In the Anglican Church there are four types of Bishop: Diocesan, Suffragan, Assistant and Co-adjutor.

The Diocesan Bishop oversees a diocese as Chief Pastor. The Suffragan has oversight of a certain area. The Assistant Bishop assists a Diocesan Bishop in a number of Episcopal duties: for instance, confirmation. The Co-adjutor Bishop also assists a Diocesan Bishop in Episcopal duties, but, unlike the Suffragan and the Assistant, he/she has the right to succeed the Diocesan Bishop.

On Saturday 20 September 2008, Feast Day of John Coleridge Patterson, first Bishop of Melanesia, and his Companion, Martyrs, 1871, the Diocese of Bermuda, extra-provincial to the Province of Canterbury, through its elective assembly – i.e., the members of Synod, God willing – will elect a Diocesan Bishop.

An Episcopal election is a spiritual process. It should never be simply a question of seeing which candidate can gather enough votes. Rather, God's people seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit so that the Synod may discern the person of God's choosing. This discernment depends on our prayers. We should pray each day throughout the process that Synod will be led in each step of the way by God's Spirit working through them. We need to ask God's Holy Spirit to guide our Diocese with the spirit of wisdom, so that the Synod make the right decision.

In our Catechism, we read:

What is the ministry of a Bishop?

"The ministry of Bishop is to represent Christ and His Church, particularly as apostle, chief priest, and pastor of a diocese; to guard the faith, unity, and discipline of the whole church; to proclaim the word of God, to act in Christ's name for the reconciliation of the world and the building up of the Church: and to ordain others (men and women) to continue Christ's ministry."

In the ordination and consecration of a Bishop, the Archbishop, the chief consecrator, says:

"My brother/sister, N-, a bishop is called to lead in serving and caring for the people of God and to work with them in overseeing of the Church, promoting its mission, proclaiming Christ's death and resurrection and working for justice and truth in the world.

"As chief pastor you will share with your fellow Bishops a special responsibility to maintain and further the unity of the church, to uphold its discipline, and to guard its faith. It will be your duty to watch over and pray for all those committed to your care. , …to provide for the administration of the Sacraments of the New Covenant: to ordain priests and deacons, and to join in ordaining bishops; to guide those who serve with you and enable them to fulfil their ministry; and to be in all things a faithful pastor and wholesome example for the entire flock of Christ" (BCP, p. 430)

A Bishop is shepherd of the whole people of God, lay and ordained, ensuring that appropriate worship takes place in the Diocese. He/she is the chief minister, pastor and teacher, liturgical president of the congregation, a governor and guardian of discipline in the diocese, provides leadership in the governance of the diocese and exercises ministry in accordance with Church Law. In his/her person the church in its fundamental unity is embodied. To the church he/she symbolises both God the Father and Jesus the Son (Eph. 6). In the bishop, the ministry of episkope'– the ministry of oversight and care – is enfleshed and focused. Episkope' becomes episkopos.

Apart from the bishop, there can be no eucharist. Hence Ignatius of Antioch exhorts the churches to remain in communion with their respective bishops and to shun all assemblies outside of their convocation. Given the significance of the bishop in the church's life as unifying center, we may even wish to describe the bishop as the 'esse' of the church".

The bishop is elected as the servant of the church, who in touching others, also allows herself or himself to be touched. The world in which we live does not make this an easy task. The systems we have created to empower the church's mission are often themselves the cause of our separation. The authority of the bishop is no longer a given. It must be once again won, not by the words said, but by rebuilding those structures that do indeed make it possible for people to connect, and for the congregation to find that deeper unity that is beyond its own vision and to which the bishop bears witness.

His/her caring embraces all of life, private and publicly, so his/her work will involve the political, social, international, cultural and religious life of God's people and the world. Although a Bishop's ministry seeks to address all aspects of life, such as spending time and effort in the wider community; praying for and maintaining good relationships with civic authorities; participating in development plans for communities; supporting local initiatives such as (sustainable development, Break the Chains campaign); other areas from conflict resolutions in neighbourhoods; to international development, promoting, understanding and good relationships among people of different faiths, ethnicities or national origin and identifying an equal place in the membership, life, worship and government of a church on grounds with humanity irrespective of race, colour, creed, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, disability or age, recognising and enabling the differences in others except as otherwise expressly specified in the laws of the church, promoting unity among Christians; take the lead in the work of the Church's voluntary organizations; his first responsibility is his ministry in God's Church that is having pastoral care of all the people in his/her diocese and, especially of the Clergy.

Let us pray for the election of a bishop:

Almighty God our Father, May your will be done in the election of a priest to serve as bishop of this diocese. Save us from petty politics, from minds that cannot be changed, and from unhappy divisions. Bring to us a person of holiness, who will be a true shepherd to this flock, and a leader open to your will, that this diocese may be build up in love, and may fulfil the mission you have entrusted to us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.