Meaning of bishop
A etymology of the word bishop comes from a Greek word episkopos (επισκοπος), which can be typically translated when bishop, superintendent, superintendent, supervisor, or even foreman. From either a word episkopos come derived a English words episcopate, episcopate & episcopal.

Bishops in the New Testament
A New Testament uses the word episkopos 5 days. Acts of the Apostles 20:28 Epistle to the Philippians 1:1 First Epistle to Timothy 3:2 Epistle to Titus 1:7 First Epistle of Peter 2:25 Words related to episkopos come utilized around both more verses. A select few English Bibles translate this word when bishop (KJV, RSV, NRSV, etc.), while others, attempting to few feet away themselves from either certain types of church hierarchy, use the further neutral choice, like "overseers" (NIV, ESV, etc.).

A ministry one New Testament episkopoi was not directly licensed by Jesus, but appears to exist as a natural, practical development of the church in the period of the 1st & 2nd centuries AD. A portions of the Just released Testament that mention episkopoi don't pop up to become ordering a newly nature and severity of ministry, however generating videos for an already existent position inside the early church. In situ (particularly in a verses from either the Epistle to Titus) it appears that the position of episkopos is similar or even a equivalent when that of presbyter (πρεσβυτερος), or elder, and, late, priest. A Epistle to Timothy mentions deacons (διακονοι) in a manner that suggests that a professional of deacon differs from either the professional of the bishop, & is subordinate thereto, though it carries similar qualifications.

In the Acts of the Apostles, episkopoi are mentioned when existence shepherds of the flock, imagination that is however within apply now. A more passages from either a New Testament describe them when stewards or even administrators, & teachers. Within 1 Timothy episkopoi are expected to become 'a married man of however 1 married woman'. These are undecipherable whether this forbids men world health organization keep around married another period serial, or even polygamists. Yet, these are clear that a Just released Testament has there is no prohibition against bishops marrying & with babies.

These are interesting to note that in the 2nd chapter of the 1 Peter, Jesus is described as 'a Shepherd & Episkopos of your computers individuals' (τον ποιμενα και επισκοπον των ψυχων υμων).

Bishops in the Apostolic Fathers
At the turn of a 1st century AD, the church began to get a clear organisation. In the works of the Apostolic Fathers, and Ignatius of Antioch in particular, the role of the episkopos, or even bishop, became other crucial.

"Plainly therefore we ought to regard the bishop as the Lord Himself" — Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians 6:1.
"your godly bishop" — Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians 2:1.
"the bishop presiding after the likeness of God and the presbyters after the likeness of the council of the Apostles, with the deacons also who are most dear to me, having been entrusted with the diaconate of Jesus Christ" — Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians 6:1.
"Therefore as the Lord did nothing without the Father, [being united with Him], either by Himself or by the Apostles, so neither do ye anything without the bishop and the presbyters." — Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians 7:1.
"Be obedient to the bishop and to one another, as Jesus Christ was to the Father [according to the flesh], and as the Apostles were to Christ and to the Father, that there may be union both of flesh and of spirit." — Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians 13:2.
"In like manner let all men respect the deacons as Jesus Christ, even as they should respect the bishop as being a type of the Father and the presbyters as the council of God and as the college of Apostles. Apart from these there is not even the name of a church." — Epistle of Ignatius to the Trallesians 3:1.
''"follow your bishop, as Jesus Christ followed the Father, and the presbytery as the Apostles; and to the deacons pay respect, as to God's commandment" — Epistle of Ignatius to the Smyrnans 8:1.
"He that honoureth the bishop is honoured of God; he that doeth aught without the knowledge of the bishop rendereth service to the devil"'' — Epistle of Ignatius to the Smyrnans 9:1.

— Lightfoot translation.

These are clear that, by this time, one bishop was required to lead the church inside every centre of Christian mission, supported by a council of presbyters (now the distinct & subordinate position) by having the pool of deacons. When a church continued to exp&, recently churches inside crucial cities gained their have bishop, however churches in a regions as much as an significant city were served by presbyters and deacons from either the bishop's city church. So, eventually, the bishop changed from either existence a leader of one church to existence a leader of the churches of a given geographical front yard.

