Ecclesiastical polity is the operational and governance structure of a church or Christian denomination. Denominationalism|List of Christian denominations|Church (disambiguation A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name structure and doctrine within It also denotes the ministerial structure of the church and the authority relationships between churches. In Christian churches, a minister is someone who is authorized by a church or religious organization to perform clergy functions such as teaching of beliefs Polity is closely related to Ecclesiology, the study of doctrine and theology relating to church organization. Ecclesiology (from Greek grc ἐκκλησίᾱ ekklēsiā, "congregation church" and grc -λογία -logia) is the study of the
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History
Issues of church governance appear in the first chapters of the Acts of the Apostles; the first act recorded after the ascension is the election of Matthias to replace Judas Iscariot. The Acts of the Apostles is a book of the Bible, which now stands fifth in the New Testament. The general and most common understanding of the Christian Doctrine of Ascension holds that Jesus bodily ascended to Heaven in the presence In the New Testament Acts of the Apostles, the author of the Gospel of Luke records that Saint Matthias was the Apostle chosen by the remaining Judas Iscariot, יהודה איש־קריות Yəhûḏāh ʾΚ-qəriyyôṯ was according to the New Testament, one of the twelve original apostles Over the years a system of episcopal polity developed.
During the Protestant Reformation, arguments were made that the New Testament prescribed structures quite different from that of the Roman Catholic Church of the day, and different Protestant bodies used different types of polity. The Protestant Reformation was a reform movement in Europe that began in 1517 though its roots lie further back in time It was during this period that Richard Hooker wrote Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity to defend the polity of the Church of England against the Puritans. Richard Hooker (March 1554 – 3 November 1600) was an Anglican priest and an influential theologian. Richard Hooker (March 1554 – 3 November 1600) was an Anglican priest and an influential theologian. The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England, the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican A Puritan of 16th and 17th century England was an associate of any number of religious groups advocating for more "purity" of Worship and Doctrine,
Use as a Term
"Ecclesiastical polity" is used in several closely related senses. Most commonly it refers to the field of church governance in the abstract, but it also can refer to the governance of a particular Christian body. In this sense it is used as a term in civil law. Civil law or Romano-Germanic law or Continental law is the predominant system of law in the world. "Polity" is sometimes used as a shorthand for the church governance structure itself.
Types of Polity
Though each church or denomination has its own characteristic structure, there are three general types of polity.
Episcopal Polity
Churches having episcopal polity are governed by bishops, who have authority over dioceses. Episcopal polity is a form of church governance which is hierarchical in structure with the chief authority over a local Christian church resting in a Bishop (Greek A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight In many rites of the Roman Catholic Church and in Anglican churches, a diocese is an administrative territorial unit administered by a Bishop. Their presidency over the diocese is both sacramental and political; as well as performing ordinations, confirmations, and consecrations, the bishop supervises the clergy of the diocese and represents the diocese both secularly and in the hierarchy of church governance. In general religious use ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is set apart as Clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies Confirmation is a Rite of initiation in many Christian Churches normally in the form of Laying on of hands and/or Anointing for Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service usually religious Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given Religion.
Bishops in this system may be subject to higher ranking bishops (variously called archbishops, metropolitans, and/or patriarchs, depending upon the tradition; see also Bishop for further explanation of the varieties of bishops. In Christianity, an archbishop is an elevated Bishop. In the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion and others this means that they lead In Hierarchical Christian churches the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the Diocesan bishop or Originally a patriarch was a man who exercised autocratic authority as a Pater familias over an extended family A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight ) They also meet in councils or synods. A synod (also known as a council) is a council of a church, usually a Christian church convened to decide an issue of doctrine administration or application These synods, subject to presidency by higher ranking bishops, may govern the dioceses which are represented in the council, though the synod may also be purely advisory. A synod (also known as a council) is a council of a church, usually a Christian church convened to decide an issue of doctrine administration or application
Note that the presence of the office of "bishop" within a church is not proof of episcopal polity. For example, in Mormonism, the "bishop" occupies the office that in an Anglican church would be occupied by a priest. Mormonism is a term used to describe the religious, ideological and cultural elements of certain branches of the Latter Day Saint movement Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs A priest or priestess is a person having the authority or power to administer religious rites in particular rites of sacrifice to and propitiation of a deity or deities
Also, episcopal polity is not usually a simple chain of command. Instead, some authority may be held, not only by synods and colleges of bishops, but by lay and clerical councils. In religious organizations the laity comprises all persons who are not Clergy. Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given Religion. Further, patterns of authority are subject to a wide variety of historical rights and honors which may cut across simple lines of authority.
