A bishop is the chief pastor and overseer of a diocese — the geographic area made up of a group of parishes. Bishops ordain priests and deacons, confirm believers, guard the doctrine and discipline of the church, and represent their diocese in wider provincial and Communion-wide councils, such as their provincial synod or the Lambeth Conference.
A diocese may also have one or more suffragan or assistant bishops supporting the diocesan bishop. The senior bishop of a province, who presides over the province's other bishops, is usually called an archbishop or primate.