Bishops and civil government
A effective infrastructure of the Roman Empire became the templet for the organization of the church in the fourth century, particularly after a Edict of Milan. When a church moved from either a shadows of privacy into a public forum it acquired l& for churches, burials and clergy. Inside 391, Theodosius I decreed that any land that had been confiscated from either a church by Roman authorities exist as returned.

the most common term for the geographical metropolitan area of a bishop's authority & ministry, a diocese, began as a portion of the structure of the Roman Empire under Diocletian. When Roman authority began to fail in a american part of the empire, the church took on top tremendously of the civil administration. This may be clearly seen in the ministry of deuce popes: Pope Leo I in the fifth century, and Pope Gregory I in the sixth century. Two one men were statesmen & public administrators additionally to their role when Christian pastors, teachers & leaders. In the Eastern churches, latifundia entailed to a bishop's see were good deal less most common, a state power did non collapse a way it liquidate a West, & so the tendency of bishops getting lay power was much weaker than in the West. But, a role of American bishops when civil authorities, typically known as prince bishops, continued throughout much of the Middle Ages.

Sovereign bishops
A first one prince bishops was the Pope, who ruled when monarch of the Papal States by virtue of his title as Bishop of Rome. His claim to this fief rested on the forged Donation of Constantine, but inside point of fact his authority on top this kingdom in central Italy grew slowly when a collapse of Roman & Byzantine authority in the area. A Papal States were abolished after King Victor Emmanuel II took possession of Rome in 1870 and completed the reunion of Italy. This became a perennial source of tension between the Pontificate & the food and drug administration of Italy. Around 1929, Pope Pius XI made a treat by having a Fascist government of Benito Mussolini and became the independent sovereign of the Vatican, while yielding higher any rights to the rest of the previous Papal States. He was recognised as an independent monarch by the Lateran Treaties, an authority the todays Pope continues to hang on to. A merely more bishop world health organization occurs as head of state is the Bishop of Urgell, a Co-Prince of Andorra.

3 senior bishops served when Electors in the Holy Roman Empire. Per terms of the Golden Bull of 1356, the Archbishops of Mainz, Trier, and Cologne were made lasting electors, world health organization chose a next Holy Roman Emperor upon the demise of his predecessor. A Archbishop of Mainz was President of the Electors & Archchancellor of Germany. Also, a Archbishop of Cologne was Archchancellor of Italy, and a Archbishop of Trier was Archchancellor of Burgundy. a total of more bishops in the Holy Roman Empire, although non existence Electors, were sovereign prince-bishops in their have lands.

Bishops holding political office
Too when a Archchancellors of the Holy Roman Empire, bishops generally served when chancellors to mediaeval monarchs, serving when head of the justiciary and chief chaplain. A Lord Chancellor of England was almost universally a bishop higher until the dismissal of Thomas Cardinal Wolsey by Henry VIII. Also, a position of Kanclerz in the Polish kingdom was always a bishop until the sixteenth century.

Within France before the French Revolution, representatives of the clergy — in practice, bishops & abbots of the largest monasteries — comprised the First Estate of the Estates-General, until their role was abolished during a French Revolution.

A additional senior bishops of the Church of England continue to sit in the House of Lords of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, as representatives of the established church, and come called Lords Spiritual. A Bishop of Sodor and Man, whose diocese lies outside of the United Kingdom, is ex officio a member of the Legislative Council of the Isle of Man. It used to be that, a Bishop of Durham, known as the prince bishop, had extensive viceregal powers inside his northern bishopric — a power to mint money, cod taxes & raise an army to defend against the Scots.

Episcopacy during the English Civil War
When you took a period of a English Civil War (or like, Civil Wars), a role of bishops when wielders of political power & when upholders of the established church became a matter of heated political arguing. John Calvin formulated a doctrine of presbyterianism, which held that in a New Testament the agents of presbyter & episkopos were monovular; he rejected a doctrine of apostolic succession. Calvin's follower John Knox brought presbyterianism to Scotland when the Scottish church was reformed within 1560. Around practice, presbyterianism intended that committees of lay elders got the real voice around church government, when opposed to just existence cases to the regnant hierarchy.

