Bishop
The English word bishop derives from the Greek term episkopos, meaning overseer or supervisor. This Greek word existed for centuries before Christianity emerged as a religion. Early Christian writers adopted this existing vocabulary to describe church leaders. The Latin and Old English languages later transmitted the term into modern usage. In the second century, Ignatius of Antioch used the distinct sense of episkopos to mean bishop rather than presbyter. Before this distinction became clear, early Christian communities often used terms interchangeably. Acts 14:23 records that Paul ordained presbyters in churches across Anatolia during his missionary journeys. The earliest writings attributed to Apostolic Fathers show two terms for local church offices: presbyters and deacons. These documents reveal how language evolved alongside organizational changes within the first few centuries of the faith.
Around the end of the first century, church organization became clearer in historical documents. Ignatius of Antioch offered the earliest clear description of monarchial bishops who ruled over all house churches in a city. He advocated for this single-bishop structure while other contemporary writers continued equating bishops with presbyters. Clement of Alexandria wrote about the ordination of Zachæus as bishop through the imposition of Simon Peter Bar-Jonah's hands at the end of the second century. By the third century, Hippolytus of Rome described another feature of the ministry: the power to forgive sins and serve as primate of sacrificial priesthood. The First Council of Nicaea decreed that bishops should be ordained by at least three others during the fourth century. As Roman authority failed in the western portion of the empire, the church took over much civil administration. Pope Leo I in the fifth century and Pope Gregory I in the sixth century served as statesmen and public administrators alongside their pastoral roles. This transition from collegiate presbyteries to monarchic episcopal structures occurred gradually across different regions.
Bishops in all communions are ordained or consecrated by other bishops through the laying on of hands. This ritual centers on imposition of hands and prayer to continue apostolic succession. In Scandinavia and the Baltic region, Lutheran churches participating in the Porvoo Communion believe they ordain their bishops in lines stemming from original apostles. The Second Vatican Council's Constitution on Sacred Liturgy published on the 4th of December 1963 stated that when a bishop is consecrated, the laying of hands may be done by all bishops present. Catholic doctrine holds that one bishop can validly ordain another priest as bishop, though three bishops participating demonstrates collegiality. Barbara Harris became the first woman consecrated as bishop within Anglicanism in the United States in 1989. Katharine Jefferts Schori served as presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church starting in 2006. Marjorie Matthews was the first woman consecrated as bishop in the United Methodist Church in 1980. Teresa E. Jefferson-Snorton became the only female bishop in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church as of 2024. Clarence Leslie Morton Jr. was elevated into episcopacy at age 20 in 1962 by the Holiness-Pentecostal Church of God in Christ.
The African Methodist Episcopal Church elects bishops for life by majority vote of the General Conference meeting every four years. In the United Methodist Church, bishops serve four-year terms and may serve up to three terms before retirement or appointment to new conferences. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints appoints part-time lay ministers called bishops who lead local congregations called wards. These bishops typically remain married and are released after about five years while continuing to hold the Aaronic priesthood office. The New Apostolic Church teaches that bishops support their superior apostle and are set in line directly from the Chief Apostle. The Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) uses administrative bishops with jurisdiction over local churches and vested appointment authority for local pastorates. Seventh-day Adventists organize worldwide church into districts, conferences, union conferences, divisions, and general conference with elected presidents functioning as bishops without carrying the title. The Buddhist Churches of America held the name Buddhist Mission of North America between 1899 and 1944 before promoting their leader to bishop status in 1918. Caodaism features seventy-two bishops at any one time comprising the fifth of nine hierarchical levels responsible for spiritual education and record-keeping.
Traditionally, a number of items are associated with the office of bishop, most notably the mitre and crosier. In the Latin Church of Catholic Church, choir dress includes purple cassock with amaranth trim, rochet, purple zucchetto, purple biretta, and pectoral cross. Anglican bishops wear long rochet worn with chimere, retaining late medieval form distinct from Catholic counterparts. Eastern Orthodox bishops wear mandyas, panagia, sakkos, omophorion, and Eastern-style mitre without episcopal rings. The faithful kiss or touch their forehead to the bishop's hand to seal official documents using inked stamps. Catholic bishops display coat of arms showing galero with cross and crosier behind escutcheon varying by location and ecclesiastical rank. Oriental Orthodox bishops display episcopal insignia specific to their own liturgical traditions including mitre or turban. Bishops in the Church of God in Christ wear black clergy suits consisting of blazer, pants, purple or scarlet shirt, white clerical collar called Class B Civic attire. They also wear long purple or scarlet chimere, cuffs, tippet over white rochet, gold pectoral cross called Class A Ceremonial attire. Caodai bishops wear robes and headgear of embroidered silk depicting Divine Eye and Eight Trigrams with seven-layered turban as simple version.
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Common questions
What is the origin of the word bishop?
The English word bishop derives from the Greek term episkopos, meaning overseer or supervisor. This Greek word existed for centuries before Christianity emerged as a religion and was later transmitted into modern usage through Latin and Old English languages.
When did Ignatius of Antioch distinguish bishops from presbyters?
In the second century, Ignatius of Antioch used the distinct sense of episkopos to mean bishop rather than presbyter. Before this distinction became clear, early Christian communities often used terms interchangeably in their writings about church offices.
How did bishops acquire civil power during the collapse of Roman authority?
As Roman authority failed in the western portion of the empire, the church took over much civil administration. Western bishops acquired significant civil power when state structures collapsed, with figures like Pope Leo I serving as statesmen and public administrators alongside their pastoral roles.
Who were the first women consecrated as bishops in major denominations?
Marjorie Matthews was the first woman consecrated as bishop in the United Methodist Church in 1980. Barbara Harris became the first woman consecrated as bishop within Anglicanism in the United States in 1989, and Teresa E. Jefferson-Snorton is the only female bishop in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church as of 2024.
What items are traditionally associated with the office of bishop?
Traditionally, a number of items are associated with the office of bishop, most notably the mitre and crosier. Catholic bishops wear purple cassocks with amaranth trim and pectoral crosses, while Eastern Orthodox bishops wear mandyas, panagia, sakkos, omophorion, and Eastern-style mitres without episcopal rings.