Church Polity

Definition and Meaning

Church polity is the system of government that determines who makes decisions within a church and by what authority, how officers are appointed, and how the local church relates to higher bodies. The term is distinct from secular party politics. Each denomination sets out its polity in its church constitution. Polity is commonly divided into the following three forms:

• Episcopal polity: Governing authority is concentrated in the bishop, who oversees a number of churches.
• Presbyterian polity: The church is governed by assemblies made up of ministers together with elders elected by the members. These assemblies extend from the local church to the regional and national levels.
• Congregational polity: The assembly of all the members of the local church holds final decision-making authority. Each church is independent.

In practice, a single denomination often combines elements of more than one form.

Biblical and Historical Background

Each of the three forms claims a basis in Scripture. Proponents of episcopal polity point to the office of bishop in 1 Timothy 3:1 and Titus 1:7, as well as to the understanding that apostolic authority has been passed down in succession. Proponents of presbyterian polity appeal to the appointment of elders in Acts 14:23 and the Council of Jerusalem in Acts 15. Proponents of congregational polity emphasize passages in which the whole congregation took part in decisions, such as Matthew 18:17 and Acts 6:3.

Historically, episcopal polity continued from the early church onward in the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Anglican Church. Presbyterian polity was systematized during the Reformation, through Calvin's church in Geneva and the Church of Scotland. Congregational polity developed among the English Separatist Puritans, Congregational churches, and Baptists.

Practice in Korean Churches

• Presbyterian churches: The Presbyterian churches, which make up the majority of Korean Protestantism, follow presbyterian polity. At the local level, the session, composed of ministers and elders, governs the church. Above it are the regional presbytery and the national General Assembly. Churches also have a congregational meeting of all members and a council of officers made up of church officers.
• Methodist churches: The Korean Methodist Church continues the episcopal tradition while also operating a system of assemblies. Above the local church conference are the district conference, the annual conference, and the General Conference. Districts are overseen by a district superintendent, and annual conferences by a bishop.
• Anglican Church: The Anglican Church of Korea maintains episcopal polity, with a bishop in each diocese.
• Baptist churches: Baptist bodies such as the Korea Baptist Convention hold to congregational polity in principle. They emphasize the autonomy of the local church, and their district associations and general convention function largely as cooperative bodies.
• Holiness churches: Bodies such as the Korea Evangelical Holiness Church operate through a system of district conferences and a General Assembly. Local churches install elders.

Independent churches that belong to no denomination are generally governed according to their own church bylaws.