Episcopal polity is the predominant pattern in Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Anglican churches. Catholic is an Adjective derived from the Greek adjective '' / 'katholikos' meaning "whole" or "complete". The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world Oriental Orthodoxy is the communion of Eastern Christian Churches that recognize only three Ecumenical councils — the First Council of Nicaea, the Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs It is also common in Methodist and Lutheran churches. Methodism is a movement within Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther
Presbyterian Polity
Many Reformed churches, notably those in the Presbyterian and Continental Reformed traditions, are governed by a hierarchy of councils. Presbyterian polity is a method of Church governance typified by the rule of assemblies of Presbyters or elders The Reformed churches are a group of Christian Protestant Denominations formally characterized by a similar Calvinist system of doctrine historically Presbyterianism is a family of Christian denominations within the Reformed branch of Protestant Western Christianity The lowest level council governs a single local church and is called the session or consistory; its members are called elders. Presbyterian polity is a method of Church governance typified by the rule of assemblies of Presbyters or elders An elder (in Greek, πρεσβυτερος; see Presbyter) in Christianity is a person valued for his Wisdom who accordingly holds a particular The minister of the church (sometimes referred to as a teaching elder) is a member of and presides over the session; lay representatives (ruling elders or, informally, just elders) are elected by the congregation. In Christian churches, a minister is someone who is authorized by a church or religious organization to perform clergy functions such as teaching of beliefs The session sends representatives to the next level higher council, called the presbytery or classis. Presbyterian polity is a method of Church governance typified by the rule of assemblies of Presbyters or elders In some Presbyterian churches there are higher level councils (synods and/or general assemblies). A synod (also known as a council) is a council of a church, usually a Christian church convened to decide an issue of doctrine administration or application Presbyterian polity is a method of Church governance typified by the rule of assemblies of Presbyters or elders Each council has authority over its constituents, and the representatives at each level are expected to use their own judgment. Hence higher level councils act as courts of appeal for church trials and disputes, and it is not uncommon to see rulings and decisions overturned.
Presbyterian polity is, of course, the characteristic governance of Presbyterian churches, and also of churches in the Continental Reformed tradition. Presbyterianism is a family of Christian denominations within the Reformed branch of Protestant Western Christianity The Reformed churches are a group of Christian Protestant Denominations formally characterized by a similar Calvinist system of doctrine historically Elements of presbyterian polity are also found in other churches. For example, in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America governance by bishops is paralleled by a system of deputies, who are lay and clerical representatives elected by parishes and, at the national level, by the dioceses. The Episcopal Church is the official name of the Province of the Anglican Communion in the United States. A parish is a Local church; it is an administrative unit typically found in episcopal or presbyterian churches Legislation in the general convention requires the separate consent of the bishops and of the deputies. The General Convention of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America is its primary governing and legislative body
Note that, in episcopal polity, a presbyter refers to a priest. Presbyter in the New Testament refers to a leader in local Christian congregations then a synonym of episkopos (which has now come to mean Bishop A priest or priestess is a person having the authority or power to administer religious rites in particular rites of sacrifice to and propitiation of a deity or deities
Congregational Polity
Congregationalist polity dispenses with elders or bishops as a requirement of church structure. Congregationalist polity, often known as congregationalism is a system of Church governance in which every Local church congregation is independent Congregationalist polity, often known as congregationalism is a system of Church governance in which every Local church congregation is independent An elder (in Greek, πρεσβυτερος; see Presbyter) in Christianity is a person valued for his Wisdom who accordingly holds a particular A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight The local congregation rules itself, though local leaders and councils may be appointed.
