bishop

bishop. The highest order of ministers in the Christian Church. In Catholic Christendom (including the Anglican Communion) bishops are the chief pastors, who individually form a centre of unity in their dioceses and together embody the unity of the Church, and, by their consecration and power to confer Orders, witness to the succession of the Church throughout the ages. They normally receive consecration at the hands of a Metropolitan and two other bishops, and are consecrated to rule a particular diocese in that Metropolitan's province. In the RC Church the election of a bishop is performed by the Pope. Elsewhere a bishop is usually elected by the dean and chapter of the cathedral of the diocese or some other ecclesiastical body existing for the purpose. In the C of E the Crown Appointments Committee submits two names to the Prime Minister, who recommends one to the Sovereign; the Sovereign then gives leave to the College of Canons to elect, and nominates the person to be elected. The candidate must be of mature age (30 years in the C of E), have spent a certain period in priest's orders, and be of good character and sound doctrine. The chief duties of a bishop in the W. Church consist in the general oversight of his diocese, in the leadership of his clergy and laity, and in administering those Sacraments which he alone is competent to confer (Confirmation and Orders). Diocesan bishops may be assisted by other bishops known as suffragans, auxiliaries, coadjutors, or assistants. In the E. Church the position is similar, except that bishops, unlike other priests, are required to be unmarried (or widowed). From medieval times English bishops have had a seat in the House of Lords, but since 1878 only 26 English bishops have enjoyed this privilege. The number is likely to be reduced. The traditional insignia of a bishop include the throne in his cathedral (cathedra), mitre, pastoral staff, pectoral cross, and ring.

The beginnings of the episcopate have long been debated. It seems that at first the terms ‘episcopos’ and ‘presbyter’ were used interchangeably (cf. e.g. Acts 20: 17 and 20: 28). But for Ignatius (early 2nd cent.) bishops, presbyters, and deacons are quite distinct. By the middle of the 2nd cent. the leading centres of Christianity would appear to have had their own bishops and until the Reformation Christianity was everywhere organized on an episcopal basis. After the Reformation the title of bishop was retained in some Lutheran Churches, but it usually implied no claim to apostolic succession or any of the peculiar powers deriving therefrom. It is also similarly used in the Methodist Episcopal Churches in America and Africa.

See also APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION.