episcopacy

American  

[ih-pis-kuh-puh-see] / ɪˈpɪs kə pə si /

noun

PLURAL

episcopacies

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.

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episcopacy British  

/ ɪˈpɪskəpəsɪ /

noun

1. government of a Church by bishops

2. another word for episcopate

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Etymology

Origin of episcopacy

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

Example Sentences

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 The 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

Regrettably, at the present moment, the episcopacy is wholly male.

From The Guardian