Episcopal polity

Episcopal polity is a way of organizing Christian churches where bishops are the main leaders. These bishops are part of a church hierarchy.

 Organization 
Many Christian churches use episcopal polity. These include:
 The Catholic Church
 The Eastern Orthodox Church
 The Oriental Orthodox Churches
 The Anglican Communion
 The Assyrian Church of the East
 Some Lutheran churches
 Some Methodist churches
 Some Old Catholic and independent catholic churches

In churches with episcopal polity, bishops have special authority. They often lead a diocese and are part of an unbroken line of church leaders called apostolic succession.

Other types of church government include:
 Presbyterian polity – churches are led by groups of elders.
 Congregational polity – each church governs itself without bishops or elders.

 Episcopal churches today 
Some churches, like the Church of Sweden, use episcopal polity and say their bishops are part of the historic episcopate.

Some Lutheran churches (like the Anglo-Lutheran Catholic Church or Lutheran Church-International) also use this system. Others may use presbyterian or congregational systems.

Many Methodist churches use a version of episcopal polity called connexionalism. Their bishops do not always claim apostolic succession, but they keep similar roles.

 Related pages 
 Archbishop
 Metropolitan bishop
 Metropolis (religious jurisdiction)
 Ecclesiastical province

 References 

Category:Christian terminology
Category:Church organization
Category:Eastern Orthodox Church