Editing Congregational polity (section)

=== Congregational churches ===
{{see also|Congregationalism}}
Congregationalism is a [[Protestantism|Protestant]] tradition with roots in the [[Puritans|Puritan]] and [[Independent (religion)|Independent]] movements. In congregational government, the covenanted congregation exists prior to its officers,<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://quintapress.webmate.me/PDF_Books/John_Cotton/The_Cambridge_Platform_v1.pdf |title=The Cambridge Platform |date=1652 |publication-place=London |at=VI.1. |orig-date=1649}}</ref> and as such the members are equipped to call and dismiss their ministers without oversight from any higher ecclesiastical body. Their churches ordinarily have at least one pastor, but may also install ruling elders.

Statements of polity in the congregational tradition called "platforms". These include the [[Savoy Declaration|Savoy Confession]]'s platform, the [[Cambridge Platform]], and the [[Saybrook Platform]]. Denominations in the congregational tradition include the [[United Church of Christ|UCC]], [[National Association of Congregational Christian Churches|NACCC]], [[Conservative Congregational Christian Conference|CCCC]], and [[Evangelical Fellowship of Congregational Churches|EFCC]]. Denominations in the tradition support but do not govern their constituent members.