When a Bishop Comes to Church, part 3

Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton, resident bishop of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference, recently was a guest in our church.

I’ve already written here about his sermon preparation and his sharing of God’s gifts in Parts 1 and 2.

In our tradition, there was a time when pastors were appointed not just to a church but literally to that church’s pulpit.  That’s how important we’ve thought the preaching of the Word in the lives of Christians.

In recent years many preachers, including our Associate Pastor Leanne and I, have been taught to step outside the pulpit area for part or even all of the message time.  There are two primary reasons for this: it removes a physical barrier between us and our listeners, and it encourages greater freedom of movement and expression.

Bishop Keaton stepped up into our pulpit.  He preached entirely from behind and within our pulpit.  There was no perceptible barrier between preacher and congregation.  He demonstrated no limitation in movement or expression.

Bishop Keaton reminded us, without saying a specific word about it, of the primacy of the pulpit.

From behind what was once called “the sacred desk,” he thundered and soothed and cajoled and encouraged.

With prayerful and careful preparation, our Bishop preached.

With solid content, our Bishop preached.

With eager listeners, our Bishop preached.

Bishop Keaton preached.