Introducing Bishop
Bishop Cabe Willis
Molly’s maiden name, Mynster, is a rare one that we are rather fond of. Years ago, we began amateur research on the etymology of Mynster and found a connection to an old English term for church. If you know us, you’ll hopefully be aware that we care deeply for the church and are invested in advancing God’s work in and through his people. We believe that the church carries the hope of the world in the gospel of Christ.
Our desire to use the Mynster name and its connection to the church converged in the term bishop. Bishops are overseers of the church in many Christian traditions (not to get into ecclesial polity here... but others use elder or pastor). They are charged with the task of watching over the body of Christ as shepherds, teachers, and are ultimately held responsible for our collective witness to the gospel. When serving faithfully, a bishop helps multitudes flourish in their walk with God. It is an office of service, grace, stewardship, generosity, sacrifice, leadership, loyalty, and meaning; all qualities that we desire for our son to manifest. No, our son does not need to pursue vocational ministry to fulfill our desire that he embodies these virtues. Our prayer is that as our Bishop’s life develops, he spends it with God for the good of others in whatever calling he finds meaning and joy in.
Another seed for his name comes from my (Josh’s) favorite novel Les Misérables. A central character in the story is the bishop. He shows grace to an ex-convict who has been wholly rejected by others in his darkest suffering, a man named Jean Valjean. The good bishop offers him food when he’s starving and a place to sleep when no one else would give him a chance because of his past. In his depravity, Jean Valjean robs the bishop in the middle of the night and flees only to get caught. He’s brought back to the bishop by the police to confirm that the stolen silverware in his possession belongs to the bishop. The bishop assures the police that there has been no theft and tells Jean Valjean that he left behind the most valuable gift, two silver candlesticks. These candlesticks make up the totality of the bishop’s possessions, and he freely gifts them to Jean Valjean who just abused him. This act of mercy haunts Jean Valjean for the rest of his life. An encounter with sacrificial grace propels him to a new life of generosity, compassion, love, and meaning. The bishop changed generations by living out the teachings of his Lord. May it be so for our own Bishop.
Bishop shares my middle name, Cabe. I was given this name because my parents thought well of a kid in our neighborhood with this name... and he’s now a Methodist pastor! In my childhood, I used to be embarrassed by this name for some odd reason. As you might guess, I cherish it now. Perhaps I’ve learned a thing or two since my childhood and we pray that our sweet Bishop discovers the joy of being a lifelong learner and may he always continue to be renewed by the ever-abundant grace of God.
O Lord, will you empower us to raise our son to follow you in your kingdom forevermore. May he be a delight to all and a tangible presence of your beauty, grace, and love.
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Bishop Cabe Willis
overseer, teacher, servant, shepherd, faithful
