Since this will be read by people from many different countries and different churches within the Anglican Communion, a few explanations of terms used may be helpful. The term refers particularly to the historic episcopate, the succession of bishops from the first apostles to the present day. Typically a bishop is chief pastor of a diocese and is responsible among other things for ordaining new deacons and priests.
Deacons have special responsibilities as assistants in the liturgy and in charitable work.
The Church of England has 44 dioceses, including the Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe. The Episcopal Church U.S.A. has 109 dioceses, including the Convocation of American Churches in Europe. It has come to mean the non- ordained members of the Church who are neither bishop, priest, nor deacon. From the earliest times theologians have distinguished between worship, which is paid to God alone, and the veneration or honour due to the saints in whom God's grace has been seen. They also maintained their own bishoprics, churches, and monasteries and translated the Bible into Arabic.