This vision of at least unfair democracy in ecclesiology paralleled the struggles between Parliament and the King. a system inside the Puritan movement in the Church of England sought to abolish a professional of bishop & remaking the Church of England along Presbyterian lines. A Martin Marprelate tracts, applying a pejorative name of prelacy to the church hierarchy, attacked the professional of bishop sustaining irony that deeply offended Elizabeth I and her Archbishop of Canterbury John Whitgift. A vestments controversy also related to this movement, seeking farther reductions inside church ceremony, & labelling a utilize of elaborate vestments when "unedifying" & potentially idolatrous.

King James I, reacting against the perceived contumacy of his Presbyterian Scottish cases, adopted "No Bishop, no King" when a shibboleth; he attached a hierarchal authority of the bishop to the absolute authority he sought when king, & viewed attacks in the authority of the bishops as attacks on his have authority. Matters come to the head whilst King Charles I appointed William Laud as a Archbishop of Canterbury; Laud sharply attacked a Presbyterian movement & sought to inflict the to the full Anglican liturgy in every church. A arguing sooner or later lead to Laud's impeachment for treason by a bill of attainder in 1645, and subsequent execution. Charles too attempted to inflict episcopate in Scotland; a Scots' violent rejection of bishops & liturgical worship sparked a Bishops' Wars in 1639-1640.

In a period of the height of Puritanic power in the Commonwealth and the Protectorate, episcopacy was abolished inside the Church of England in 1649. A Church of England remained Presbyterian until a Restoration of Charles II in 1660.

Bishops in Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican churches
Although numerous Protestant churches have rejected a place of bishops around church leadership, churches rooted around tradition prove my point to ordain bishops to lead the church. Bishops form a leadership in the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Oriental Orthodox Churches, the Anglican Communion, and a Independent Catholic Churches.

the traditional role of the bishop is when pastor of a diocese (also known as the episcopate, eparchy or see). Bishopric alter well in their size of locality & people. A select few bishopric as much as a Mediterranean Sea which were christianized early are like compact; wherewhen bishopric inside areas of rapid modern incubation around Christian commitment, as within a select few area of Sub-Saharan Africa, South America and the Far East, are lot big & other thickly settled.

