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{{Short description|Hierarchical form of church governance}}
{{About|the form of church governance|the churches characterized by this form of governance and naming themselves Episcopalian|Anglicanism}}
{{more citations needed |date=August 2015}}
[[File:Roma-san giovanni03.jpg|thumb|The chair ([[cathedra]]) of the Bishop of Rome ([[Pope]]) of the [[Catholic Church]] in the [[Basilica of St. John Lateran|Archbasilica of St. John in Lateran]] in [[Rome]], Italy, represents his episcopal authority.]]
{{Ecclesiastical polity}}

An '''episcopal polity''', also known as '''episcopalianism''', is a [[Hierarchy|hierarchical]] form of [[Ecclesiastical polity|church governance]] in which the chief local authorities are called [[bishop]]s. The word "bishop" here is derived via the [[British Latin]] and [[Vulgar Latin]] term ''*ebiscopus''/''*biscopus'', {{ety|grc|''ἐπίσκοπος'' (epískopos)|overseer}}.<ref>{{OEtymD|bishop}}</ref><ref>{{LSJ|e)pi/skopos1|ἐπίσκοπος|ref}}.</ref> It is the structure used by many of the major [[Christian Church]]es and [[Christian denomination|denomination]]s, such as the [[Catholic]], [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]], [[Oriental Orthodoxy|Oriental Orthodox]], [[Church of the East]], [[Anabaptist]], [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]], and [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] churches or denominations, and other churches founded independently from these lineages.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}} Many [[Methodist denominations]] have a form of episcopal polity known as [[connexionalism]].

==History==
Churches with an episcopal [[polity]] are governed by bishops, practising their authorities in the [[diocese]]s and [[Episcopal Conference|conference]]s or [[synod]]s. Their leadership is both [[sacrament]]al and constitutional; as well as performing [[ordination]]s, [[confirmation]]s, and [[consecration]]s, the bishop supervises the [[clergy]] within a local jurisdiction and is the representative both to secular structures and within the hierarchy of the church. 

Bishops are considered to derive their authority from an unbroken, personal [[apostolic succession]] from the [[Twelve Apostles]] of [[Jesus]]. Bishops with such authority are said to represent the [[historical episcopate]] or historic episcopate. Churches with this type of government usually believe that the Church requires episcopal government as described in the New Testament (see [http://www.usccb.org/bible/1timothy/3 1 Timothy 3] and [http://www.usccb.org/bible/2timothy/1 2 Timothy 1]). In some systems, bishops may be subject in limited ways to bishops holding a higher office (variously called [[archbishop]]s, [[Metropolitan bishop|metropolitan]]s, or [[patriarch]]s, depending upon the tradition). They also meet in councils or synods. These gatherings, subject to presidency by higher ranking bishops, usually make important decisions, though the synod or council may also be purely advisory.

For much of the [[recorded history|written history]] of institutional Christianity, episcopal government was the only known form of church organization. This changed at the [[Protestant Reformation|Reformation]]. Many [[Protestantism|Protestant]] churches are now organized by either [[Congregationalist polity|congregational]] or [[Presbyterian polity|presbyterian]] church polities, both descended from the writings of [[John Calvin]], a Protestant reformer working and writing independently following the break with the [[Catholic Church]] precipitated by [[The Ninety-Five Theses]] of [[Martin Luther]]. However, some people have disputed the episcopal polity before the reformation, such as [[Aerius of Sebaste]] in the 4th century.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Philip Schaff: History of the Christian Church, Volume III: Nicene and Post-Nicene Christianity. A.D. 311–600 – Christian Classics Ethereal Library|url=https://ccel.org/ccel/schaff/hcc3/hcc3.iii.vii.xx.html|access-date=2021-12-21|website=ccel.org}}</ref>

==Overview of episcopal churches==
[[File:Chartres 1.jpg|thumb|upright|right|The government of a bishop is typically symbolized by a cathedral church, such as the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Chartres|bishops]]'s [[episcopal see|see]] at [[Chartres Cathedral]].]]
The definition of the word ''episcopal'' has variation among Christian traditions. There are subtle differences in governmental principles among episcopal churches at the present time. To some extent the separation of episcopal churches can be traced to these differences in [[ecclesiology]], that is, their theological understanding of church and church governance. For some, "episcopal churches" are churches that use a hierarchy of bishops who identify as being in an unbroken, personal [[apostolic succession]].

