A Pilgrimage Of Faith, J.B. Toews, 1993

odel, used by Baptist and indepen- dent churches, emerged in England out of the struggle with the monarchial episcopacy of the Anglican state church. This model puts all power in the hands of the local church. Each congregation is self-governing, and claims local autonomy in all matters of faith, doctrine and administration. By definition, a local church recognizes no authority outside of itself, and each congregation is free to order itself as it chooses. The Congregational model stresses the gifts and the priesthood of all believers. In theory there is no clergy/laity distinction. Anabaptlst-Mennonite Polity The early Anabaptists accepted the teaching and examples of the New Testament church as normative. While consider- able freedom and flexibility was given to the working out of these new teachings, the focus of their polity was always the mutual interdependence and accountability of believers and churches. Seeing the church as the body of Christ (1 Con 12) was central A modified presbyterian form of governance emeiged as the polity of this movement. The primary church unit was the conference of churches. The conference served as the au- thority for all churches on matters of theology, common mis- sion, ordination of ministers and inter-church relations. The local church was autonomous on local church matters only. 218 HOW SHALL WE THEN BE LED? Bishops or Elders provided leadership within the confer- ence and in local churches. These roles were not rooted in the Catholic or Anglican tradition of succession, but in the pastoral letters (such as Titus 1:5). Senior ministers and lead- ers were chosen from within congregations, The priority of the conference led by bishops reflected a presbyterian polity. The local church was part of an organism larger than and prior to the local church. Anabaptist-Menno- nite polity modified the presbyterian element with strong con- gregational and lay involvement in both conference and local church decisions. The congregational process was employed for the selection, affirmation and function of the leadership. Mennonite governance structures have shifted somewhat in recent decades. Some Mennonite groups have moved from the bishop or elder system to a conference minister structure. Others have strengthened the bishop system. But all continue to practice a modified form of presbyterian polity: strong con- ference and centralized leadership together with congrega- tional involvement in church governance.* Mennonite Brethren Polity Mennonite Brethren church polity has historically reflected the modified presbyterian polity