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47-523: It is a provision which prevents the General Assembly from making core innovations which might profoundly affect the polity of the church without first referring these to the presbyteries. A matter which falls under the Barrier Act must first be passed by the General Assembly, then be referred in the form of an overture to the presbyteries and ratified by a majority of these, before being returned to

94-644: A "metropolitical see" whose diocesan bishop is ex officio metropolitan (such as the Archbishops of Canterbury and Sydney), while in Canada metropolitans are elected by the provincial houses of bishops from among the sitting diocesans. Prior to 1970, however, the metropolitan of the Province of Rupert's Land was always the bishop of the eponymous diocese , centred on Winnipeg. (Since then, only one Bishop of Rupert's Land, Walter Jones , has been elected metropolitan). The title

141-471: A cathedral church, the diocesan bishop has been informed beforehand. The metropolitan is obliged to request the pallium , a symbol of the power that, in communion with the Church of Rome, he possesses over his ecclesiastical province. This holds even if he had the pallium in another metropolitan see. It is the responsibility of the metropolitan, with the consent of the majority of the suffragan bishops, to call

188-453: A derivative of episcopalianism known as connexional polity. It emphasizes essential interdependence through fellowship, consultation, government and oversight. Some Methodist churches have bishops , but those individuals are not nearly as powerful as in episcopal churches. Connexionalism is sometimes identified as an organization, while other times as relationship or theological principle. The United Methodist Church defines connection as

235-645: A leader of an individual congregation; it may also be used as an honorific, particularly within the Holiness movement . Although a church's polity determines its ministers and discipline, it need not affect relations with other Christian organizations. The unity of a church is an essential doctrine of ecclesiology , but because the divisions between churches presuppose the absence of mutual authority, internal polity does not directly answer how these divisions are treated. For example, among churches of episcopal polity, different theories are expressed: A plurality of elders

282-490: A position similar to that of metropolitans in the Latin Church. Among the differences is that Eastern Catholic metropolitans within the territory of the patriarchate are to be ordained and enthroned by the patriarch, who may also ordain and enthrone metropolitans of sees outside that territory that are part of his Church. Similarly, a metropolitan has the right to ordain and enthrone the bishops of his province. The metropolitan

329-425: A provincial council, decide where to convene it, and determine the agenda. It is his prerogative to preside over the provincial council. No provincial council can be called if the metropolitan see is vacant. The Metropolitans of a given territory are also involved in the selection of bishops. Every three years, they compile a list of promovendis - a list of priests who may be suitable for the office of bishop. This

376-402: A single local church and is called the session or consistory ; its members are called elders . The minister of the church (sometimes referred to as a teaching elder ) is a member of and presides over the session; lay representatives ( ruling elders or, informally, just elders) are elected by the congregation. The session sends representatives to the next level higher council, called

423-498: A single province and headed by a metropolitan. Metropolitan archbishops of Eastern Catholic Churches sui juris are appointed by the Pope (rather than elected by their synod) and have much less authority even within their own churches. Metropolitans of this kind are to obtain the pallium from the Pope as a sign of his metropolitan authority and of his Church's full communion with the Pope, and only after his investment with it can he convoke

470-785: A wide variety of historical rights and honours which may cut across simple lines of authority. Episcopal polity is the predominant pattern in Catholic , Eastern Orthodox , Oriental Orthodox , and Anglican churches. It is common in some Methodist and Lutheran churches, as well as amongst some of the African-American Pentecostal traditions such as the Church of God in Christ and the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship . Many Methodist and Wesleyan churches use

517-788: Is a title used by all Oriental Orthodox Churches in Malankara . Malankara Metropolitan was a legal title given to the head of the Malankara Syrian Church , aka Puthencoor (New Allegiance) Syrian Christians, by the Government of Travancore and Cochin in South India. This title was awarded by a proclamation from the King of Travancore and the King of Cochin to the legal head of the Malankara Church. The Supreme Court of India has authenticated

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564-535: Is considered desirable in some (esp. reformed) traditions, preferring two or more officers in the local church. The contrasts with singular models often found in Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglican churches, or the "pastor/president" system of some Protestant churches. This is commonly encouraged among Presbyterians , some Pentecostal churches, Churches of Christ , the Disciples of Christ , Baptists and

