De Facto Congregationalism

Terminology

The Tradition

"Congregationalism", like "Methodism" or "Lutheranism" should be regarded as an organic tradition and not just a set of principles. We sometimes refer to "little c" versus "capital C" catholic to distinguish between universality and Rome, using the same logic. Only a self-identified Congregationalist church that a) naturally descends from the 17th c movement and b) maintains the distinctive identity of that movement should be regarded as Congregationalist in the fullest sense.

The Polity

"Congregational polity", by contrast, is not limited to this historical succession. The EFCA, the SBC, and even the Unitarian Universalists clearly hold a form of congregational polity when considered from principles of church government. 

The De-Facto Churches

It is my contention that a number of Presbyterian churches exhibit both the essential faith and polity of classical Congregationalism and may therefore be counted as de facto congregationalists. These are churches that continue to hold to the Westminster standards, speaking the same language as the Congregationalists. Therefore, the the only question is whether the polity exhibited is compatible with the essentials of Congregationalism. 

The primary issues are two: the final autonomy of the local church, and the delegated authority of synods. A de facto Congregationalist church will ultimately grant the right of rule to the local church, and will restrict synods from immediately exercising discipline.

The Friendly Churches

If we take the mainstream position that the continental reformed churches share in the same essential faith as the British, the same issues may be investigated. We'll call these churches Congregationalist Friendly, since it would be anachronistic or misleading to identify them as de facto Congregationalists. The point here is that a committed congregationalist may find a happy home among these congregations. 

Candidates

The Evangelical Presbyterian Church

De Facto Congregationalist

The EPC was born out of the former UPCUSA over concerns of theological shift and denominational overreach (much like the Global Methodist Church). Flowing from this sensitivity, the EPC Book of Order defines "Rights Reserved To A Local Church," "irrevocably reserved to a local church and its members"

1. Autonomy Pass

6-5 The local church has ownership of its own property. It may buy, sell, lease, rent, or otherwise determine the use of its property. It may incur debt and other legal obligations. However, care should be exercised so that the good name and the reputation of the Church not be harmed through unwise and imprudent management.

6-7 The local church has the right to withdraw from the Evangelical Presbyterian Church with its property following the process described in G.5-10 and in accordance with applicable constitutional and civil law.

The process described in G.5-10 does not give the Presbytery the right to veto a church leaving, it only requires that the church hold a valid election with appropriate time limits and determine to leave by a 2/3 majority. 

The EPC passes the autonomy check. Churches that disagree with an action of Presbytery may leave based on their own judgment, therefore their membership in the EPC is at the pleasure of the local church.

2. Synod Questionable

2-2 While this Presbyterian form of government is biblical, it is not essential to the existence of the true Church. However, the order of the Visible Church is best established where the Presbyterian form of government is practiced.

4-1 The Right of Private Judgment

Since “God alone is Lord of the conscience,” we consider the right of private judgment in religious matters to be universal and unalienable. Therefore, the church, in disciplinary cases, has jurisdiction only over her members (D.1-4).

4-2 Original Jurisdiction

In cases of original jurisdiction, the following rules apply: 

• A. The Session

  • The Session has original jurisdiction in every disciplinary case involving members of that local church.

• B. The Presbytery 

  • The Presbytery has original jurisdiction in every disciplinary case involving Teaching Elders of the Presbytery and jurisdiction over Chapter 14 complaints regarding actions or decisions of sessions within its designated area (G.19-1).

• C. The General Assembly

  • The General Assembly has original jurisdiction over Chapter 14 complaints regarding actions or decisions of Presbyteries and judicial cases referred to it by a lower court (G.22-3)

The Book of Discipline goes on to define the process for discipline, locally and in the higher courts. There is a principle of subsidiarity evident in the framework described, with the welcome recognition that the shepherds of the local flock rule their own sheep. 

True congregationalism would balk at the idea that shepherds of one flock have any non-advisory right of rule over the lay members or ministers of another flock, and would clearly state that the local members may exercise the ultimate act of discipline in deposing their officers (Cambridge 8.7). However, given the prior right of withdrawal, it may be argued that the rulings of higher courts are in fact advisory. The church may simply vote to withdraw if they disagree with a ruling, and any ruling that may be vetoed is in effect advisory. The EPC synodical process gets a Questionable rating from me for compatibility with Congregationalism.

The Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches

De Facto Congregationalist

CREC is the infamous "Moscow Mood" denomination. They are a spiritual but not an organic separation from any prior Presbyterian denomination, beginning with the cooperation of a few like-minded churches in beautiful North Idaho. It is multi-confessional and governed by a Constitution and Book of Procedures.

1. Autonomy Pass

III.A. We hold the local congregation has primacy in the structure of biblical church government (Heb. 13:7, 17) without denying the important blessings and obligations which come from broader connections and fellowship.

III.H. Controversies within a local congregation regarding matters arising from differences between our various confessions will not be adjudicated beyond the local church level. connections and fellowship.

IV.A.3. No broader assembly may own property. All property within the CREC will be owned by the local congregations.

This is Congregationalism, clearly and truly. Pass.

2. Synod Pass

IV.A.1. There are two broader assemblies in the CREC: the Presbytery and the Church Council. 

IV.A.2. The authority of the broader assemblies of the CREC is set forth in various parts of this Constitution. The assemblies shall only deal with ecclesiastical matters in an ecclesiastical manner and hence their authority includes the following powers:

d. to address matters referred to them by the session of a member church or by another CREC broader assembly;

h. to inquire into the spiritual health of member churches and to confer with other assemblies to this end;

j. to intervene when a local church’s session is at an impasse, either through mediation or by appointing officers from other CREC churches to sit pro tempore on that church’s session, to the end that these appointees participate in sessional actions that address the impasse and restore harmony while respecting the existing constitutional standards of the church;

l. to require mediation and arbitration, when appropriate, in order to reconcile brothers;

o. by two-thirds majority vote and pending judicial process, censure a member church or a CREC officer. A censure under this provision does not affect a member church’s voting rights or appeal rights in the broader assemblies.

