Particular Church

Definition and Meaning

The Korean term jigyohoe (支敎會) means "a church divided off like a branch (支)." It refers to an individual church that actually gathers in a specific locality, as distinguished from the universal church (also called the catholic church), which regards all Christians as one church. The term is said to be a rendering of the English Presbyterian expression "particular church." The term gaegyohoe (個敎會, "individual church") is also used in the same sense.

In a different usage, a branch that one church establishes in another area is also sometimes called a jigyohoe or a jiseongjeon (branch sanctuary). The two usages have distinct meanings.

Biblical and Historical Background

In the New Testament, "church" (Greek ekklesia, "an assembly called together") is used in two senses. It can refer to a gathering in one locality, as in "the church of God which is at Corinth" (1 Corinthians 1:2), or to the community of all the saints, as in "the church, which is his body" (Ephesians 1:23). The seven churches of Revelation 2–3 are also frequently cited as examples of local churches.

Chapter 25 of the Westminster Confession of Faith distinguishes between the universal church and the particular churches that are its members. Presbyterian church polity is built on this distinction.

Practice in the Korean Church

Terminology and Status by Denomination

• Presbyterianism: The Form of Government section of the church constitution defines the particular church as the basic unit of church administration. A particular church belongs to a presbytery and is governed by a session composed of the minister and elders. A church that has a session is called an organized church, and a church that has no elders and therefore cannot form a session is called an unorganized church.
• Korean Methodist Church: The same entity is usually called a "local church" (gaechegyohoe). The local church is situated within a structure that extends through the charge conference, the district conference, and the annual conference.
• Baptist and Congregational traditions: These traditions emphasize the autonomy and independence of each local church. They do not regard higher judicatories (governing bodies above the individual church) as ruling over individual churches, but instead view the churches as standing in a relationship of mutual cooperation.

The term gaegyohoe also appears in the expression gaegyohoe-juui ("individual-churchism," or congregational parochialism). The expression carries the criticism that a church puts its own growth ahead of its denomination or the wider body of churches in its area.

Branch Sanctuaries

Some megachurches have maintained worship sites bearing the same name in other areas, sharing the senior pastor's preaching as well as finances and administration. These sites are called jigyohoe, jiseongjeon, campuses, and similar names. Yoido Full Gospel Church reportedly operated a number of branch sanctuaries and later spun off many of them as independent churches.

Assessments of branch sanctuaries are divided. Those who operate them describe them as a means of shortening members' travel and expanding local evangelism. Critics argue that megachurches absorb members from smaller neighboring churches and undermine the autonomy of local churches. For this reason, some propose alternatives such as church separation, in which branch sanctuaries are made independent, or support for church plants.