What is a Church Bishop?

Answer 1

A bishop is a priest of Jesus Christ in the rank of the episcopacy (bishop-hood).

A bishop rules a see, from the Latin "Sedes" meaning seat, referring to a seat of authority. This can either be a functioning see like the Archdiocese of Boston, or a defunct see, like Sufes. This is called a titular see, and is given to assistant bishops in a diocese or to bishops who work in the Roman Curia (Papal court).

A bishop is like a pastor of pastors, who controls the Church in a geographic area. He is responsible for appointing priests, managing property, instituting local church rules and for enforcing cannon law (Church Law). He also ordains men to the priesthood. Bishops report directly to the Vatican. The parish a Bishop directly rules is called a Cathedral, named after his throne, called a cathedra.

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AnswerThe head of a diocese, and a successor to the apostles, consecrated by another Bishop, and given all the authority and power to rule over a particular Church.

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from

Modern Catholic Dictionary by John A. Hardon, S.J. Doubleday & Co., Inc. Garden City, NY 1980

A successor of the Apostles who has received the fullness of Christ's priesthood. His most distinctive power, that of ordaining priests and other bishops, belongs uniquely to a bishop. Moreover, In spite of some disputed cases in history, it is highly probably that a priest would not be authorized by the Holy See to ordain another priest. A priest certainly cannot consecrate a bishop.

In the ordination of a bishop the "matter" is the imposition of hands on the head of the bishop-elect by the consecrating bishops, or at least by the principal consecrator, which is done in silence before the consecratory prayer; the "form" consists of the words of the consecratory prayer, of which the following pertains to the essence of the order, and therefore are required for the validity of the act: "Now pour out upon this chosen one that power which flows form you, the perfect Spirit whom He gave to the apostles, who established the Church in every place as the sanctuary where your name would always be praised and gloried."

from

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd edition

The teaching office

888

Bishops, with priests as co-workers, have as their first task "to preach the Gospel of God to all men," in keeping with the Lord's command. They are "heralds of faith, who draw new disciples to Christ; they are authentic teachers" of the apostolic faith "endowed with the authority of Christ."

The sanctifying office

893

The bishop is "the steward of the grace of the supreme priesthood," especially in the Eucharist which he offers personally or whose offering he assures through the priests, his co-workers. The Eucharist is the center of the life of the particular Church. The bishop and priests sanctify the Church by their prayer and work, by their ministry of the word and of the sacraments. They sanctify her by their example, "not as domineering over those in your charge but being examples to the flock." Thus, "together with the flock entrusted to them, they may attain to eternal life."

The governing office

895

"The bishops, as vicars and legates of Christ, govern the particular Churches assigned to them by their counsels, exhortations, and example, but over and above that also by the authority and sacred power" which indeed they ought to exercise so as to edify, in the spirit of service which is that of their Master.

Answer 2

A bishop's Church (with a big C) is his diocese, all the faithful and their parishes and ministries which he oversees. A bishop's church (with a little c) is his cathedral, from the Latin word for throne, where he has his "seat" as the bishop.