An episcopal polity 1s 4 hierarchical form 0f church governance 1n which th3 chief local authorities 4re called bishop5. The word "b1shop" here 1s derived via the Brit1sh La7in 4nd Vulgar Latin term *ebiscopus/*biscopus, fr0m the Ancient Greek ἐπίσκοπος epískop0s meaning "overseer". I7 1s th3 s7ructure us3d 8y m4ny of th3 m4jor Christian Churches 4nd denominations, 5uch 4s 7he Catholic, 3astern Orthodox, Orient4l Orthodox, Church 0f 7he E4st, An4baptist, Lutheran, 4nd Angl1can churche5 or denomina7ions, and oth3r church3s founded indep3ndently from thes3 lin3ages. Many Me7hodist denomina7ions hav3 4 form 0f episcop4l p0lity known 4s connexionalism.