Pronunciation: [bˈɪʃəps] (IPA) 
The spelling of "bishops" may seem confusing, but it's actually quite simple when broken down into its phonetic transcription: /ˈbɪʃəps/. The initial sound is a voiced bilabial plosive, similar to the "b" in "boy". The following sound is a voiced alveolar fricative, similar to the "sh" in "shoe". The final sound is a voiceless alveolar plosive, similar to the "t" in "top". So, when pronounced, "bishops" sounds like "BISH-ups".
Bishops are clergy members who hold significant positions within certain Christian denominations, particularly in the Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox branches of the faith. Within the hierarchical structure of these churches, bishops are considered to be an integral part of the ordained ministry, serving as overseers and leaders of congregations, as well as spiritual guides and teachers.
The word "bishop" is derived from the Greek term "episkopos," which translates to "overseer." With this title, bishops are responsible for the administration and governance of their respective dioceses or regions. They typically have authority over a number of churches or parishes, also known as a bishopric or see. Bishops are responsible for the ordination of other clergy members, baptisms, confirmations, and the administration of sacraments.
In addition to their pastoral responsibilities, bishops are regarded as successors to the Apostles, carrying on the teachings and traditions of the early Church. As a result, their role extends beyond the local congregation, often participating in national and international church councils and providing guidance on matters of doctrine and theology.
Bishops are distinguished by certain ceremonial vestments, such as the miter (a pointed hat), a ring, and a staff called a crozier, which symbolizes their role as shepherds of the faithful. Their authority and role in the church hierarchy vary among different Christian traditions, but they universally occupy a position of leadership and oversight within their respective denominations.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "bishop" derives from the Old English word "bisceop" which can be traced back to the late Latin word "episcopus". In turn, "episcopus" originated from the Greek word "epískopos" (ἐπίσκοπος), where "epi" means "over" or "above", and "skopos" means "watcher" or "overseer". Thus, the word "bishop" essentially means "overseer" or "supervisor".
