Bishops have pastoral care of all the people in their diocese and, especially of the clergy. The local aspect of the work involves spending a great deal of time and effort in the wider community. This means maintaining relationships with the civic authorities, participating in the development of plans for local communities, supporting local initiatives, working in a huge range of areas from conflict resolution in neighbourhoods to international development.

Bishops help to relate the local Church to the wider. This means participation in national bodies and their work, including the House of Bishops and General Synod. Quite often, too, bishops take the lead in the work of the Church’s voluntary organisations.