"Episcopal" is also commonly used to distinguish between the various organizational structures of [[Christian denomination|denominations]]. For instance, "Presbyterian" ({{langx|el|πρεσβύτερος}}, presbýteros)<ref>{{OEtymD|presbyterian}}</ref> is used to describe a church governed by a hierarchy of assemblies of elected [[Elder (religious)|elders]], referred to as [[presbyterian polity]]. Similarly, "episcopal" is used to describe a church governed by bishops. Self-governed local congregations, governed neither by elders nor bishops, are usually described as "[[Congregational polity|congregational]]".

More specifically, the capitalized appellation "Episcopal" is applied to several churches historically based within [[Anglicanism]] ("Episcopalianism"), including those still in communion with the [[Church of England]].

Using these definitions, examples of specific episcopal churches include:
* The [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic Church]]
* The [[Eastern Orthodox Church]]
* The [[Oriental Orthodox Churches]]
* The [[Assyrian Church of the East]]
* The [[Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church]]
* The Churches of the [[Anglican Communion]]
* The [[Old Catholic]] churches
* Numerous smaller [[Catholic Church (disambiguation)|"catholic" churches]]
* Certain national churches of the [[Lutheran]] confession
* The [[African Methodist Episcopal Church]]
* The [[United Methodist Church]]

Some [[Lutheran]] churches practice congregational polity or a form of presbyterian polity.<ref>''Encyclopedia of Religion and Society'', William H. Swatos, Jr. Editor [http://hirr.hartsem.edu/ency/Lutharanism.htm Lutheranism] Hartford Institute for Religion Research, Hartford Seminary.  Retrieved on September 4, 2006.</ref> Others, including the [[Church of Sweden]], practice episcopal polity; the Church of Sweden also counts its bishops among the [[historical episcopate|historic episcopate]]. This is also the case with some American Lutheran churches, such as the [[Anglo-Lutheran Catholic Church]], [[Lutheran Orthodox Church]], [[Lutheran Church - International]], and the [[Lutheran Episcopal Communion]].

Many [[Methodist]] churches (the [[United Methodist Church]], among others) retain the form and function of episcopal polity, although in a modified form, called [[connexionalism]]. Since all trace their ordinations to an Anglican priest, [[John Wesley]], it is generally considered that their bishops do not share in apostolic succession. However, United Methodists affirm that their bishops share in the historic episcopate.

==Formation==
The [[Paul the Apostle|Apostle Paul]] in the [[Epistle to the Philippians]], [[Pope Clement I|Clement of Rome]] and the ''[[Didache]]'' when talking about the ecclesial system of governance, mention “bishops and deacons”, without the word “presbyter”, which has been argued by some to show that there was no presbyter-bishop distinction yet in the first century.<ref name=":1">Philip Schaff: History of the Christian Church, Volume II: Ante-Nicene Christianity. A.D. 100–325 – Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org)</ref>