611-562: Is forwarded to the local Apostolic Nuncio , who evaluates the candidates in a consultative and confidential process. The Nuncio in turn forwards the best candidates to the Congregation for Bishops in Rome, who conduct a final evaluation of candidates and offer their findings to the Pope for his final decision of appointment. In those Eastern Catholic Churches that are headed by a patriarch , metropolitans in charge of ecclesiastical provinces hold

658-775: Is given to diocesan bishops of some important historical sees (Article 14 of the Constitution of Serbian Orthodox Church). For example, diocesan bishop of the Eparchy of Montenegro and the Littoral is given the honorary title of metropolitan, but without any jurisdiction over other diocesan bishops in Montenegro . Diocesan bishop of the Eparchy of Dabar-Bosnia is also given the honorary title of metropolitan, but without any jurisdiction over other diocesan bishops in Bosnia and Herzegovina . Metropolitan

705-494: Is headed by a metropolitan, the archbishop of the diocese designated by the Pope . The other bishops are known as suffragan bishops . The metropolitan's powers over the dioceses of his province, other than his own diocese, are normally limited to: The metropolitan also has the liturgical privilege of celebrating sacred functions throughout the province, as if he were a bishop in his own diocese, provided only that, if he celebrates in

752-541: Is paralleled by a system of deputies, who are lay and clerical representatives elected by parishes and, at the national level, by the dioceses. Legislation in the general convention requires the separate consent of the bishops and of the deputies. Congregational polity is historically reformed , like presbyterianism, but retains the autonomy (lit. self-rule) of the local church. Congregational churches dispense titles such as "Popes, Patriarchs, Cardinals, Arch-Bishops, Lord-Bishops, Arch-Deacons, Officials, Commissaries, and

799-461: Is reversed. Primates of autocephalous Eastern Orthodox churches below patriarchal rank are generally designated as archbishops. In the Greek Orthodox churches , archbishops are ranked above metropolitans in precedence. The reverse is true for some Slavic Orthodox churches (Russian Orthodox, Bulgarian Orthodox ) and also for Romanian Orthodox Church , where metropolitans rank above archbishops and

846-479: Is to be commemorated in the liturgies celebrated within his province. A major archbishop is defined as the metropolitan of a certain see who heads an autonomous Eastern Church not of patriarchal rank. The canon law of such a Church differs only slightly from that regarding a patriarchal Church. Within major archepiscopal churches, there may be ecclesiastical provinces headed by metropolitan bishops. There are also autonomous Eastern Catholic Churches consisting of

893-542: The Church Order of Dordrecht (1618/1619) will, in general, consider their levels of government "broader" rather than "higher" courts. Additionally, the reformed classis is a temporary, delegated body, so the minister is firstly a member of his congregation as opposed to the standing presbytery. The Episcopal Church in the United States of America arguably contains a kind of lay presbyterian polity. Governance by bishops

940-399: The presbytery or classis . In some Presbyterian churches there are higher level councils ( synods or general assemblies ). Each council has authority over its constituents, and the representatives at each level are expected to use their own judgment. For example, each session approves and installs its own elders, and each presbytery approves the ministers serving within its territory and

987-827: The Cambridge Platform , Savoy Declaration , Saybrook Platform and Second London Confession . As a "self-governed voluntary institution", it could be considered a type of religious anarchism . Other religious organizations, for example Seventh-day Adventist , Jehovah's Witnesses , the Salvation Army , and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), are unique. Some have hierarchies similar to an episcopal polity, but may be more complex, with additional levels. Leaders are not always called bishops , in some cases they have secular-like titles such as president or overseer . The term bishop may be used to describe functionaries in minor leadership roles, such as

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1034-516: The Plymouth Brethren . Advocates claim biblical precedent, citing that New Testament churches appear to all have had multiple elders. Conversely, one minister may serve in two roles. A pastor with two churches may be said to have a "dual charge". In the Church of England, two or more otherwise independent benefices may be 'held in plurality' by a single priest. Metropolitan bishop In Christian churches with episcopal polity ,

1081-644: The Protestant Reformation , reformers asserted that the New Testament prescribed an ecclesiastical government different from the episcopal polity maintained by the Catholic Church , and consequently different Protestant bodies organized into different types of polities. During this period Richard Hooker wrote Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity , the first volumes of which were published in 1594, to defend

1128-611: The Roman Empire , larger concentrations of believers were to be found in urban environs. The Bishop of such cities came to hold a pre-eminence of honour in the province of which his diocese was the capital , with some eventually gaining a primacy even over other provinces with their own primus inter pares . By the middle of the 3rd century Carthage had become the leading see in Roman North Africa . The Council of Nicea codified this arrangement into canon law in accordance with

1175-592: The 1980s. This article about Reformed Christianity is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article related to law in Scotland is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Ecclesiastical polity Ecclesiastical polity is the government of a church. There are local ( congregational ) forms of organization as well as denominational . A church's polity may describe its ministerial offices or an authority structure between churches. Polity relates closely to ecclesiology ,

1222-601: The Council of Hierarchs and ordain the bishops of his autonomous Church. In his autonomous Church it is for him to ordain and enthrone bishops and his name is to be mentioned immediately after that of the Pope in the liturgy. In the Eastern Orthodox Church , the title of metropolitan is used variously, in terms of rank and jurisdiction. In terms of rank, in some Eastern Orthodox churches metropolitans are ranked above archbishops in precedence , while in others that order

1269-473: The General Assembly of the following year and passed again there. This is intended to prevent rash decisions to the long-term detriment of the church. Important matters which fell under the Barrier Act in recent years include the ordination of women , which was passed in the 1960s, and the proposed union with the Scottish Episcopal Church , which failed to receive the support of the presbyteries in

1316-619: The Greek word epískopos , which translates as overseer . In the Catholic Church, bishops have authority over the diocese , which is both sacramental and political; as well as performing ordinations , confirmations , and consecrations , the bishop supervises the clergy of the diocese and represents the diocese both secularly and in the hierarchy of church governance. Bishops may be subject to higher ranking bishops (variously called archbishops , metropolitans or patriarchs , depending upon

1363-440: The church generally ranges from two (elder & deacon) to four (pastor, teacher, ruling elder & deacon) in congregational churches. Churches with congregational polity include Congregationalists , Baptists , Quakers and much of Non-denominational Christianity . Congregational polity is sometimes called Baptist polity because of the relative prevalence of Baptists. Historic statements of congregational polity include

1410-436: The city. By virtue of their authority over multiple provinces, the sees of Rome, Alexandria, and Antioch were by this time already exercising "supra-metropolitan" reach that would later be extended and become known as Patriarchates . After Nicaea the designation of Metropolitan applied to such sees as Caesarea and Carthage, which by the late 4th century had a recognised primacy over multiple provinces of Syria Palaestina and

1457-506: The connections between those ministers and particular congregations. Hence higher level councils act as courts of appeal for church trials and disputes, and it is not uncommon to see rulings and decisions overturned. Presbyterian polity and the Presbyterian tradition are not identical. Continental reformed churches (e.g. Dutch ) can also be described as presbyterian, with a few key differences. Continental churches that historically follow

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1504-429: The ecclesiastical province. Metropolitan (arch)bishops preside over synods of the bishops of their ecclesiastical province, and canon law and tradition grant them special privileges . In some churches, such as the Church of Greece , a metropolis is a rank granted to all episcopal sees. Their bishops are all called metropolitans, the title of archbishop being reserved for the primate . As Christianity expanded in

1551-605: The growing standardisation of ecclesiastical diocesan structure along the lines of secular Roman blueprints. It also gave the first documented use of the term "Metropolitan" in reference to such bishops as had the presidency over a province. Meanwhile, Rome, Alexandria, and Antioch had grown in ecclesiastical prominence such that by the early 4th century they had long-recognised jurisdiction over more than one province of bishops each. Alexandria had attained primacy over Roman Egypt , Roman Libya , and Pentapolis . The Bishop of Rome had Primatial authority over provinces within 100 miles of

1598-568: The head of an ecclesiastical province (or cluster of dioceses ). In the few Anglican churches with multiple provinces headed by metropolitans (namely the Church of England , the Church of Ireland , the Anglican Church of Canada , the Anglican Church of Australia , and the Church of Nigeria ), a metropolitan ranks immediately under the primate or senior metropolitan of the national church. Most metropolitans, but not all, are styled archbishop. In England, Ireland, and Australia, each province has

1645-527: The like". The congregation has its being without any ministers and is enabled to elect and install its own officers. Ordination may involve officers of other churches, especially when the church participates in a local vicinage , association , or convention. Broader assemblies formed by delegates from congregationally governed churches (e.g. the Southern Baptist Convention ) do not have power to rule their constituents. The number of offices in

1692-518: The metropolitan also known as the Mar Thoma is the primate and supreme head of the church who is entitled to special privileges and remains the ultimate authority over the synod. Philipose Mar Chrysostom is the senior metropolitan as of 28 August 2007, and Joseph Mar Thoma was installed on 2 October 2007 as the 21st Malankara Metropolitan. In the Anglican Communion , a metropolitan is generally

1739-503: The middle (regional) level of church administration. In Romanian Orthodox Church there are six regional metropolitans who are the chairmen of their respective synods of bishops, and have special duties and privileges. For example, metropolitan of Oltenia has regional jurisdiction over four dioceses. On the other hand, in some Eastern Orthodox churches title of metropolitan is only honorary, with no special or additional jurisdiction. In Serbian Orthodox Church , honorary title of metropolitan

1786-578: The polity of the Church of England against Puritan objections. It is from the title of this work that the term ecclesiastical polity may have originated. With respect to ecclesiology , Hooker preferred the term polity to government as the former term "containeth both [the] government and also whatsoever besides belongeth to the ordering of the Church in public." There are four general types of polity: episcopal , connexional , presbyterian , and congregational . Churches having episcopal polity are governed by bishops . The title bishop comes from

1833-477: The principle that "all leaders and congregations are connected in a network of loyalties and commitments that support, yet supersede, local concerns." A minority of Methodist denominations use another non-connexional form of government, such as the Congregational Methodist Church . Many Reformed churches are governed by a hierarchy of councils (or courts ). The lowest level council governs

1880-413: The provincial capital, the metropolitan, enjoyed certain rights over other bishops in the province, later called " suffragan bishops ". The term metropolitan may refer in a similar sense to the bishop of the chief episcopal see (the "metropolitan see") of an ecclesiastical province . The head of such a metropolitan see has the rank of archbishop and is therefore called the metropolitan archbishop of

1927-464: The rank of metropolitan bishop , or simply metropolitan (alternative obsolete form: metropolite ), pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis . Originally, the term referred to the bishop of the chief city of a historical Roman province , whose authority in relation to the other bishops of the province was recognized by the First Council of Nicaea (AD 325). The bishop of

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1974-646: The theological study of the church. Questions of church government were documented early on in the first chapters of the Acts of the Apostles and "theological debate about the nature, location, and exercise of authority, in the church" has been ongoing ever since. The first act recorded after the Ascension of Jesus Christ was the election of Saint Matthias as one of the Twelve Apostles , to replace Judas Iscariot . During

2021-687: The time of the presidency of Ambrose (374-397) and temporarily exercised primacy over Northern Italy (the Diocesis Italia annonaria , which included territory across the Alps to the Danube). All provinces of Italy were under the broader Primatial oversight of the Archbishop of Rome at least by the end of the 4th century. In the Latin Church , an ecclesiastical province , composed of several neighbouring dioceses,

2068-528: The title can be used for important regional or historical sees . In terms of jurisdiction, there are two basic types of metropolitans in Eastern Orthodox Church: real metropolitans, with actual jurisdiction over their ecclesiastical provinces, and honorary metropolitans who are in fact just diocesan bishops with honorary title of metropolitan and no jurisdiction outside their own diocese. Some Eastern Orthodox churches have functioning metropolitans on

2115-558: The tradition; see article Bishop ) They also meet in councils or synods . These synods, subject to precedency by higher ranking bishops, may govern the dioceses which are represented in the council, though the synod may also be purely advisory. In episcopal polity, presbyter (elder) refers to a priest . Churches governed by episcopacy do not simply adhere to a chain of command . Instead, some authority may be held by synods and colleges of bishops, and other authority by lay and clerical councils. Patterns of authority are subject to

2162-646: The usage of the title by the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church in its verdict in the Malankara Church case. Baselios Marthoma Mathews III was enthroned as Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan on 15 October 2021 at Parumala , Kerala. Under his see , the dioceses are further headed by diocesan metropolitans. In the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church which is based in India,

2209-645: The wider Mahgreb , respectively. With the Imperial Capital having moved to Byzantium in 330, the renamed city of Constantinople became increasingly important in church affairs of the Greek East. The See of Constantinople was granted Archepiscopal status prior to a council held in the city in 381 . Coinciding with the city's use as the Imperial residence, the See of Milan was elevated to Metropolitan/Archepiscopal status by

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