Editing Episcopal polity (section)

==Overview of episcopal churches==
[[File:Chartres 1.jpg|thumb|upright|right|The government of a bishop is typically symbolized by a cathedral church, such as the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Chartres|bishops]]'s [[episcopal see|see]] at [[Chartres Cathedral]].]]
The definition of the word ''episcopal'' has variation among Christian traditions. There are subtle differences in governmental principles among episcopal churches at the present time. To some extent the separation of episcopal churches can be traced to these differences in [[ecclesiology]], that is, their theological understanding of church and church governance. For some, "episcopal churches" are churches that use a hierarchy of bishops who identify as being in an unbroken, personal [[apostolic succession]].

"Episcopal" is also commonly used to distinguish between the various organizational structures of [[Christian denomination|denominations]]. For instance, "Presbyterian" ({{langx|el|πρεσβύτερος}}, presbýteros)<ref>{{OEtymD|presbyterian}}</ref> is used to describe a church governed by a hierarchy of assemblies of elected [[Elder (religious)|elders]], referred to as [[presbyterian polity]]. Similarly, "episcopal" is used to describe a church governed by bishops. Self-governed local congregations, governed neither by elders nor bishops, are usually described as "[[Congregational polity|congregational]]".

More specifically, the capitalized appellation "Episcopal" is applied to several churches historically based within [[Anglicanism]] ("Episcopalianism"), including those still in communion with the [[Church of England]].

Using these definitions, examples of specific episcopal churches include:
* The [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic Church]]
* The [[Eastern Orthodox Church]]
* The [[Oriental Orthodox Churches]]
* The [[Assyrian Church of the East]]
* The [[Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church]]
* The Churches of the [[Anglican Communion]]
* The [[Old Catholic]] churches
* Numerous smaller [[Catholic Church (disambiguation)|"catholic" churches]]
* Certain national churches of the [[Lutheran]] confession
* The [[African Methodist Episcopal Church]]
* The [[United Methodist Church]]

Some [[Lutheran]] churches practice congregational polity or a form of presbyterian polity.<ref>''Encyclopedia of Religion and Society'', William H. Swatos, Jr. Editor [http://hirr.hartsem.edu/ency/Lutharanism.htm Lutheranism] Hartford Institute for Religion Research, Hartford Seminary.  Retrieved on September 4, 2006.</ref> Others, including the [[Church of Sweden]], practice episcopal polity; the Church of Sweden also counts its bishops among the [[historical episcopate|historic episcopate]]. This is also the case with some American Lutheran churches, such as the [[Anglo-Lutheran Catholic Church]], [[Lutheran Orthodox Church]], [[Lutheran Church - International]], and the [[Lutheran Episcopal Communion]].

Many [[Methodist]] churches (the [[United Methodist Church]], among others) retain the form and function of episcopal polity, although in a modified form, called [[connexionalism]]. Since all trace their ordinations to an Anglican priest, [[John Wesley]], it is generally considered that their bishops do not share in apostolic succession. However, United Methodists affirm that their bishops share in the historic episcopate.