[[Ignatius of Antioch]], writing in already the early second century, makes a clear distinction of bishops and presbyters, meaning that his letters show that an episcopal system was already in existence by his time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Philip Schaff: History of the Christian Church, Volume II: Ante-Nicene Christianity. A.D. 100–325 – Christian Classics Ethereal Library |url=https://ccel.org/ccel/schaff/hcc2/hcc2.v.vi.v.html |access-date=2022-03-07 |website=ccel.org}}</ref> However, [[Bart D. Ehrman|Bart Erhman]] sees it as significant that Ignatius never mentioned a bishop in Rome.<ref name="Ehrman2008p83">{{cite book |last=Ehrman |first=Bart D |url=https://archive.org/details/peterpaulmarymag00ehrm_0/page/83 |title=Peter, Paul, and Mary Magdalene: The Followers of Jesus in History and Legend |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-19-534350-2 |page=83 |author-link=Bart D Ehrman}}</ref> Later, [[Tertullian]] also very clearly distinguishes the presbyters and bishops as a separate office, [[Irenaeus]] made lists of the succession of bishops, though such lists made by the early [[Church Fathers]] are highly contradictory.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Philip Schaff: History of the Christian Church, Volume II: Ante-Nicene Christianity. A.D. 100–325 – Christian Classics Ethereal Library |url=https://ccel.org/ccel/schaff/hcc2/hcc2.v.vi.vi.html |access-date=2022-03-07 |website=ccel.org}}</ref> By the second century, it appears that the episcopal system had become the majority, universal view among Christians.<ref name=":1" />

Even [[Schism in Christianity|schismatic]] sects such as the [[Novatianism|Novatians]] and [[Donatism|Donatists]] would also use the episcopal framework,<ref name=":2" /> except for [[Aerius of Sebaste]], who contested the system and began his own sect.<ref name=":0" />

[[Jerome]] stated that churches were originally governed by a group of presbyters, only later electing bishops to suppress schisms.<ref name=":1" />{{Catholic Church sidebar}}

[[File:G.P.A.Healy, Portrait of Pope Pius IX (1871).jpg|thumb|upright|right|[[Pope Pius IX]] convened the [[First Vatican Council]] that approved the dogma of the pope as the visible head of the church, prime bishop over a hierarchy of clergy and believers.<ref>Decrees of the First Vatican Council,  Session 4 : 18 July 1870 – First Dogmatic Constitution on the Church of Christ. [http://www.dailycatholic.org/history/20ecume3.htm Daily Catholic Online edition] retrieved on September 1, 2006.</ref>]]

==Catholic Church==
{{Main|Bishops in the Catholic Church}}
The [[Catholic Church]] has an episcopate, with the [[Pope]], who is the [[Diocese of Rome|Bishop of Rome]], at the top. The Catholic Church considers juridical oversight over the Church is not a power derived from human beings, but strictly from the authority of Christ, which was given to his twelve [[Apostles in the New Testament|apostle]]s. The [[See of Rome]], as the unbroken line of apostolic authority descending from Saint [[Saint Peter|Peter the Apostle]] (the “Prince and Head of the Apostles”), is a visible sign and ''locus'' of [[Full communion|communion]] among the [[College of Bishops]], and therefore also of local churches around the world. In communion with these churches and their bishops, the Pope has all legitimate juridical and [[Papal infallibility|infallible]] [[Magister militum|teaching authority]] over the whole Church. This authority given by Christ to Saint Peter and the apostles is transmitted from one generation to the next by the power of the [[Holy Spirit in Christianity|Holy Spirit]], through the [[laying on of hands]] from the Apostles to the bishops, in unbroken succession.

==Eastern Orthodox Church==
The conciliar idea of episcopal government continues in the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Synodal Structure of the Orthodox Church |url=https://www.goarch.org/-/the-synodal-structure-of-the-orthodox-church |access-date=25 October 2025 |website=Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America |publisher=Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America}}</ref> In [[Eastern Orthodoxy]], all [[autocephaly|autocephalous]] [[primate (bishop)|primates]] are seen as collectively gathering around Christ, with other archbishops and bishops gathering around them, and so forth.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ware |first=Kallistos (Bishop of Diokleia) |title=The Orthodox Church |publisher=Penguin / Oxford University Press |year=1993 |isbn=9780140135299 |pages=214–217}}</ref> There is no single primate with exclusive authority comparable to the Pope in Rome.<ref>{{cite web |title=The structure of the Church |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Eastern-Orthodoxy/The-structure-of-the-church |access-date=25 October 2025 |website=Encyclopædia Britannica}}</ref> However, the [[Patriarch of Constantinople]] (now Istanbul) is seen as the {{lang|la|[[primus inter pares]]}}, the "first among equals" of the autocephalous churches of Eastern Orthodoxy.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople: A Ministry of the Ecumenical Patriarchate |url=https://ec-patr.org/en/the-ecumenical-patriarchate-of-constantinople-a-ministry-of/ |access-date=25 October 2025 |website=Ecumenical Patriarchate |publisher=Ecumenical Patriarchate}}</ref>

