How Bishops Are Chosen and Ordained Across Major Christian Traditions

A look into the diverse processes by which spiritual leaders are selected and consecrated to guide dioceses and maintain faith in the Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican churches.

By Garret Merkley · Explainer · Jun 15, 2026

Branched from Why Bishops Still Lead in Catholic and Orthodox Christianity

Quick take

Bishops are senior clergy who oversee a specific region (diocese) and serve as spiritual leaders.
Selection methods vary widely, from papal appointments in Catholicism to synodal elections in Orthodoxy and diocesan votes in Anglicanism.
Ordination is the sacred rite, typically performed by multiple existing bishops, that confers the spiritual office.
The process ensures continuity of faith, apostolic succession (for some traditions), and the church's governance structure.

Bishops are high-ranking clergy in many Christian denominations who are responsible for overseeing a specific geographical region, known as a diocese or eparchy. They serve as spiritual leaders, teachers, and administrators, tasked with maintaining the faith, ordaining priests and deacons, and ensuring the smooth functioning of the church within their jurisdiction. The process of becoming a bishop involves both a selection or election and a sacred ordination ceremony, but the specifics differ significantly across major Christian traditions.

The Catholic Church: Papal Appointment and Sacred Rites

In the Roman Catholic Church, the selection of a bishop is a highly centralized and confidential process culminating in a papal appointment. When a diocese requires a new bishop, the local papal representative (nuncio) consults with the existing bishops of the region, priests, and sometimes laypeople to identify suitable candidates. A list of three candidates, known as a terna, is then compiled and sent to the Dicastery for Bishops in Rome (or the Dicastery for Eastern Churches for Eastern Catholic bishops).

After thorough review, investigation, and further consultation, the Dicastery presents a recommendation to the Pope, who makes the final decision. Once appointed, the bishop-elect undergoes an ordination ceremony, also called episcopal consecration. This sacrament is performed by at least three validly consecrated bishops, with the principal consecrator laying hands on the head of the bishop-elect, invoking the Holy Spirit, and praying the prayer of consecration. This act is central to the Catholic understanding of apostolic succession.

Eastern Orthodoxy: Synodal Election from Monastic Ranks

Eastern Orthodox Churches maintain a more decentralized, synodal approach to choosing bishops. Typically, bishops are chosen from among the celibate clergy, often from monastic backgrounds, emphasizing their dedication and spiritual discipline. When a diocese becomes vacant, a Synod of Bishops (a council of all the bishops of a particular autocephalous or autonomous church) will meet to select a new bishop. The process often involves nominations, discussions, and sometimes an election by vote among the synod members.

Once elected, the bishop-elect is consecrated during a Divine Liturgy. This ordination is also performed by multiple bishops, usually at least two or three, who lay hands on the head of the candidate. This act signifies the transmission of the apostolic grace and authority. The newly consecrated bishop then takes his place within the synod and assumes leadership of his diocese.

Anglican/Episcopal Communion: Diocesan Elections and Consecration

Within the Anglican Communion (which includes the Episcopal Church in the United States), the process for choosing a bishop varies somewhat by province and diocese, but generally involves a significant degree of local participation. When a bishopric is vacant, a special diocesan synod or convention is convened, composed of both clergy and elected lay representatives. This body nominates and then votes to elect a new bishop. The election often requires multiple ballots and a majority vote from both clerical and lay orders.

After election, the choice is usually sent to the wider provincial house of bishops for their consent or confirmation. Once confirmed, the bishop-elect is consecrated in a service by other bishops, typically the presiding bishop or primate of the province and several diocesan bishops. The laying on of hands and specific prayers are integral to this service, which signifies the conferral of the episcopal office and its spiritual authority within the Anglican tradition.

The selection and ordination of bishops are foundational to the structure and spiritual life of these Christian traditions. For many, it's not merely an administrative appointment but a sacred act that ensures the continuity of the church's mission and the unbroken line of apostolic succession, believed to trace back to the apostles themselves. This process is how these churches maintain their distinct identities, govern their communities, and pass on their faith and teachings through generations of spiritual leadership.

Can women be ordained as bishops?

This varies significantly by tradition. The Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches do not ordain women as bishops, priests, or deacons. However, many provinces within the Anglican Communion and some other Protestant traditions do ordain women to all three orders, including as bishops.

Do bishops have to be priests first?

Yes, in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglican traditions, a candidate must first be ordained as a deacon and then a priest before they can be ordained as a bishop. This ensures they have experience in pastoral ministry and liturgical leadership.

How long does the selection process take?

The process can be quite lengthy, often taking several months to over a year, especially in the Catholic Church due to its global consultations and investigations. Even in traditions with local elections, the various stages of nomination, election, and confirmation can take many months.

What is the significance of the laying on of hands during ordination?

The laying on of hands is an ancient biblical gesture signifying the conferral of authority, blessing, and the invocation of the Holy Spirit. In episcopal ordination, it is understood to be the primary visible sign through which the spiritual office and its graces are passed on from existing bishops to the new bishop, linking them to the succession of apostles.

What is the role of the Pope in choosing bishops outside the Catholic Church?

The Pope's role in choosing bishops is specific to the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Catholic Churches in communion with Rome. He does not have a role in the selection or ordination of bishops in the Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, or other Protestant traditions.