Editing Congregational polity (section)

=== Churches of Christ ===
{{see also|Sponsoring church (Churches of Christ)}}
Ecclesiastical government is congregational rather than denominational. [[Churches of Christ]] purposefully have no central headquarters, councils, or other organizational structure above the local church level.{{efn|According to ''The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement'':
{{blockquote|Churches of Christ from the beginning have maintained no formal organization structures larger than the local congregations and no official journals or vehicles declaring sanctioned positions. Consensus views do, however, often emerge through the influence of opinion leaders who express themselves in journals, at lectureships, or at area preacher meetings and other gatherings.{{sfn|Foster|Blowers|Dunnavant|Williams|2004a|p=213}}}}}}{{sfnm |1a1=Foster |1a2=Blowers |1a3=Dunnavant |1a4=Williams |1y=2004a |1p=213 |2a1=Hughes |2y=2005 |2p=214 |3a1=Magida |3a2=Matlins |3y=1999 |3p=103 |4a1=Rhodes |4y=2005 |4p=124}} Rather, the independent congregations are a network with each congregation participating at its own discretion in various means of service and fellowship with other congregations.{{efn|[[Everett Ferguson]] wrote, "Churches of Christ adhere to a strict congregationalism that cooperates in various projects overseen by one congregation or organized as parachurch enterprises, but many congregations hold themselves apart from such cooperative projects."{{sfn|Ferguson|2004|p=206}}}}{{sfnm |1a1=Ferguson |1y=2004 |1p=206 |2a1=Rhodes |2y=2005 |2p=124 |3a1=Garrett |3y=2002 |3p=449}}<ref name="Who Are the churches of Christ">{{cite web |last=Baxter |first=Batsell Barrett |author-link=Batsell Barrett Baxter |title=Who Are the Churches of Christ and What Do They Believe in? |url=http://woodsonchapel.com/coc.cfm |location=Nashville, Tennessee |publisher=Woodson Chapel Church of Christ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060616071601/http://woodsonchapel.com/coc.cfm |archive-date=16 June 2006 |access-date=22 June 2018}}</ref> Churches of Christ are linked by their shared commitment to restoration principles.<ref name="Who Are the churches of Christ"/>{{sfn|Magida|Matlins|1999|p=106}}

Congregations are generally overseen by a [[plurality (church governance)|plurality]] of [[elder (religious)|elder]]s (also known in some congregations as shepherds, bishops, or pastors) who are sometimes assisted in the administration of various works by [[deacon]]s.<ref name="Who Are the churches of Christ"/>{{sfnm |1a1=Howard |1y=1971 |1pp=47, 54–55 |2a1=Rhodes |2y=2005 |2p=124}} Elders are generally seen as responsible for the spiritual welfare of the congregation, while deacons are seen as responsible for the non-spiritual needs of the church.{{sfn|Foster|Blowers|Dunnavant|Williams|2004b|p=531}} Deacons serve under the supervision of the elders, and are often assigned to direct specific ministries.{{sfn|Foster|Blowers|Dunnavant|Williams|2004b|p=531}} Successful service as a deacon is often seen as preparation for the eldership.{{sfn|Foster|Blowers|Dunnavant|Williams|2004b|p=531}} Elders and deacons are chosen by the congregation based on the qualifications found in Timothy 3 and Titus 1.{{sfnm |1a1=Ferguson |1y=1975 |2a1=Ferguson |2y=1996 |2pp=323, 335 |3a1=Howard |3y=1971 |3pp=48–53}} Congregations look for elders who have a mature enough understanding of scripture to enable them to supervise the minister and to teach, as well as to perform governance functions.{{sfn|Morgan|2004|p=298}} In lieu of willing men who meet these qualifications, congregations are sometimes overseen by an unelected committee of the congregation's men.{{sfn|Foster|Blowers|Dunnavant|Williams|2004b|p=531}}

While the early [[Restoration Movement]] had a tradition of itinerant [[preacher]]s rather than "located Preachers", during the 20th century a long-term, formally trained congregational [[Minister (Christianity)|minister]] became the norm among Churches of Christ.{{sfn|Foster|Blowers|Dunnavant|Williams|2004b|p=532}} Ministers are understood to serve under the oversight of the elders.{{sfn|Morgan|2004|p=298}} While the presence of a long-term professional minister has sometimes created "significant ''de facto'' ministerial authority" and led to conflict between the minister and the elders, the eldership has remained the "ultimate locus of authority in the congregation".{{sfn|Foster|Blowers|Dunnavant|Williams|2004b|p=531}}  There is a small group within the Churches of Christ which oppose a single preacher and, instead, rotate preaching duties among qualified elders (this group tends to overlap with groups which oppose Sunday School and also have only one cup to serve the Lord's Supper).

Churches of Christ hold to the [[priesthood of all believers]].{{sfn|Roberts|1979|pp=53–56}} No special titles are used for preachers or ministers that would identify them as [[clergy]].{{sfnm |1a1=Magida |1a2=Matlins |1y=1999 |1p=106 |2a1=Wharton |2y=1997 |2pp=112–113}} Churches of Christ emphasize that there is no distinction between "clergy" and "[[laity]]" and that every member has a gift and a role to play in accomplishing the work of the church.{{sfn|Sweet|2003|pp=38–40}}