==Oriental Orthodox churches==
The [[Oriental Orthodoxy|Oriental Orthodox Churches]] affirm the ideas of apostolic succession and episcopal government. Within each national Church, the bishops form a holy [[synod]] to which even the Patriarch is subject. The [[Syriac Orthodox Church]] traces its [[apostolic succession]] to St. Peter and recognises Antioch as the original [[See of St. Peter]]. The [[Armenian Apostolic Church]] traces its lineage to the Apostle Bartholomew. The [[Indian Orthodox Church]] traces its lineage to the Apostle Thomas. The [[Ethiopian Orthodox Church]] received its lines of succession ([[Frumentius]]) through the [[Coptic Orthodox Church]] in the fifth century.

Both the [[Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria|Greek]] and Coptic Orthodox Churches each recognise their own Pope of Alexandria ([[Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa]], and [[Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria]] respectively), both of whom trace their apostolic succession back to the figure [[Mark the Evangelist]].<ref>[[Eusebius of Caesarea]], the author of an ''[[Church History (Eusebius)|Ecclesiastical History]]'' in the 4th century, states that St. Mark came to Egypt in the first or third year of the reign of Emperor Claudius, i.e. 41 or 43 AD. "Two Thousand Years of Coptic Christianity", Otto F.A. Meinardus, p. 28.</ref> There are official, ongoing efforts in recent times to heal this ancient breach. Already, the two recognize each other's [[baptism]]s, [[chrismation]]s, and [[marriage]]s, making intermarriage much easier.

==Church of the East==
{{Unreferenced section|date=July 2024}}{{Expand section|date=July 2024}}
Historically, the [[Church of the East]] has traced its episcopal succession to St. Thomas the Apostle. Currently the bishops of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]] continue to maintain its apostolic succession.

==Lutheran Churches==
[[Lutheran Church]]es, such as the [[Batak Christian Protestant Church]], [[Church of Sweden]] and the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya]], maintain apostolic succession.<ref name="Obare">{{cite web |author1=[[Walter Obare]] |title=Choose Life! |url=https://media.ctsfw.edu/Item/GetFullText/498 |publisher=[[Concordia Theological Seminary]] |language=English}}</ref> In countries such as Sweden, Catholic bishops became Lutheran bishops during the Reformation, continuing the ancient lines of apostolic succession.<ref name="Goeckel2018">{{cite book |last1=Goeckel |first1=Robert F. |title=Soviet Religious Policy in Estonia and Latvia: Playing Harmony in the Singing Revolution |date=3 August 2018 |publisher=Indiana University Press |isbn=978-0-253-03612-4 |language=en|quote=Among Lutherans there are also different positions: Scandinavian Lutheran churches claim apostolic succession, but German Lutheran churches (many formed from Prussian-mandated unions with Reformed Churches which reject this belief) do not affirm this element of doctrine. The Latvian and Estonian Lutheran churches had exchanged mutual recognition of this succession with the Anglican Church before WWII. They should be considered among the Scandinavian group rather than the German group, explaining theological motivation for consecration by a sitting bishop (Melton, ''Encyclopedia'', 91).}}</ref>

Through Swedish missionary work and the establishment of Lutheran Churches in various countries, such as in Kenya, apostolic succession was continued in those denominations, such as in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya, the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania]], the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa]], [[Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church]], [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malaysia]], and [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe]], among others.<ref name="Obare"/>

