congregationalism

[ kong-gri-gey-shuh-nl-iz-uhm ]

noun

1. a form of Protestant church government in which each local religious society is independent and self-governing.
2. (initial capital letter) the system of government and doctrine of Congregational churches.

Congregationalism

/ ˌkɒŋɡrɪˈɡeɪʃənəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. a system of Christian doctrines and ecclesiastical government in which each congregation is self-governing and maintains bonds of faith with other similar local congregations

Derived Forms

• ˌCongreˈgationalist, adjectivenoun

Other Words From

• congre·gation·al·ist noun adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of congregationalism¹

First recorded in 1640–50; congregational + -ism

Example Sentences

The established religion was a combination of Congregationalism and Presbyterianism called the Saybrook Platform, named for the town of Saybrook where, acting on an order from the legislature in 1708, the colony's Congregationalists and Presbyterians held a synod to form one church system for the colony.

From Salon

When the state of Connecticut finally disestablished Congregationalism in 1818, the evangelical pastor and reformer Lyman Beecher was thrown into depression: “It was as dark a day as ever I saw . . . The injury done to the cause of Christ, as we then supposed, was irreparable.”

From Washington Post

When Bunny was 11, her father got a Fulbright Scholarship and temporarily moved the family to Ghana, where her parents converted to Quakerism from Congregationalism.

From New York Times

The century’s most famous Catholic convert, a journalist named Orestes Brownson, tried Congregationalism, Presbyterianism, Universalism, Unitarianism, and Transcendentalism on his way to Catholicism.

From Slate

Stoll documents the role of Calvinism, Congregationalism, and Presbyterianism in the creation of our national parks, forestry, and conservation efforts.

From Salon