Editing Diocese (section)

==Churches that have neither bishops nor dioceses==
Many churches worldwide have neither bishops nor dioceses. Most of these churches are descended from the [[Protestant Reformation]] and more specifically the [[Swiss Reformation]] led by [[John Calvin]]; these are known as the [[Reformed Christianity|Reformed Churches]] (which include the [[Continental Reformed]], [[Presbyterian]], and [[Congregationalist]] traditions).{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

[[Continental Reformed church]]es are ruled by assemblies of "elders" or ordained officers. This is usually called [[Synod]]al government by the continental Reformed, but is essentially the same as [[presbyterian polity]].{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

[[Presbyterianism|Presbyterian churches]] derive their name from the [[Presbyterian polity|presbyterian form of church government]], which is governed by representative assemblies of elders. The [[Church of Scotland]] is governed solely through [[Presbyterian polity#Presbytery|presbyteries]], at parish and regional level, and therefore has no dioceses or bishops.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Scotland|first=The Church of|date=2010-02-22|title=Our structure|url=https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/about-us/our-structure|access-date=2021-03-15|website=The Church of Scotland|language=en}}</ref>

[[Congregational church]]es practice [[Congregational polity|congregationalist church governance]], in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Congregationalism {{!}} Protestant Church History & Beliefs {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Congregationalism |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>

Some [[Methodist]] denominations have a congregational polity, such as the [[Congregational Methodist Church]], while others such as the [[Fellowship of Independent Methodist Churches]] or [[Association of Independent Methodists]] are composed of independent Methodist congregations.

Most [[Baptists]] hold that no church or ecclesiastical organization has inherent authority over a Baptist church. Churches can properly relate to each other under this polity only through voluntary cooperation, never by any sort of coercion. Furthermore, this Baptist polity calls for freedom from governmental control.<ref>{{Cite journal | author=Pinson, William M. Jr. |title=Trends in Baptist Polity |publisher=Baptist History and Heritage Society |url=http://www.baptisthistory.org/contissues/pinson.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013130242/http://baptisthistory.org/contissues/pinson.htm |archive-date=2007-10-13 }}</ref> Most Baptists believe in "Two offices of the church"—pastor-elder and deacon—based on certain scriptures ({{Bibleverse|1Tim|3:1–13||1 Timothy 3:1–13}}; {{Bibleverse|Titus|1–2}}). Exceptions to this local form of local governance include a few churches that submit to the leadership of a body of [[Elder (Christianity)#Baptists|elders]], as well as the [[Episcopal Baptist]]s that have an [[Episcopal polity|episcopal system]].{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}

[[Churches of Christ]], being strictly [[non-denominational]], are governed solely at the congregational level.