The [[Lutheran Church - International]], a Confessional Lutheran denomination of Evangelical Catholic churchmanship has an episcopal polity, with its clergy being ordained in lines of apostolic succession.<ref>{{cite web |title=A Note on the Citation of Apostolic Succession by the Lutheran Church-International |url=http://nebula.wsimg.com/4b4ecdc8ad06090b3b43ee221d9bd804?AccessKeyId=359D0854B4F4C0D65DEF&disposition=0&alloworigin=1 |access-date=25 May 2022 |language=English |quote=As with all gifts of Christ to His Church, the ability to trace links to the apostolic age and missions is a blessing that is useful in the work of the Christian Church Universal. As an Evangelical Catholic body confessing Holy Scripture and the guidance of the Lutheran Book of Concord, the Lutheran Church – International is grateful to God for the ability to participate in these lines of succession. They are for us in our ministries a sign of the unity and continuity of the Christian Church through the power of the Holy Spirit.}}</ref><ref name="LCI2011">{{cite web |title=News from the LC-I |url=http://www.lutheranchurchinternational.org/ |publisher=Lutheran Church-International |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916165918/http://www.lutheranchurchinternational.org/ |archivedate=16 September 2011|accessdate=2 February 2025|year=2011}}</ref>

==Anglican Communion==
{{Anglicanism}}
[[Anglicanism]] is a [[English Reformation|Reformation]] tradition that lays claim to the historic episcopate through [[apostolic succession]] in terms comparable to the various Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and certain Lutheran Communions. Anglicans assert unbroken episcopal succession in and through the [[Church of England]] back to [[Augustine of Canterbury|St. Augustine of Canterbury]] and to the first century [[Roman province]] of [[Roman province of Britannia|Britannia]]. While some Celtic Christian practices were changed at the [[Synod of Whitby]], the church in the British Isles was under papal authority from earliest times.<ref>Marcus Holden and Andrew Pinsent, The Catholic Gift to Civilisation (London: CTS), pp. 13ff</ref>

The legislation of [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]] effectively establishing the independence of the Church of England from Rome did not alter its constitutional or pastoral structures. [[Royal supremacy]] was exercised through the extant legal structures of the church, whose leaders were bishops. Episcopacy was thus seen as a given of the Reformed ''Ecclesia Anglicana'', and a foundation in the institution's appeal to ancient and apostolic legitimacy. What did change was that bishops were now seen to be ministers of the Crown for the spiritual government of its subjects. The influence of [[Richard Hooker (theologian)|Richard Hooker]] was crucial to an evolution in this understanding in which bishops came to be seen in their more traditional role as ones who delegate to the [[presbyterate]] inherited powers, act as pastors to presbyters, and holding a particular teaching office with respect to the wider church.

[[File:The Most Reverend Paul Kwong.JPG|thumb|upright|[[Paul Kwong]], Anglican Archbishop and Primate of Hong Kong]]
Anglican opinion has differed as to the way in which episcopal government is ''de jure divino'' (by the [[Divine Right of Kings]]). On the one hand, the seventeenth century divine, [[John Cosin]], held that episcopal authority is ''jure divino'', but that it stemmed from "apostolic practice and the customs of the Church ... [not] absolute precept that either Christ or His Apostles gave about it" (a view maintained also by Hooker).<ref>Cosin, ''Works'', Vol. IV (Oxford, 1855), p. 402</ref> In contrast, [[Lancelot Andrewes]] and others held that episcopal government is derived from Christ via the apostles. Regardless, both parties viewed the episcopacy as bearing the apostolic function of oversight which both includes, and derives from, the power of ordination, and is normative for the governance of the church. The practice of apostolic succession both ensures the legitimacy of the church's mission and establishes the unity, communion, and continuity of the local church with the universal church. This formulation, in turn, laid the groundwork for an independent view of the church as a "sacred society" distinct from civil society, which was so crucial for the development of local churches as non-established entities outside England, and gave direct rise to the [[Catholic Revival]] and [[disestablishmentarianism]] within England.

