(en) The generalization of the mono-episcopate or personal episcopate may be observed since the end of the second century. Before the fixation of the ministerial triad (bishop, "presbyteroi", deacons), most of Christian communities were led by a "college" or a group of ministers ("presbyteroi"/"episkopoi"). Thus, if, during about one hundred fifty years, most of communities have known only this "collegial" regime, shouldn't we ask whether the mono-episcopal regime as it has developed and become predominant afterwards, till our days in the so-called episcopal Churches, is truly the unique regime possible of governance or ecclesial "supervision" (épiskopè)?
Famerée, J. (2022). Épiskopè ou/et épiscopat? In É. Parmentier, D. Fricker, Y. Labbé (dir.) (ed.), La théologie dans l’Église et dans l’Université. Un hommage amical à Michel Deneken (p. p. 281-293). Labor et Fides. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/224319