
Wallace Benn
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