Congregational Church

These are protestant Christian churches in which each congregation operates its  affairs independently.

Origin of the Movement

During 16th century, there were political and cultural changes that brought into existence men as John Wycliff, Martin Luther and John Calvin who became dissatisfied by the operation of Roman Catholic church on many doctrinal matters.

Some of these men that were later identified as Reformers or protestants agued against the overbearing of priests with the claim of holding the eternal arthony of intercession between Yahweh and men.  The Reformers argued the restrictions imposed by the church authority over reading, producing or possessing of the Bible and other abuses from the church authority.

The Reformers called for a return to simplicity that was known with the early apostolic assembly of Yahoshea Meshiyach which were accounted in the New Testament account.

Based on this religious thinking, the Congregationalists formulated their church rulership that they hold to fulfill the description of the early assembly that enables converts to enjoy a direct rulership and relationship with Yahweh.

Christian theology that made deparure from the excess authority of the Roman Catholic church was one of the feasible contributions of John Wycliff and Lollard movement in protestantism.

The congregational churches claim their root from the theory of union published by Robert Browne in 1592.  The early congregationalists were identified a separatists or independents because they were nonconformists during the puritan reformation of Anglicanism.

The movement bore the name as separatists to distinguish them from the Calvinists and Presbyterians.

The movement were earlier established in the Plymouth Colony and later at the New England.  The migrating settlers from New England took it to New York state and later to the Old North West.

Congregationalism came into existing when its leaders refused conforming with the puritans amongst the Anglican Communion.  They equally stood differently from other established evangelical reformed churches who form the bulk of protestanism. It rather sought for independence of each congregation from influence of mainstream Christendom or major protestant movements like Calvinism, Lutheranism, Arminianism etc.

Anglicanism became established by the King Henry VIII's government influenced parliament that enacted the 1st Act of  Supremacy in 1534 that declared the sovereignty of England to assume the supreme head on earth of the churches in England.

This instrument empowered Anglicanism to replace Catholicism in England.  Following this development, many reformers as Roberts Brown (1550-1633), Henry Barrow (1550-1593) John Perry (1559 – 1593), John Robinson (1576 – 1625) and others established independent churches that separated from the Church of England.

The early Congregationalists were known as the “Pilgrim Fathers” as they sought to separate from the Anglican communion and even began to operate separately without church buildings rather operating in homes of members for many years.

During the 1st English civil war, supporters of the parliament were assembled to discuss the religious matters of England.  This discussion gave rise to the Westminister Conference of Faith in 1646 which served interests of the Church of England (Anglican and Episcopal) and the church of Scotland (Presbyterian).

The 2nd English civil war became favourable to the Congregationalists or independents who dominated the New Model Army which took control of the parliament with the Pride' s Purge in 1648.

The new army arranged for the trial and execution of Charles I and introduced a replica commonwealth dominated by the Congregationalists.

The government was cut short in 1660 when the monarch was restored and Episcopalism been re-established.

In 1658, the Congregationalists developed their own confession that they identified as “Savoy Declaration” which spelt the principle of congregationalism.

The movement was established in Wales by William Wroth who formed the First Independent Church of Llanvache.

Growth and Spread

Congregationalism spread to many nations as Argentina, Bulgaria, Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom, United States and Southern Africa.

As explained, the movement originated from the Anglo – American Puritan Movement of the 17th century.  Included were Baptist churches and some protestant groups that emerge from the Anabaptist movement in Germany that migrated into United States in the late 18th century.

The Congregationalist policy has equally influenced many non-denominational churches. The Congregationalists policy is opposed to Episcopal policy that is governed by a hierarchy of Bishops.

The movement also differs with Presbyterian policy which maintain higher congregational representatives that exercised considerable authority over the local church.

Based on its policy of autonomy of each local congregation, other liberal organizations or religious bodies as Unitarian universalist Association, the Canadian unitary Council, Jewish synagogues and some Islamic mosques in United States operate in nature of its principles.

Without regard to the policy of church governance that base on the local congregation and governed independently by members, some join with loose voluntary association with other congregation that share similar belief. One of such union is the Willow Creek Association while others join convention of the American Baptist churches.

