The Government and Unity of the Church

Reformed Thinking · Sep 10, 2025 · 1h 2m · transcript

Deep Dive into Christian Theology by Millard J. Erickson - The Government and Unity of the ChurchChurch governance generally falls into four basic forms: episcopal, presbyterian, congregational, and nongovernmental, ranging from highly structured to minimally organized.The episcopal system places authority primarily in the office of the bishop, who governs groups of churches and ordains ministers. This hierarchical structure, from the Methodist Church to the highly complex Roman Catholic Church with the Pope's supreme authority, often emphasizes apostolic succession.In contrast, presbyterian…