Functionally, Anglican episcopal authority is expressed [[synod]]ically, although individual provinces may accord their [[primate (bishop)|primate]] with more or less authority to act independently. Called variously "synods", "councils", or "conventions", they meet under episcopal chairmanship. In many jurisdictions, conciliar resolutions that have been passed require episcopal assent or consent to take force. Seen in this way, Anglicans often speak of "the bishop-in-synod" as the force and authority of episcopal governance. Such conciliar authority extends to the standard areas of doctrine, [[church discipline|discipline]], and worship, but in these regards is limited by Anglicanism's tradition of the limits of authority. Those limits are expressed in Article XXI of the [[Thirty-Nine Articles]] of Religion, ratified in 1571 (significantly, just as the [[Council of Trent]] was drawing to a close), which held that "General Councils ... may err, and sometimes have erred ... wherefore things ordained by them as necessary to salvation have neither strength nor authority, unless it may be declared that they be taken out of holy Scripture." Hence, Anglican jurisdictions have traditionally been conservative in their approach to either innovative doctrinal development or in encompassing actions of the church as doctrinal (see ''[[lex orandi, lex credendi]]'').

Anglican synodical government, though varied in expression, is characteristically representative. Provinces of the [[Anglican Communion]], their [[ecclesiastical province]]s and [[diocese]]s are governed by councils consisting not only of bishops, but also representatives of the [[presbyterate]] and [[laity]].

There is no international juridical authority in Anglicanism, although the tradition's common experience of episcopacy, symbolised by the historical link with the [[episcopal see|See]] of [[Province of Canterbury|Canterbury]], along with a common and complex liturgical tradition, has provided a measure of unity. This has been reinforced by the [[Lambeth Conference]]s of Anglican Communion bishops, which first met in 1867. These conferences, though they propose and pass resolutions, are strictly consultative, and the intent of the resolutions is to provide guideposts for Anglican jurisdictions—not direction. The Conferences also express the function of the episcopate to demonstrate the ecumenical and catholic nature of the church.

The [[Scottish Episcopal Church]] traces [[History of the Scottish Episcopal Church|its history]] back to the origins of Christianity in Scotland. Following the 1560 [[Scottish Reformation]] the [[Church of Scotland]] was initially run by Superintendents, episcopal governance was restored in 1572, but episcopalianism alternated with periods when the Kirk was under [[presbyterian]] control until the [[Scottish Episcopalians Act 1711|1711 Act]] allowed formation of the independent non-established Scottish Episcopal Church. The [[Nonjuring schism]] led to the British Government imposing penal laws against the church. In 1784 the Scottish church appointed [[Samuel Seabury (bishop)|Samuel Seabury]] as first bishop of the [[Episcopal Church (United States)|American Episcopal Church]], beginning the worldwide Anglican Communion of churches, and in 1792 the penal laws were abolished. The church accepted the articles of the Church of England in 1804.<ref name="Scottish Episcopal Church hist 2013">{{cite web | title=History | website=The Scottish Episcopal Church | date=5 November 2013 | url=https://www.scotland.anglican.org/who-we-are/about-us/history-timeline/ | access-date=21 May 2019}}, [https://www.scotland.anglican.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/a-church-for-scotland.pdf detailed history]</ref> 
The spread of increasingly [[democracy|democratic]] forms of representative governance has its origin in the formation of the first General Conventions of the American Episcopal Church in the 1780s, which established a "House of Bishops" and a "House of Deputies". In many jurisdictions, there is also a third, clerical House. Resolutions may be voted on jointly or by each House, in the latter case requiring passage in all Houses to be adopted by the particular council.

