episcopacy

[ ih-pis-kuh-puh-see ]

noun

, plural e·pis·co·pa·cies.

1. government of the church by bishops; church government in which there are three distinct orders of ministers, namely bishops, priests or presbyters, and deacons.
2. episcopate.

episcopacy

/ ɪˈpɪskəpəsɪ /

noun

1. government of a Church by bishops
2. another word for episcopate

Word History and Origins

Origin of episcopacy¹

First recorded in 1640–50; episcop(ate) + -acy

Example Sentences

This is a reference to the Root and Branch Bill of 1641, which sought to abolish episcopacy, and led directly to the Civil War.

From Literature

The episcopacy as an institution has been corrupted.

From Washington Post

“But I think it’s a very accurate picture of where the U.S. episcopacy is in relation to the efforts we see coming from Pope Francis and Rome.”

From Wall Street Journal

The Right Rev. Minerva G. Carcaño, the first Hispanic woman to be elected to the episcopacy of the United Methodist Church, will preach at the 11:15 service.

From Washington Post

He was drummed out of the episcopacy by Rome at the behest of Argentina’s conservative bishops.

From Newsweek