Bishop

Thomas Herring, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1747-1757

The bishop is the highest of the three clerical orders, those being the bishop, priest, and deacon. The term comes from επίσκοπος or episkopos in Greek, which means overseer.

Types under Canon Law

There are many kinds of bishop that are equal by divine law, and the divine order of the church of God, but which serve different functions in the church by canonical law. An Ordinary Bishop or Diocesan Bishop is a bishop who is the chief pastor and governor of a particular diocese or collection of churches. An Assistant Bishop, who, though he has the same office as a diocesan bishop, does not have his own diocese but instead helps or assists the diocesan bishop in their pastoral duties. A Bishop Co-Adjutor is an assistant bishop with the right of succession upon the resignation of the diocesan bishop. A Suffragan Bishop is a bishop who assists a diocesan bishop in his duties, but who does not automatically succeed a diocesan bishop. A suffragan bishop may be elected bishop or bishop coadjutor.

There are also Archbishops or Metropolitans who govern or rule over multiple dioceses which each have their own ordinary bishops. An Archbishop can rule over an Archdiocese or a Province.