These conventions unites the congregations and help towards their doctrinal direction and financial resources.

Principles and Ideas

On principles or ideals that brought about congregationalism, two points are viewed in this way – that every local church is a full realization in miniature of the entire Church of Jesus Christ and that the church while on earth, besides the local churches, can only be invisible or ideal.

The congregationists tend to protect the laity from the clergy in order to realize the expectation of the goodness of the scriptures that target at each individual's relationship with the saviour.  This enables the laity to contribute on issues relating to the local churches where each person has almost same rights and privileges.

The congregational rule guarantees checks and balances that regulates the activities of the ministers, the lay officers and members.  The congregation’s leadership is guided by a definition of union or covenants that spells its term of cooperation of all members.

The term of cooperation is built upon something as charter or constitution that is agreed by all members that specify doctrinal and behavioural expectations of the congregation.

Congragationalists hold church as a voluntary association and ministers are obliged to rule by the consent of the members or committees. A minister must respect the vote of members before embarking on any decision.

The ministerial body is made up of the pastors, deacons, elders, session and vestry but all officers are more conscious of their lay status and having equal rights on votes with other converts of the churches.

The movement view church tyranny as the transgression of liberty or rule by one man. The body views the concentration of authority in the hands of one person or authority as a monumental abuse.

Contributions and Summary

The movement is known for its contribution towards formations of unions of churches in Britain. Its theory of independency is a cornerstone of most ecumenical movements since 18th century.

Baptist church is one of the Christian theologies that are related with congregational churches.  Most Baptist holds that no church or ecclisial  bodies have authority over the Baptist church.  Though, there are few Baptist churches that profess Episcopal system and are known as Episcopal Baptists.

Independent Baptists do not have formal organizational structure ahead the level of local churches.

Another Christian denomination that resemble the congregational churches is the Churches of Christ which purposefully have no central headquarters, councils or other structure above the local churches.

The churches of Christ hold to priesthood of every believer and have no special titles that separates the preachers or ministers from other members.  They profess that there is no differences between clergy and the laity and that every member has a gift and a role to play in promoting the works of the churches.

In conclusion, congregationalism is one of the Christian traditions that claim to apostolic continuity.  It aim at restoration of simple lifestyle or characters of early apostles that was removed from the Episcopal system or policy of the mainstream Christianity.

Truly, Yahosheanism is patterned on the liberal policy in which members are allowed to contribute towards the promotion of the course of the movement. The congregational policy of early Yahoshea assembly spelt firmly on the achievements of the body as each convert was freely allowed and encouraged to contribute his or her potential for the building of the brethren.

The early apostolic policy was not based on the tyrannical or absolutist status of the clergy over the laity rather both bodies worked as brethren that complimented each other.

Having seen those facts, the congregational churches do not receive orders from superior ecclesiastical authorities as they hold to their autonomy of local congregations but they are generally tied to the Christian theology or practices that are totally removed from the practices of the early  apostles or Yahoshean.

Although, the congregational churches are free to make their preferred doctrines and associate with those bodies of Christians that are similar to their view, yet they are totally bent on Christian practices and values.

The congregational churches are guided by the acts of ecumenical councils of the mainstream churches as well as the works of the early Christian fathers.

Congregationalism may be known for its contribution toward development of mankind through establishment of many educational institutions and facilities.  It contributed towards an enhanced liberal religion and society in western nations but cannot be taken as the true restoration movement to the works of the early apostolic assembly.

Yahosheanism (early apostolic movement) was based on the Hebrew religious tradition while congregationalism is based on Greek and Roman religious traditions.

The early apostles kept Sabbath rest, proclaimed the holy name of Yahweh and Yahoshea Meshiyach, observed Passover and feast of the Tabernacle.  While the congregational churches observe Sunday rest, addresses the creator on various names as obtainable in all local languages, addresses the Hebrew messiah as Jesus Christ, observe some of the Christian festivals etc.

By these differences, it is certain that both schisms are opposing and the later cannot claim to be a restoration of the former.

This is an eye opener to millions of people who seek for Yahosheanism through the congregational churches because if two do not agree, they cannot be one or work together.