What does Congregational mean?
“Congregational” means that we believe the Holy Spirit is given to each of us to inspire in us talents and gifts for service to God. We each have unique talents and gifts, with none of those talents or gifts being more important than the other. It is only when we come together as a congregation, sharing these talents and gifts, that the church exists in all it’s fullness. Because we are each so inspired, the church’s full and final authority is the congregation meeting and making decisions together, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
It simply means that our church is governed by the congregation. There is no outside authority (such as a bishop or presbytery or diocese) to direct our beliefs or actions. The members of the church make all the major decisions in the life of the congregation, from calling the pastors to approving the church budget each year to setting policies for the church. These decisions are made by voting at our annual meeting each year in January, or at special congregational meetings, or through the work of boards and committees. Congregational churches have their modern origins in England and Holland, and began to thrive in New England and beyond in the days of the Pilgrims and Puritans. That s why you will find that the oldest churches in our country are Congregational.
