congregational

Congregational is an adjective used to describe matters pertaining to a congregation. In Christian usage, it most often refers to congregational polity, a system of church governance in which each local church governs itself independently, without a hierarchical authority imposing decisions on it. The term also denotes Congregational churches and practices associated with a single congregation.

Etymology and scope

The word derives from the Latin congregatio, entering English via early modern usage. In religious contexts, it distinguishes churches and practices that emphasize local church autonomy, voluntary membership, and congregational decision making from those governed by hierarchical structures such as bishops or presbyteries.

Congregational polity

Key features of congregational polity include local authority resting with the congregation as a whole, typically exercised through regular meetings and votes. Local churches appoint and oversee pastors and lay officers, establish their own discipline and membership criteria, and determine worship styles, community programs, and finances independently. While congregations may cooperate through associations or fellowships, they retain autonomous control and may not be bound by a higher church body’s mandates.

Historical development and geography

The congregational tradition emerged from the Reformation in England and the Dutch Reformed context and was carried to North America by settlers, especially in New England. The Cambridge Platform (1648) codified congregational practice in several colonies. In the 20th century, many American Congregational churches joined other denominations, culminating in the formation of the United Church of Christ in 1957 by a merger with the Evangelical and Reformed Church. In the United Kingdom, the Congregational Church in England and Wales merged with the Presbyterian Church of England to form the United Reformed Church in 1972.

Contemporary usage

Today, many churches identify with congregational polity or the Congregational tradition, valuing local autonomy and member involvement. The term also appears in historical denomination names and in secular contexts describing organizations organized around a single congregation.