Too when traditional diocesan bishops, numbers of churches have the easily-developed structure of church leadership that involves a total of shells of authority & responsibility. ;Archbishop:An archbishop is the bishop of an archdiocese. This is unremarkably the prestigious bishopric by using an crucial place around local church history. A title is strictly honorific & carries there come no more jurisdiction, though virtually all archbishops are likewise metropolitan bishops. ;Metropolitan bishop:A metropolitan bishop is an archbishop in charge of an ecclesiastical province, or class action of episcopate, & exercises a few oversight all over a more episcopate. For instance a metropolitan could likewise exist as the head of an autocephalous, sui juris, or autonomous church. ;Suffragan bishop:A suffragan bishop is a bishop subordinate to another. In the Roman Catholic Church this term is applied to all non-metropolitan bishops (diocesan & auxiliary bishops). In the Anglican Communion, a term applies to the bishop world health organization occurs as good-whale supporter to the diocesan bishop: the Bishop of Warwick is suffragan to the Bishop of Coventry (the diocesan), though two sleep in Coventry. a select few Anglican suffragan bishop come given a responsibility for a geographical front yard in a bishopric (for instance, the Bishop of Stepney is an area bishop in a Diocese of London). ;Titular bishop:A titular bishop is a bishop without a episcopate. Like, the bishop is head of a titular see, which is usually an ancient city that utilized to develop a bishop, however, somehow or even more, doesn't have 1 currently. Nominal bishops typically help when coadjutors or auxiliary bishops. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, bishops of modern diocese come typically given a titular look at alongside their modern a single (for instance, the Archbishop of Thyateira & Swell Britain). ;Auxiliary bishop:An auxiliary bishop is a full-time supporter to a diocesan bishop (the Roman Catholic same of an Anglican suffragan bishop). Aide come just about universally titular bishops, and come typically appointed when a vicar general of the diocese where it help. ;Coadjutor bishop:A coadjutor bishop is a bishop who is given automatic best to succeed a incumbent diocesan bishop. A appointment of coadjutors is typically seen as a means of providing for continuity of church leadership. ;Honorary adjunct bishop:This title is commonly applied to out bishops world health organization come given the general license to minister when episcopal pastors under the diocesan's oversight. ;Primate:the primate is the bishop of the oldest church of a nation. Periodically this carries jurisdiction across metropolitan bishops, however ordinarily these are a second honorific. An exarch is like the primate in the Eastern churches. A title Presiding or even President Bishop is typically utilized for the head of the national Anglican church, however this title is non unremarkably associated sustaining the particular episcopal see like a primate. A primate of the Scottish Episcopal Church is chosen from among a diocesan bishops, &, when retaining diocesan responsibility, is known as Primus. ;Cardinal:A cardinal, although not until recently necessarily the bishop (e.g., Jesuit theologiser Henri de Lubac), is usually the primate, patriarch or titular bishop within the Roman Catholic Church. Their primary duty is to elect a pope. ;Major archbishop:Major archbishops are a heads of occasionally of the Eastern Rite churchs in the Roman Catholic Church. Their authority inside their sui juris church is adequate to that of the patriarch, however it recieve less ceremonial honors. ;Patriarch:Patriarchs are a heads of certain ancient autocephalous or even sui juris churches. A few one churches call for their leaders Catholicos; a patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Alexandria, Egypt, is known as Pope. When virtually all patriarchs in the Roman Catholic Church have jurisdiction, all Latin Rite patriarchs, except for the Pope, are honorary. by other bishops. Based on the church, there require to become ii or even ternary bishops for validity or legality.

Apart from either a ordination, which is universally treat more bishops, there are different methods inside different churches when to the actual finding of the candidate for ordination when bishop. In the Roman Catholic Church today, the Congregation for Bishops oversees a choice of fresh bishops sustaining the approval of the Pope. Virtually all Eastern Orthodox churches allow variable numbers of roughly formalised temporalty and/or lower clergy influence on the selection of bishops. Supplementary info on this topic is required.

Just the bishop potty ordain the bishop, priest, or deacon.

In the Eastern Orthodox Church & in the Eastern Rite liturgical tradition, a priest could celebrate a Divine Liturgy only with the blessing of a bishop. An antimension signed by the bishop is continue the altar part as a reminder of whose altar these are & under whose omophorion the priest at a local parish is serving.

A Pope of Rome, in addition to existence a Bishop of Rome & head of the Roman Catholic Church, is the Patriarch of the Latin Catholic Church. Every bishop inside a Latinside Catholic Church is lone answerable directly to the Pope & does'nt any more bishop except to metropolitans in certain oversight cases.

In a Roman Catholic & Orthodox Churches & a Anglican Communion, the cathedral of the episcopate have had a favorite chair placed aside for the exclusive have of the bishop. This is the bishop's cathedra, which is often known as a bishop's throne. Within the bit of more Christian denominations, more churches besides the cathedral may maintain a chair for the utilise of a Bishop whilst he visits their parish.

Catholic, Anglican, & Orthodox Christian bishops claim to exist as a portion of a continuous sequence of ordained bishops since a times of the apostles, the apostolic succession. However, since the bull of Pope Leo XIII issued in 1896, the Roman Catholic church has insisted that Anglican orders come shut-in, because of that church's changes in the ordination rites. A Roman Catholic church does still recognize when valid (though illegal) ordinations treat fissiparous Roman Catholic bishops, & groups descended from either a two, and then long when a humans getting the ordination conform to more canonical requirements; this produce to the phenomenon of episcopi vagantes. Roman Catholics likewise recognize a validity of ordinations of bishops, priests, & deacons in the Orthodox churches.

