Episcopal
The word Episcopal is derived from the Greek ἐπίσκοπος epískopos, which literally means "overseer"; the word however is used in religious terms to mean bishop.
Episcopal churches
Episcopal churches are the churches with bishops, but in the more specific sense non-catholic and non-orthodox churches, and in particular churches founded on the model of Henry VIII's reformed Church of England. The use of episcopal to describe a church is most commonly used to distinguish the organizational structure of protestant churches, thus the word Presbyterian is used to describe churches ruled by elected Elders (Greek πρεσβύτης presbútēs) while the word Episcopal is used to describe churches ruled by bishops. Examples of specific episcopal churches are:
However, other churches are also overseen by bishops who are NOT members of the Anglican Communion, for example, the United Methodist Church. The Methodist church has its roots in Anglicism (their founder, John Wesley, was an Anglican minister in England in the 1700's) but does not look to the Archbishop of Canterbury as its head the way the Anglicans do, nor to the Primate of the Episcopal Church (ECUSA) in America.
In general churches that are members of the Anglican Communion are episcopal churches. However, not all Episcopal churches are Anglican.
See also
