Saints Alive Posted August 21, 2012 Posted August 21, 2012 I know a Bishop must be married but can a bishop be a single widower (a man who's wife is deceased)?
rongo Posted August 21, 2012 Posted August 21, 2012 Not unless the First Presidency grants an exception (which it/they have the authority to do).
Duncan Posted August 21, 2012 Posted August 21, 2012 are you saying in the man's past or currently serving?
Bill “Papa” Lee Posted August 21, 2012 Posted August 21, 2012 I know a Bishop must be married but can a bishop be a single widower (a man who's wife is deceased)?I don't know how a man could do so without the help of a wife.
blackstrap Posted August 21, 2012 Posted August 21, 2012 are you saying in the man's past or currently serving? Would he be released if she died during his time as a bishop?
Duncan Posted August 21, 2012 Posted August 21, 2012 Would he be released if she died during his time as a bishop?probably, although I don't see why he would beyond the Stake Pres. probably wanting the Bishop grieving time and that plus all the ward stuff would be too much, I would imagine but hope never to find out!
Grundelwalken Posted August 21, 2012 Posted August 21, 2012 Bishops must be married and must never have been divorced. Any exception must be approved by the First Presidency. If the bishop becomes a widower he will be released honorably. MW
Doctrine 612 Posted August 21, 2012 Posted August 21, 2012 He must be married ( the never been divorce rule is not true, our current bishop has been divorced ) if his wife were to die, he would still serve out his time, unless the sadness becomes to hard to handle with all of the other things he has to handle.
daz2 Posted August 21, 2012 Posted August 21, 2012 Any exception must be approved by the First Presidency. Actually, the calling of any bishop, married, single or divorced, must be approved by the First Presidency.In theory, the FP could approve a single man to serve as a bishop or to serve in a stake presidency. (My father remembers a single man's having been called as a bishop in a ward in the east during the 1960s).I imagine that in the case of a married bishop's becoming single because of his wife's death or divorce, the stake president would consult with the First Presidency to determine whether he should be released or not.
DH Posted August 21, 2012 Posted August 21, 2012 (edited) Okay, so WHY would a widower need special approval in order to serve as a bishop? It's not as though he did anything wrong.If he had children at home, I imagine he'd need to devote more time to raising them than if his wife was still alive, and therefore not have enough time to serve as a bishop. But if he did not have children at home, he might actually have more time for church service, so what would be the problem? Edited August 21, 2012 by DH 1
Grundelwalken Posted August 21, 2012 Posted August 21, 2012 Okay, so WHY would a widower need special approval in order to serve as a bishop? It's not as though he did anything wrong.If he had children at home, I imagine he'd need to devote more time to raising them than if his wife was still alive, and therefore not have enough time to serve as a bishop. But if he did not have children at home, he might actually have more time for church service, so what would be the problem?A widower who has not married again is still a single man. I believe the biggest concern is the inappropriateness of meeting with sisters as a single man. I'm sure there are exceptions based on local situations but this is the general policy. MW 1
Duncan Posted August 21, 2012 Posted August 21, 2012 A widower who has not married again is still a single man. I believe the biggest concern is the inappropriateness of meeting with sisters as a single man. I'm sure there are exceptions based on local situations but this is the general policy. MWdon't all Bishops, married, meet with women behind closed doors though? anything can happen to anyone regardless of their marital status
The Nehor Posted August 21, 2012 Posted August 21, 2012 I can speak to this as a friend of mine had his wife die while he was Bishop. He knew he was going to be released but the release is not immediate and he served until they found a replacement about a month and a half later. He also got a letter of condolence from the prophet (then Hinckley). 3
DH Posted August 21, 2012 Posted August 21, 2012 (edited) A widower who has not married again is still a single man. I believe the biggest concern is the inappropriateness of meeting with sisters as a single man. I'm sure there are exceptions based on local situations but this is the general policy. MWIsn't meeting with a married man even more inappropriate? I mean, if single people mess around it's not good, but at least they're not betraying spouses. But if married people mess around with people they're not married to, then you have another victim because their spouse feels seriously hurt and betrayed.Is there an underlying assumption that single men have zero self-control, but married men are magically trustworthy with other men's wives? Edited August 22, 2012 by DH
Avatar4321 Posted August 22, 2012 Posted August 22, 2012 God will call whomever He will to be Bishop. I dont think we need to worry about it that much.
Calm Posted August 22, 2012 Posted August 22, 2012 (edited) Isn't meeting with a married man even more inappropriate? I mean, if single people mess around it's not good, but at least they're not betraying spouses. But if married people mess around with people they're not married to, then you have another victim because their spouse feels seriously hurt and betrayed.Is there an underlying assumption that single men have zero self-control, but married men are magically trustworthy with other men's wives?An observation....single people may tell themselves they have only themselves to hurt if they betray covenants, married individuals if they have any heart will be considering how it may affect their loved ones. Like the temple garment being a reminder of our temple covenants and thus helping us make the right choices at those crucial times, reminders that our deeds affect others is always a good thing when debating to cross a line or not.I suspect the Church is well aware of who has more problems with adultery/fornication....single individuals or married and that might play into the decision process, but I also suspect it is probably as much if not solely because it is a traditional policy in the church based on scriptural interpretation that has proven successful while not causing significant issues (it must be rare that there is a shortage of worthy married men but available single men as candidates for being bishop).I have heard many of a bishop talk about his wife as an essential counselor, someone who provides both emotional support and wisdom, sounds to me like it is not a bad idea all around for a variety of reasons. Edited August 22, 2012 by calmoriah
volgadon Posted August 22, 2012 Posted August 22, 2012 An observation....single people may tell themselves they have only themselves to hurt if they betray covenants, married individuals if they have any heart will be considering how it may affect their loved ones. Like the temple garment being a reminder of our temple covenants and thus helping us make the right choices at those crucial times, reminders that our deeds affect others is always a good thing when debating to cross a line or not.I suspect the Church is well aware of who has more problems with adultery/fornication....single individuals or married and that might play into the decision process, but I also suspect it is probably as much if not solely because it is a traditional policy in the church based on scriptural interpretation that has proven successful while not causing significant issues (it must be rare that there is a shortage of worthy married men but available single men as candidates for being bishop).I have heard many of a bishop talk about his wife as an essential counselor, someone who provides both emotional support and wisdom, sounds to me like it is not a bad idea all around for a variety of reasons.A married man is also likely to have a better handle on family dynamics. While I think that when single (and serving as a counsellor in a branch presidency) I had a decent idea of how things worked, getting married was definitely an eye-opener. My perspective on many things has deepened and broadened. There is honestly no replacement for experiencing something yourself. 2
Joyful Posted August 22, 2012 Posted August 22, 2012 Bishops must be married and must never have been divorced. Any exception must be approved by the First Presidency. If the bishop becomes a widower he will be released honorably. MWI know Bishops who have been divorced.
The Nehor Posted August 22, 2012 Posted August 22, 2012 Isn't meeting with a married man even more inappropriate? I mean, if single people mess around it's not good, but at least they're not betraying spouses. But if married people mess around with people they're not married to, then you have another victim because their spouse feels seriously hurt and betrayed.Is there an underlying assumption that single men have zero self-control, but married men are magically trustworthy with other men's wives?Perhaps but maybe the impetus is to allow the now-single man to date. How can you date when you are also the person single sisters have to confide their sins too and hold as their spiritual leader?I know Bishops who have been divorced.It does happen. Most of the time it happens when the Church in the area is weak or when the person converted after the divorce. When interviewing they do investigate previous marriages before calling a bishop.
Saints Alive Posted August 22, 2012 Author Posted August 22, 2012 So from what I have gathered thus far there is no rule baring widower from being bishops or even a statement that widower shouldn't be bishops.
Duncan Posted August 22, 2012 Posted August 22, 2012 I have had a bishop who was divorced and my current stake president has been divorced. I also know a bishopw ho got divorced while serving as a bishop. I also had a Bishop who cheated on his wife and molested his daughter and got away with it and now he is deceased so he is being taken care of
DH Posted August 22, 2012 Posted August 22, 2012 A married man is also likely to have a better handle on family dynamics. While I think that when single (and serving as a counsellor in a branch presidency) I had a decent idea of how things worked, getting married was definitely an eye-opener. My perspective on many things has deepened and broadened. There is honestly no replacement for experiencing something yourself.Well, if we're talking about widowers, they have just as much a handle on family dynamics as anybody else, don't you think? They've "been there" and had those experiences.
JAHS Posted August 22, 2012 Posted August 22, 2012 So from what I have gathered thus far there is no rule baring widower from being bishops or even a statement that widower shouldn't be bishops.Right. The Bible tells us that a Bishop must be married (1 Tim. 3:2), but any man who has been sealed in the temple to his wife is still married to her whether he is now a widower or not. It's probably best if he has at least had some years of experience with his wife before she died so he is able to draw on that experience while counseling other couples. Other than that if he is the one God wants as Bishop he can be called as such. Wasn't the Sherrif in the movie Brigham City a widower who was also the Bishop of the ward?
DH Posted August 22, 2012 Posted August 22, 2012 Perhaps but maybe the impetus is to allow the now-single man to date. How can you date when you are also the person single sisters have to confide their sins too and hold as their spiritual leader?Date someone who's not in the ward? Wait until your term as bishop is over? Not seek to get remarried at all?You're right, a bishop dating women in the ward he presides over could be problematic. But there are other options.
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