Episcopal polity

Episcopalian (derived from Greek episkopos, head ',' bishop ') refers to a policy position in the dispute over the constitution of the Christian church.

Catholic area

The Episcopalian provides the highest ecclesiastical authority in the bishops and recognizes no authority above them to. Since the councils are episcopal assemblies in general, there is large close to the conciliar movement.

History of the Episcopalian was in continuous conflict with the rights of the Patriarchs, in the West especially with the Latin Patriarch, the Pope. Roman and German emperors and totalitarian rulers of the 20th century promoted him because he favors the state and national religious tendencies. With the dogma of papal teaching and primacy of jurisdiction at the First Vatican Council ( 1870) the Episcopalian lost within the Roman Catholic Church in importance.

Protestant area

In the Protestant Episcopalian area denotes a state church law, legal theory, after the respective sovereigns the Episcopal Church sovereignty was transferred ( Episkopalsystem ). Originally intended as a transitional approach that the rulers should exercise their powers in the absence of Protestant bishops, was, thoroughly grounded in this theory, especially spread by Joachim Stephani and Matthias Stephani. The sovereigns were thus legal successors of the bishops.