Presbyterian (or presbyteral) polity is a method of church governance ("ecclesiastical polity") typified by the rule of assemblies of presbyters, or elders. Each local church is governed by a body of elected elders usually called the session or consistory, though other terms, such as church board, may apply.[notes 1] Groups of local churches are governed by a higher assembly of elders known as the presbytery or classis; presbyteries can be grouped into a synod, and presbyteries and synods nationwide often join together in a general assembly. Responsibility for conduct of church services is reserved to an ordained minister or pastor known as a teaching elder, or a minister of the word and sacrament.
Presbyterian polity was developed as a rejection of governance by hierarchies of single bishops (episcopal polity), but also differs from the congregationalist polity in which each congregation is independent.[1] In contrast to the other two forms, authority in the presbyterian polity flows both from the top down (as higher assemblies exercise limited but important authority over individual congregations, e.g., only the presbytery can ordain ministers, install pastors, and start up, close, and approve relocating a congregation) and from the bottom up (e.g., the moderator and officers are not appointed from above but are rather elected by and from among the members of the assembly). This theory of governance developed in Geneva under John Calvin and was introduced to Scotland by John Knox after his period of exile in Geneva. It is strongly associated with French, Dutch, Swiss and Scottish Reformation movements, and the Reformed and Presbyterian churches.
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^Bannerman 1868b, pp201-331.
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Presbyterian (or presbyteral) polity is a method of church governance ("ecclesiastical polity") typified by the rule of assemblies of presbyters, or elders...
are four general types of polity: episcopal, connexional, presbyterian, and congregational. Churches having episcopal polity are governed by bishops. The...
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ruled by elders, being of presbyterianpolity (not to be confused with Presbyterianism) or could adhere to episcopal polity (in which a denomination has...
execution in 1649, the Covenanter government, in order to protect the Presbyterianpolity and Calvinist doctrine of the Church of Scotland, signed the Treaty...
"Dissenting Protestant Worship House", and adhered to Presbyterianpolity at a later date; the Presbyterian Church of St. David is another 1925 "Minority Group"...
of Scotland embraced Reformed theology and presbyterianpolity. The Ulster Scots brought their Presbyterian faith with them to Ireland, where they laid...
document of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), abbreviated as PC(USA). It is divided into four parts: The Foundations of PresbyterianPolity, Form of Government...
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general assembly include: General Assembly (presbyterian church), the highest court of presbyterianpolity General Assembly of the Church of Scotland,...
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(Scottish Gaelic: furm an aithreachais, stòl an aithreachais), in Presbyterianpolity, mostly in Scotland, was an elevated seat in a church used for the...
to: Session (parliamentary procedure) Session (Presbyterian), a governing body in Presbyterianpolity Court of Session, the supreme civil court of Scotland...
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