The term "censure" applied to a non-local body may raise an eyebrow in a true congregationalist context, but the extent of power is clearly limited and debatably within the guidelines of Cambridge 16.4, "It belongeth unto synods and councils  ... not to exercise church censures in way of discipline, nor any other act of church authority or jurisdiction, which that presidential synod did forbear."

The role of Synods in CREC clearly passes the congregationalist vibe check.

3. Nonessential: Membership of Minister Pass

II.B. Within the CREC each elder and pastor must be a member of the church in which he serves. This requirement may be waived on a case-by- case basis by a unanimous vote of the presbytery.

This distinction is a Congregationalist ideal that recognizes the priority of the local church regarding their officers.

The Reformed Church in the United States

Congregationalist Friendly

The RCUS is a German Reformed denomination holding to the three forms of unity. It has its American origin in 1725, and may be considered a continuing church separating from the majority movement's incorporation into the E&R and UCC denominations. It is governed by the RCUS Constitution with Rules of Order.

1. Autonomy Pass

ARTICLE 12. To the trustees shall be committed the care and control of the property of the congregation, whether real or personal, and of all monies and legacies

ARTICLE 61. The Consistory is composed of the pastor or pastors and the elders and deacons, and has oversight and government of the congregation and of all its organizations.

ARTICLE 70. The Spiritual Council consists of the pastor or pastors and the active elders of a congregation. It has original jurisdiction in matters of discipline except in the case of a Minister of the Word.

Perhaps as a sign of good health, there is no constitutional discussion of withdrawing from a the denomination or an explicit statement of the congregation as the primary unit, with immediate rights granted by Christ (Cambridge 6). The recognition is still present 

2. Synod Questionable

ARTICLE 70. The Spiritual Council consists of the pastor or pastors and the active elders of a congregation. It has original jurisdiction in matters of discipline except in the case of a Minister of the Word.

ARTICLE 50. Cases over which a lower judicatory has original jurisdiction can be brought before a higher judicatory only by reference, complaint or appeal.

It is explicitly stated that ministers of outside flocks have no jurisdiction over local sheep, and that the role of the synod (classis, assembly) in these cases is "reference, complaint or appeal." This is similar to, but not quite as far as the Congregationalists pushed: "we dare not say that their power reacheth no farther then giving counsell ..." (Cotton, Keyes of the Kingdom of Heaven VI.)

However, Ministers of the Word are subject to discipline from their fellow elders in Classis. It seems that ministers hold membership both in classis and the local church (unlike strict Presbyterianism). Congregationalism would instead explicitly state the right of the members to depose their own officers (see EPC, above). I will charitably consider these systems compatible on the grounds that members of RCUS churches are effectively delegating this responsibility to Classis by their passive participation in the RCUS. The Classis in this case becomes an arbitrator. My own sensibilities would prefer an explicit statement to this effect, maybe in the local constitution. 

As a thought experiment: what would happen to an 18th c Connecticut pastor who was found in serious sin and admonished by his entire consociation? I think the local church would follow the discipline advice of the ministers of their county, up to removing the man from office, and therefore see very little practical difference between Saybrook and the RCUS form of polity on the issue.

Every Independent Reformed and Presbyterian Church

De Facto Congregationalist

"Independent Presbyterian" is an oxymoron in historical context. The Westminster Presbyterians accused the Congregationalists of "independency", which the Congregationalists disapproved of. In a more literal sense, an "Independent Presbyterian" church is one that rules itself and makes use of presbyters (elders). What does that sound like? Congregationalism.

1. Autonomy Pass

However weird an isolated church may form its by-laws, it is by definition self-ruling and therefore compatible with congregationalism.

2. Synod Pass

Nobody at the G3 conference tries to exercise the office of the keys against attendees.

This one is easy, such churches are De Facto Congregationalist.

The Presbyterian Church (USA)

Not Congregationalist Friendly 

In polity terms, the PC(USA) is the American inheritor to the Presbyterians of the Westminster Assembly - that side of the clan war that opposed the Congregationalists (and won). Her polity has been challenged in recent decades, and has grown more flexible as discussed in a recent article for the Journal of the Society for Protestant Church Polity. The rigid facts that persist nonetheless still center the power on the presbytery, not the local session, making this denomination decidedly non-congregationalist.

1. Autonomy Fail

In the Presbyterian system, the presbytery holds primacy. 

"A clear indication that the presbytery is the center of presbyterian governance is found in Volume Two of the PC(USA) Constitution, the Book of Order, which states that “Powers not mentioned in this Constitution are reserved to the presbyteries” (G-3.0101)." 

The primacy of the presbytery is likewise seen in the terminology the Book of Order uses to describe the rare procedure by which a presbytery may remove the session (elected governing board) of a troubled congregation, replacing it with a special com mission: that move is called “assuming original jurisdiction” (G-3.0303e). Clearly, jurisdiction is vested in the regional, not the local, level." (Wilton, A Survey of Developments in Presbyterian Church (USA) Polity, 44-45.)

2. Synod Fail

Reformed polity sometimes reserves "synod" for the broadest body - usually national. In the PC(USA) this is called the "General Assembly." For classical Congregationalists, the Cambridge Platform simply considers a synod to be any convened body for a plurality of churches - a term interchangeable with "council." For this reason, even if the powers of the PC(USA) General Assembly are limited, the PC(USA) fails on the "synod" issue because of power granted to the Presbyteries

To Do:

• PCA

• FIRE

• CRCNA