Congregational polity

Congregational polity is a way that churches organize themselves where each local church makes its own decisions and is fully independent. This idea was first written down in the Cambridge Platform in 1648 in New England. The term comes from Congregationalism, a Protestant group that started from English Puritanism, a movement within the Church of England during the 16th and 17th centuries.

Many Protestant Christian traditions use congregational polity, including Congregationalists, Pentecostals, and most modern Evangelical Baptist churches. Groups such as the Congregational Methodist Church, the American Baptist Churches USA, and the United Church of Christ also follow this style of governance, though some mix it with other methods.

In recent times, many nondenominational churches have adopted congregational polity. Even though these churches are independent, they sometimes join together in voluntary groups called conventions or associations. This system differs from episcopal polity, which uses bishops to lead, and presbyterian polity, where higher groups of representatives have authority over local churches.

The ideas of congregationalism have also influenced other groups, such as the Unitarian Universalist Association and the Canadian Unitarian Council.

Basic form

Congregational polity is a way that churches are organized where each local church makes its own decisions. These churches work together in loose groups if they share similar beliefs, like the Willow Creek Association or the Unitarian Universalist Association. Some churches also join bigger groups called conventions, such as the Southern Baptist Convention, the National Baptist Convention, or the American Baptist Churches USA. These conventions help churches share money and ideas but each church still runs itself. Many churches that do not belong to a bigger group still follow this same idea of being independent.

Denominational families

These Christian traditions use forms of congregational polity.

Congregational churches

See also: Congregationalism

Congregationalism is a Protestant tradition with roots in the Puritan and Independent movements. In congregational government, the local church exists before its leaders, and members can choose and remove their ministers without needing approval from any higher group. Their churches usually have at least one pastor, but may also have ruling elders.

Statements of how this system works are called "platforms". These include the Savoy Confession's platform, the Cambridge Platform, and the Saybrook Platform. Groups in this tradition include the UCC, NACCC, CCCC, and EFCC. These groups support but do not control their local churches.

Baptist churches

Most Baptists believe no group or organization has the right to control an individual Baptist church. Churches can work together only by choice, never by force. They also believe churches should be free from government control. Most Southern Baptist and National Baptist churches work more closely with outside groups like mission agencies, but they still refuse to let outside groups control their local church.

Independent Baptist churches have no organization above the local church. Many Baptist-related groups and schools are supported by local churches, but each church decides for itself whether to support them. These ideas are also common in some non-denominational churches that come from Baptist traditions.

Churches of Christ

See also: Sponsoring church (Churches of Christ)

The Churches of Christ organize themselves with each local church making its own decisions. They have no central office or group above the local church level. Instead, the churches work together by choice, sharing common beliefs and goals.

Each church is usually led by a group of elders, sometimes called shepherds or pastors, who may be helped by deacons. Elders care for the spiritual needs of the church, while deacons handle other tasks. Both are chosen by the church members. Ministers work under the supervision of the elders. The elders are the main leaders in the church.

Congregational Methodist Church

Methodists who did not agree with the leadership style of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South formed the Congregational Methodist Church. This church keeps Wesleyan-Arminian beliefs but uses a congregational system of leadership instead.