episcopacy

views updated May 14 2018

e·pis·co·pa·cy / iˈpiskəpəsē/ • n. (pl. -cies) government of a church by bishops. ∎  (the episcopacy) the bishops of a region or church collectively. ∎ another term for episcopate.

Episcopacy

views updated May 29 2018

Episcopacy. The system of church government by bishops (episcopoi). Anglican churches are, specifically, known as ‘Episcopal’ or ‘Episcopalian’, as in ECUSA, the Episcopal Church of the United States.

episcopacy

views updated Jun 11 2018

episcopacy the government of a Church by bishops. The word comes (in the mid 17th century) from ecclesiastical Latin episcopatus ‘episcopate, the office of a bishop’, on the pattern of prelacy.