Question
Gramps,
I am in the Bishopric and our Bishop is out of town most of the time. I am acting Bishop when he is gone. Am I considered a Judge in Israel? Thank You.
Kimo
Answer
Dear Kimo,
Bishops have many responsibilities. A bishopric is created to help the bishop carry out all of those responsibilities. The counselors can do many things to help the bishop. This includes giving advice and ideas, being delegated assignments, and in many cases represent the bishop if he is unavailable.
However there are some things that the bishop can not delegate. Namely dealing with worthiness issues and handling church discipline issues. In these areas the closest the counselors should come to them is referring worthiness issues to the bishop, and sitting in as a witness and adviser in more formal church disciplinary meetings.
It is being able to deal with these more sensitive issues that the primary focus of being a ‘Judge In Israel’ (D&C 107:72) and because of this you are not considered a judge in Israel. You have a very important role in assisting and helping him, but the responsibility and calling is the bishop’s.
Gramps
