<P> United Methodist Christians often speak of a "dean" in terms of the dean of the cabinet . Every annual conference has a bishop's cabinet made up of the district superintendents under the bishop's appointment, as well as occasionally a few other conference officials . One of these superintendents is chosen by his or her colleagues to serve as the dean, usually for one year . This dean then has certain administrative and leadership responsibilities, and is accountable to the bishop . </P> <P> In various other religious denominations, the title "dean" may be used informally in its wider sense of a senior or venerated member of a congregation . The title may also used in its academic sense in parochial schools . </P>

What is a dean in the episcopal church