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.^[1][2]

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.^[3] They often lead a diocese and are part of an unbroken line of church leaders called apostolic succession.^[2][4]

Other types of church government include:

• Presbyterian polity – churches are led by groups of elders.^[5]
• Congregational polity – each church governs itself without bishops or elders.^[6]

Some churches, like the Church of Sweden, use episcopal polity and say their bishops are part of the historic episcopate.^[7][8][9]

Some Lutheran churches (like the Anglo-Lutheran Catholic Church^[10][11] or Lutheran Church-International) also use this system. Others may use presbyterian or congregational systems.^[12]

Many Methodist churches use a version of episcopal polity called connexionalism. Their bishops do not always claim apostolic succession, but they keep similar roles.^[13][14]

• Archbishop
• Metropolitan bishop
• Metropolis (religious jurisdiction)
• Ecclesiastical province