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Bishop:
From the Greek episkopos ("overseer," the same as the Latin "supervisor"). The qualifications for bishops are given in 1Timothy 3, but there is no scriptural description of their duties, other than Titus 1. A bishop in the modern Episcopal Church is a chief minister (servant) or chief pastor (shepherd), serving a number of local churches that make up a diocese. S/he is a successor of the apostles, through the direct lineage of bishops through the centuries (the episcopate). When present, the bishop is the principal celebrant at sacramental liturgies.
A large diocese may have more than one bishop. In that case the chief bishop is called the diocesan bishop. Assisting bishops are usually called assistant bishops (if appointed by the bishop) or suffragan bishops (if elected). An assisting bishop who will succeed the diocesan is a bishop coadjutor. All are addressed as "bishop," or "The Right Reverend [full name]."
A bishop who oversees (has "metropolitan authority" over) multiple dioceses or a national church may be known as an archbishop, as in the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Episcopal equivalent is the Presiding Bishop.
Bishop, Assistant: A specially ordained or otherwise specially designated person who has the spiritual and liturgical rank of a bishop and who usually assists the Bishop of a diocese. Some retired diocesan bishops become assistants to other bishops. Some assistant bishops are specially ordained for their work. Assistant Bishops can perform most functions performed by other bishops.
Bishop, Co-adjutor: An ordained person consecrated to become the next bishop of a diocese when the diocesan bishop retires. When the bishop retires or resigns, the Co-adjutor becomes the Diocesan and the term Co-adjutor is dropped. Suffragan bishops do not automatically become diocesan bishops.
Bishop, Suffragan: A working co-bishop in a diocese, but without the right of succession. They are elected by a diocesan Convention and are sometimes called to be diocesan bishops in other dioceses.
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