Churches that are members of the Anglican Communion are episcopal churches in polity, and some are named "Episcopal". However, some churches that self-identify as Anglican do not belong to the Anglican Communion, and not all episcopally-governed churches are Anglican. The [[Roman Catholic Church]], the [[Old Catholic Church]]es (in full communion with, but not members of, the Anglican Communion), and the [[Eastern Orthodoxy|Eastern Orthodox churches]] are recognized, and also their bishops, by [[Anglicanism|Anglicans]].

==Methodist churches==
{{Further|Connexionalism}}
A number of [[Methodism|Methodist churches]] often use episcopal polity for historical as well as practical reasons, albeit to limited use. Methodists often use the term ''[[connexionalism]]'' or ''connexional polity'' in addition to "episcopal". Nevertheless, the powers of the Methodist episcopacy can be relatively strong and wide-reaching compared to traditional conceptions of episcopal polity. 

In the [[Free Methodist Church]], bishops are elected.<ref name="Finley2023">{{cite web |last1=Finley |first1=Jeff |title=Cowart, Martin, Kolde to Lead FMCUSA as Bishops |url=https://www.gc23.org/news/cowart-martin-kolde-to-lead-fmcusa-as-bishops |publisher=Free Methodist Church |access-date=21 May 2024 |date=26 July 2023}}</ref>

In the [[United Methodist Church]], bishops are elected for life, can serve up to two terms in a specific conference (three if special permission is given), are responsible for ordaining and appointing clergy to pastor churches, perform many administrative duties, preside at the annual sessions of the regional Conferences and at the quadrennial meeting of the worldwide General Conference, have authority for teaching and leading the church on matters of social and doctrinal import, and serve to represent the denomination in ecumenical gatherings. United Methodist bishops in the United States serve in their appointed conferences, being moved to a new "Episcopal Area" after 8 (or 12) years, until their mandated retirement at the end of the quadrennium following their sixty-sixth birthday.<ref>[http://www.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=21&mid=5860 Still in Production] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050427100231/http://www.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=21&mid=5860 |date=2005-04-27 }}. UMC.org. Retrieved on 2013-07-23.</ref>

The [[Methodist Church in Great Britain]] holds that all ordained ministers are equal in terms of spirituality. However, for practical management lines are drawn into President of Conference, Chair of District, Superintendent Minister, Minister. However, all are ministers. The [[Fellowship of Independent Methodist Churches]] is non-episcopal. Similarly, the [[Congregational Methodist Church]] has a [[congregational polity]].

==Anabaptist Churches==
Most [[Anabaptism|Anabaptist]] churches of the [[plain dress]] tradition follow an episcopal system, at least in name. Congregational governance is strongly emphasized, and each congregation elects its pastor. Bishops enforce inter-congregational unity and may discipline pastors for breaking from traditional norms.

== Other Protestant churches ==
The [[Reformed Church of Hungary]] and [[Lutheran church]]es in [[continental Europe]] may sometimes be called “episcopal”. In these latter cases, the form of government is not radically different from the [[Presbyterian polity|presbyterian]] form, except that their councils of bishops have hierarchical [[jurisdiction]] over the local ruling bodies to a greater extent than in most [[Presbyterian]] and other [[Reformed churches]]. As mentioned, the Lutheran Church in Sweden and Finland (along with Lutheran Churches established in various parts of the world by missionaries from these denominations) are exceptions, claiming apostolic succession in a pattern somewhat like the Anglican churches. Otherwise, forms of polity are not mandated in the Lutheran churches, as it is not regarded as having doctrinal significance.<ref>{{cite book |title=Book of Concord |pages=Article XIV. Of Ecclesiastical Order}}</ref> [[Old World]] Lutheranism, for historical reasons, has tended to adopt [[Erastian]] theories of episcopal authority (by which church authority is to a limited extent sanctioned by secular government). In the United States, Lutheran churches tend to adopt a form of government that grants congregations more independence, but ultimately has an episcopal structure.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023|reason=The citation to the Book of Concord that I moved to a previous sentence in the paragraph cannot be used to verify the polity of churches in the US because it predates them by hundreds of years}} A small minority of [[Episcopal Baptists]] exists.

