Church Structure (Non-Episcopal)

The non-episcopal (or ruled at the local church by a group elected at a local level and often called elders) churches are the Methodist and Baptist churches, the Salvation Army, the Quakers, The United Reform church and many smaller churches. There are over 10,000 non-episcopal denominations mainly in Western Europe and North America though the non-episcopal church is growing very rapidly in South East Asia.

Churches with an Ordained Ministry

These are always Protestant. Let us look at one of the them. The United Reformed Church, which was formed as a union of the Presbyterian and most of the Congregationalist churches, ordains ministers, but has no special rank of bishop. Its ministers are primarily preachers and elders (presbyters) of the congregation, and have no special powers not possessed by the laity. In this church the eucharist is seen as merely symbolic of the presence of Christ and so does not need a special consecration by a priest.

The congregation of each parish appoints its own minister from among the ranks of the ordained. The government of the whole church is performed by a regular gathering headed by a chief moderator, a senior minister.

The Methodist church ordains ministers, but does not generally have bishops. A Methodist minister is ordained because it is felt that a church needs to select its ministers carefully, but the minister is not thought to have special powers as a priest in episcopal churches is thought to have. He or she is a leader of the congregation who preaches, teaches, counsels and generally serves the congregation. The government of the Methodist Church is done by a general council, but Methodists make no claims that their way of running the Church is the only way. Like the United Reformed Church the Methodists see the eucharist as symbolic of the presence of Christ and not as the body and blood of Christ.

Churches without an Ordained Ministry

Some churches do not have an ordained ministry as such. These are independent churches of Protestant persuasion including the Congregationalist churches, Pentecostalists and many of the Baptists. They were known in the sixteenth century as Independents, Non-Conformists or Dissenters. Such churches value the independence of each congregation very highly, they appoint their own ministers and run their own affairs. Any group may form their own congregation and unless there is some serious objection about their belief or conduct they will be recognised by their fellow independent churches. Groups have been known to form around a particular pastor or preacher. If a local congregation wants to call any one of its members to be its minister then it may do so. He or she will then be confirmed in the post at a special ceremony at the church. Generally, though, ministers are selected from those who have undergone ministerial training. This training will be acquired at training colleges collectively funded by the churches. Ministers in these churches are seen as preachers and do not see themselves as possessing any powers that the laity do not.

By the very nature of their independence there has arisen a great variety of such independent churches. Generally, though, like-minded churches will form associations to give each other mutual support. They will share a ministry and will combine in matters of ministerial training, mission work and charity and so on.