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• congregationalism
  congregationalism

  noun

  a form of Protestant church government in which each local religious society is independent and self-governing.
• Congregationalism
  Congregationalism

  noun

  a system of Christian doctrines and ecclesiastical government in which each congregation is self-governing and maintains bonds of faith with other similar local congregations

congregationalism

American  

[kong-gri-gey-shuh-nl-iz-uhm] / ˌkɒŋ grɪˈgeɪ ʃə nlˌɪz əm /

noun

1. a form of Protestant church government in which each local religious society is independent and self-governing.

2. (initial capital letter) the system of government and doctrine of Congregational churches.

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Congregationalism British  

/ ˌkɒŋɡrɪˈɡeɪʃənəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. a system of Christian doctrines and ecclesiastical government in which each congregation is self-governing and maintains bonds of faith with other similar local congregations

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Other Word Forms

• Congregationalist adjective
• congregationalist noun

Etymology

Origin of congregationalism

First recorded in 1640–50; congregational + -ism

Example Sentences

The principle of congregationalism, as opposed to nationalism and catholicism, is nowhere more fully established than in this admirable work.

From The International Monthly, Volume 5, No. 3, March, 1852 by Various

The polity of the "federated" church is congregational; and extreme congregationalism and connectionalism do not mix readily so far as polity is concerned.

From Church Cooperation in Community Life by Vogt, Paul L. (Paul Leroy)

In church polity he held that congregationalism constituted the most fitting environment in which religion could achieve her work.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 9 "Dagupan" to "David" by Various