A bit of provinces of the Anglican Communion have begun ordaining women as bishops in recent decades. A number 1 was Barbara Clementine Harris, who was ordained to the epsicopate within 1989.

Bishops in other churches
Another churches, like Lutherans, Methodists and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ("LDS Church"; see as well Mormon), also use bishops, however their roles differ significantly from either a Catholic, Orthodox, & Anglican ones.

United Methodist Bishops
In the United Methodist Church, bishops come administrative superintendents of a church; it is elected for life from either among a clergy by vote of the delegates inside regional (known when Jurisdictional) conferences &, among their duties, are responsible appointing clergy to serve local churches as pastor, for performing ordinations, & for safeguarding the ism & discipline of the Church. A Juridictional Conferences, meeting each iv years, come comprised of an equal total of clergy & lay delegates. Inside both Annual Conference, United Methodist bishops help for even quartet season terms, & will serve to triplet terms prior to either retirement or appointment to the recently Conference. United Methodist bishops can be male or even female. John Wesley made Thomas Coke and Francis Asbury superintendents for the United States of America in 1784, where Methodism 1st became the separate denomination apart from a Church of England. Coke shortly returned to England, however Asbury was a primary builder of the fresh church. He did non call for himself bishop, however at length submitted to the usage per humans.

Notable bishops inside United Methodist history include Coke, Asbury, Richard Whatcoat, Philip William Otterbein, Martin Boehm, Jacob Albright, John Seybert, Matthew Simpson, John Stamm, Marjorie Matthews, Ntambo Nkulu Ntanda, William Willimon, and Thomas Bickerton.

Methodists inside Great Britain acquired their own bishops early in the nineteenth century, after a Methodist movement inside Britain formally parted company by having a Church of England. A position there is no elongated lives, nonetheless, around British Methodism.

Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
In the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, bishops come administrative superintendents of the church; it is elected by "delegate" votes for equally several years deemed until a age of 74, so he/she must retire. Among their duties, come responsibility for appointing clergy to serve local churches when pastor, for performing ordinations, & for safeguarding a ism & discipline of the Church. the General Conference, a meeting each quadruplet years, come comprised of an equal total of clergy & lay delegates. Around both Annual Conference, CME bishops help for quartet month terms. CME Church bishops can be male or even female.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Bishop is the leader of the local congregation, known as a ward. When such, these are his duty to preside at sacrament meetings, assign local leaders, and participate within of these-in-person-to-person interviews using his ward members for items like temple recommends and confession.

Bishop is an professional of the Aaronic Priesthood; in addition to his ward responsibilities, these are the bishop's duty to preside above a priest's quorum. Responsible the physical welfare of the ward, he collects tithing and fast offerings and distributes financial assistance in which needful.

The bishop is chosen from either members of the local congregation per stake presidency. Fallowing existence known as, he chooses his ii counselors, & the leash men together form a diocese. Rather about tons positions in the Church, bishops are non paid or even reimbursed financially for their services & so keep close at hand normal good-whale jobs to provide for their families. The ward often releases its bishop & calls the freshly of these each 5 years or even then; when existence freed, the bishop is ordinarily however referred to per title "Bishop" per humans he served.

New Apostolic Church
A New Apostolic Church (NAC) knows 3 classes of ministries: Diacons, Priests & Apostles. A Apostles, all conclused in a apostolate by having the Chief Apostle as head, are a greatest ministries.

Of a many kinda priest-ministries, the bishop is the greatest of these. 100% bishops come placed within directly from either a primary apostle. It support and aid their superior apostle.

Others
Around a bit of little Protestant denominations & independent churches a term bishop is utilized in the equivalent way when pastor even, to refer to the leader of the local congregation world health organization can be male or female. This usage is especially park inside African Western churches in the America. In the Church of Scotland, which has a Presbyterian church structure, a word "bishop" refers to an ordained individual, unremarkably the normal parish minister, world health organization has irregular oversight of the trainee minister.