Bishop (ecclesiastic)

Bishop (ecclesiastic) (Greek episkopos,”overseer”), in the Christian churches from earliest times, the chief priest, ruler, and teacher of one or a number of churches, usually in a specific geographic area. In the Roman Catholic church and Orthodox church and in most of the Anglican churches, a bishop is an ecclesiastic who, through sacramental consecration, holds special powers of the ministry as well as special administrative prerogatives. Few Protestant churches other than the Anglican recognize the office of bishop; in the churches that do, the bishop is not considered to have extraordinary priestly powers, but is simply a minister charged by the members of the church with superintending church affairs (see Protestantism).

In the earliest days of Christianity, the terms bishop and presbyter (Greek for “elder”) were often used interchangeably. Only gradually did the words acquire a distinction in meaning, with the title of bishop used to designate an overseer of pastors as well as laity. According to the theory of apostolic succession held by the Roman, Orthodox, and Anglican churches, the order of bishop was instituted in apostolic times; when the apostles appointed successors, they transmitted to them the apostolic authority and priority of rank. These churches claim an unbroken succession of bishops from apostolic times. They consider holy orders a sacrament through which the bishop is endowed with certain sacred powers beyond those enjoyed by the priest.

Consecration to the order of bishop is usually performed by three bishops (one of them a metropolitan—that is, the primate of an ecclesiastical province), this number having been customary from postapostolic times. The bishop is supreme ecclesiastical ruler of the diocese over which he presides. He is responsible for the spiritual welfare of all the faithful, both clergy and laity, and for the government of all ecclesiastical institutions within his diocese. He has the power to ordain bishops, priests, and deacons, and in the Western rite of the Roman Catholic church and in the Anglican church, he is the ordinary minister of the sacrament of confirmation.

A certain jurisdictional hierarchy exists within the order of bishop. An archbishop, or metropolitan, is a prelate in charge of several dioceses that have been grouped into a unit called an archdiocese. A residential bishop is in charge of a diocese. If that diocese falls within an archdiocese, he is also referred to as a suffragan. The suffragan has full ecclesiastical authority within his diocese, but is subject to the archbishop in interdiocesan matters. Titular bishops, such as coadjutor and auxiliary bishops, are sometimes appointed to assist the resident bishop. Coadjutor bishops often succeed to the see in which they have assisted; they always succeed when appointed with right of succession. Certain superior bishops are known as exarchs or patriarchs.

In the Western and Eastern rites of the Roman Catholic church, a bishop is appointed by the pope; in the Eastern Orthodox church, the governing body of each rite or Holy Synod elects the bishop. Anglican bishops are, in theory, elected by the chapter of each cathedral church by virtue of a license from the Crown. In actuality, however, the bishops of the Church of England are appointed by the Crown on the advice of the prime minister, because no chapter ventures to disregard the nomination accompanying the license. In the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States, which is a self-governing member of the Anglican Communion, the bishop is chosen by a convention, subject to the consent of other diocesan bishops. This procedure is followed in various parts of the world by most independent branches of the Anglican Communion.