== The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ==
Although it never uses the term, [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (informally known as the LDS Church) is episcopal, rather than presbyterian or congregational, in the sense that it has a strict hierarchy of leadership from the local bishop/branch president up to a single prophet/president, believed to be personally authorized and guided by Jesus Christ.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}} Local congregations (branches, wards, and stakes) have ''de jure'' boundaries by which members are allocated, and membership records are centralized.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}} This system developed gradually from a more presbyterian polity ([[Joseph Smith]]'s original title in 1830 was "First Elder") for pragmatic and doctrinal reasons, reaching a full episcopacy during the [[Nauvoo, Illinois|Nauvoo]] period (1839–1846).{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Christianity}}
*[[Canon law]]
*[[Collegiality (Catholic Church)]]
*[[Conciliarism]]
*[[Conciliarity]]
*[[Episcopal subsidy]]
*[[Magisterium]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book|last=Bannerman|first=James|title=The church of Christ : a treatise on the nature, powers, ordinances, discipline, and government of the Christian church|date=1868a|publisher=T. T. Clark|location=Edinburgh|url=https://archive.org/stream/churchofchristtr01bann|volume=1|author-link=James Bannerman (theologian)}}
* {{cite book|last=Bannerman|first=James|title=The church of Christ: a treatise on the nature, powers, ordinances, discipline, and government of the Christian church|date=1868b|publisher=T. T. Clark|location=Edinburgh|url=https://archive.org/stream/churchofchristtr02bann|volume=2|author-link=James Bannerman (theologian)}}
* Fairweather, E. R., and R. F. Hettlinger. ''Episcopacy and Reunion''. First English ed. London: A.R. Mowbray & Co., 1953, cop. 1952. ix, 118 p. ''N.B''.: First published in 1952 by the General Board of Religious Education of the Church of England in Canada, Toronto, Ont.
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Episcopacy | volume= 9 |last=Phillips|first=Walter Alison |author-link=Walter Alison Phillips| pages = 699&ndash;701 |short= 1}}
* Swete, H. B., ed. ''Essays on the Early History of the Church and the Ministry'', by Various Authors. London: Macmillan and Co., 1918.

==External links==
{{wiktionary|ἐπίσκοπος}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150206111318/http://www.vatican.va// Vatican: The Holy See] Official Website of the Papacy
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02581b.htm Catholic Encyclopedia: Bishop]
* [http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/ The Website of the Archbishop of Canterbury] Official Website of the Church of England
* [http://www.british-civil-wars.co.uk/glossary/episcopacy.htm Episcopacy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829033755/http://www.british-civil-wars.co.uk/glossary/episcopacy.htm |date=2012-08-29 }}
* [http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=1&mid=5856 United Methodist Council of Bishops] Official Website of the United Methodist Church
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060510161942/http://www.revneal.org/Writings/methepisc.htm Methodist Episcopacy: In Search of Holy Orders] By Gregory S. Neal
* [http://www.usccb.org/seia/conprim.shtml An Agreed Statement on Conciliarity and Primacy in the Church] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709070032/http://www.usccb.org/seia/conprim.shtml |date=2011-07-09 }} by the Orthodox/Roman Catholic Consultation in the United States of America, 1989.

{{Church-polity}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Episcopal Polity}}
[[Category:Episcopacy]]
[[Category:Episcopacy in Anglicanism]]
[[Category:Types of Roman Catholic organization]]
[[Category:Types of Eastern Orthodox organization]]
[[Category:Episcopacy in the Catholic Church]]
[[Category:Episcopacy in Eastern Orthodoxy]]
[[Category:Episcopacy in Oriental Orthodoxy]]
[[Category:Christian terminology]]
[[Category:Assyrian Church of the East]]
[[Category:Ecclesiastical polities]]