Grace Missionary Baptist Church

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March 21, 2026

Consecrated to serve.

On March 21, 2026, our pastor, Dr. Edward Jones, IV, was consecrated to the office of Bishop. Here is that day, told in pictures.

Begin the Story All 259 Photos
Bishop Edward Jones, IV in his episcopal robes, holding a crozier and raising his hand in blessing
I

Morning

Making ready.

Before the first hymn, everything was prepared with care. The robes were pressed, the chairs were set for the visiting bishops, and the Lord’s table was made ready. The Certificate of Consecration was laid out, waiting for signatures.

Communion trays on the Lord’s table, engraved ‘This do in remembrance of me’ Clergy robes hanging ready for the service A chair set with a program for one of the visiting bishops
II

Humility first

The towel & the basin.

Before he received the office, the Bishop-elect knelt and washed the feet of the bishops who had gathered to consecrate him. It was a living picture of the servant leadership Jesus modeled.

“If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.”John 13:14
The Bishop-elect kneeling to wash a bishop’s feet The Bishop-elect washing the feet of a bishop in red Close-up of hands, a towel, and a basin of water
III

Set apart

Prayer, oil & purple.

The bishops surrounded him, laid their hands on his shoulders, and prayed. He was anointed. Then, for the first time, he put on the purple of a bishop.

Bishops laying their hands on the head of the Bishop-elect in prayer A bishop in red with his hands on the shoulders of the Bishop-elect The Bishop-elect being robed in purple
IV

A covenant

Signed & sealed.

The bishops signed the Certificate of Consecration one by one. Then came the first hugs and handshakes of the day.

A bishop’s hand signing the Certificate of Consecration The signed Certificate of Consecration The Bishop-elect embracing a well-wisher
V

Into the sanctuary

The procession.

Clergy and bishops processed down the center aisle. The symbols of the office were carried in on red pillows: a ring, a pectoral cross, and a crozier, the shepherd’s staff.

The Bishop-elect in purple processing down the center aisle A ring and the head of a crozier resting on a red pillow A gold pectoral cross on a red pillow
VI

Praise

A house full of worship.

The sanctuary was filled with praise. With his family beside him, the Bishop-elect worshiped with the church he serves, and the Word went forth.

The Bishop-elect in purple worshiping beside his family, dressed in white A bishop in red preaching from the pulpit The Bishop-elect and his family clapping in worship
VII

The holy moment

The consecration.

He lay face down before the altar, covered in white, as a sign of complete surrender to God. Then the bishops laid their hands on him and prayed, consecrating him to the office of Bishop, and robed him in the vestments of his new office.

Bishops laying hands on the kneeling Bishop-elect The Bishop-elect lying prostrate on a white cloth Bishops robing the newly consecrated Bishop in white
VIII

Presented to the people

Bishop Edward Jones, IV.

With the crozier in hand, he was presented to the congregation for the first time as Bishop. He took his seat, embraced his family, and spoke his first words to the church as its Bishop.

Bishop Jones, seen from behind in purple, facing the altar Bishop Jones seated in his robes with his family around him Bishop Jones speaking from the pulpit
The episcopal seal of Bishop Edward Jones, IV, with the motto Solus Christus and the year MMXXVI

The episcopal seal

“Solus Christus.”

Christ alone. Bishop Jones’s episcopal seal bears this motto, along with an open Bible, a dove, and the year of his consecration: MMXXVI (2026).

IX

That evening

The celebration.

Family, friends, and the Grace church family gathered for a banquet in his honor. There was a cake topped with his new seal, a robe presented as a gift, words of love from Bishop and Lady Jones, and more hugs than anyone could count.

Bishop Jones and Lady Jones speaking at the celebration banquet The celebration cake inscribed ‘Bishop Edward Jones IV, DMin’ Bishop Jones with his family at the banquet

“This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.”

1 Timothy 3:1

Thank you for celebrating with us.

Find yourself, your family, and your friends among all 259 photos from the day.

See All Photos Meet Bishop Jones BEJ4 Ministries