episcopacy

From episcopa(te) +‎ -cy and/or episcopa(l) +‎ -cy.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ɪˈpɪskəpəsi/

episcopacy (plural episcopacies)

1. The office of bishop and the governance of a church (a religious denomination) by bishops.
   • 2009, John Sadler, Glencoe, Amberley, published 2009, page 16:

     Further religious division occurred during the post-Restoration decades in the reign of Charles II, when strenuous and violent efforts were made by the Government to impose an episcopacy on the Scottish Church.

2. Bishops collectively: Synonym of episcopate.

Use as a capitalized proper noun ("the Episcopacy") refers to a specific episcopacy within the context of its particular church (where it is unique): usually and especially, the episcopacy of Anglicanism and Episcopalianism.

• bishopdom
• bishophood
• bishopric

• monepiscopacy

• congregationalism
  • Congregationalism