Members may be sent from the congregation to associations that are sometimes identified with the church bodies formed by Lutherans, Presbyterians, Anglicans, and other non-congregational Protestants. Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther Presbyterianism is a family of Christian denominations within the Reformed branch of Protestant Western Christianity Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. The similarity is deceptive, however, because the congregationalist associations do not exercise control over their members (other than ending their membership in the association). Many congregationalist churches are completely independent in principle. One major exception is Ordination, where even congregationalist churches often invite members of the vicinage or association to ordain their called pastor. In general religious use ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is set apart as Clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies
It is a principle of congregationalism that ministers do not govern congregations by themselves. They may preside over the congregation, but it is the congregation which exerts its authority in the end.
Congregational polity is sometimes called "baptist polity", as it is the characteristic polity of baptist churches. Baptist is a term describing individuals belonging to a Baptist church or a Baptist denomination.
Polity, Autonomy, and Ecumenism
Although a church's polity dictates how it is governed and how its ministers figure in that governance, it need not have any implications on relationships between church bodies. The unity of the church is a doctrine central to ecclesiology, but since the divisions between churches presuppose a lack of mutual authority, the internal polity does not directly provide answers on how these divisions have been handled. Doctrine (Latin doctrina) is a codification of beliefs or "a body of teachings quot or "instructions" taught principles or positions as the Ecclesiology (from Greek grc ἐκκλησίᾱ ekklēsiā, "congregation church" and grc -λογία -logia) is the study of the
For example, among churches with episcopal polity, different theories are expressed:
- In Catholicism the church is viewed as a single polity headed by the pope. As a Christian Ecclesiastical term Catholic —from the Greek adjective, meaning "general" or "universal"—is described History See also History of the Papacy Catholics recognize the Pope as a successor to Saint Peter, who Jesus named as the "shepherd" and
- In Eastern Orthodoxy the various churches retain formal autonomy but are held to be unified by shared doctrine and conciliarity (that is, the authority of councils, such as ecumenical councils, Holy Synods and the former standing council, the Endemusa Synod. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world Autonomy ( Greek: Auto- Nomos - nomos meaning "law" one who gives oneself his/her own Law) is the right to Self-government Conciliarity refers to the adherence of various Christian communities to the authority of Ecumenical councils and to Synodal church government This is a general introduction to ecumenical councils For the Roman Catholic councils, see Catholic Ecumenical Councils. In several of the autocephalous Eastern Orthodox churches and Eastern Catholic Churches, the patriarch or head bishop is elected by a group of bishops called )
- In Anglicanism the churches are autonomous, though more than half the membership are organizationally united in the Anglican Communion, which has no powers of governance. Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs See also Anglicanism The Anglican Communion is an international association of national Anglican churches
See also
- Ecclesiology
- Structure and polity of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
- Connectionalism (Methodist Polity)
- Catholic Church hierarchy
- New Testament Church Government - A Look at the Biblical Eldership
References
External links
Ecclesiology (from Greek grc ἐκκλησίᾱ ekklēsiā, "congregation church" and grc -λογία -logia) is the study of the The governance ( polity) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is based on democratic representation and therefore resembles the Presbyterian Connectionalism is the theological understanding and foundation of Methodist polity. This article refers to hierarchy in the Catholic Church. For hierarchy in other communions with a "catholic" character please see articles on the churches The GNU Free Documentation License ( GNU FDL or simply GFDL) is a Copyleft License for free documentation designed by the Free SoftwareDapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic