Are Congregationalist churches presbyterian?
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My son's history book covering the Reformation has a few chapters on the various Protestant reformers, regarding Calvin it says:
> John Calvin also had his own ideas about how the Church should be governed. He said that there should be no bishops. He wanted the Church to have no real authority above the parish level. He thought parishes should be ruled by groups of elders - called presbyters - who would elect a pastor. When a parish is governed by a body of elders, it is called Presbyterian
>
> The story of Civilization - Volume III - Phillip Campbell
Now, some folks here are telling me that this also describes Congregationalism - or at least describes the present situation. But the definition of Presbyterianism seems like it ought to mean that the parish is governed by a body of elders (called presbyters, I'd guess - even though to a Catholic the order of Presbyter in the New Testament means the ministerial priesthood, and it is even part of the current [code of canon law](https://www.vatican.va/archive/cod-iuris-canonici/eng/documents/cic_lib2-cann460-572_en.html#CHAPTER_V) that there should be some sort of pastoral council of lay people assisting the pastor of any parish).
So, are Congregationalist churches presbyterian (lower case p)?
Did both systems come from Calvin and the original reformers or was that something they fell into and then split into, eventually becoming Presbyterian and Congregational churches?
Asked by Peter Turner
(34456 rep)
Feb 18, 2025, 01:56 PM
Last activity: Feb 19, 2025, 12:41 AM
Last activity: Feb 19, 2025, 12:41 AM