Denominations…
Congregations may be denominational or non-denominational.
“Non-denominational” congregations are autonomous, independent, isolated and separate – with no formal relationship with any other congregation and with no accountability beyond itself (and perhaps directly to God).
“Denominational” congregations have bonded together with others, usually for reasons similar to why Christians bonded together with others in congregations. These congregations work and serve together, provide mutual accountability and support, etc.
Christians:congregations as congregations:denominations.
Denominations are a corpus of congregations that have joined together. Some are “episcopal” in nature meaning they are “top down.” These have a strong “chain of command,” often the local congregation is legally owned by the denomination, and often ministers are placed into congregations by the denomination (albeit nearly always with input by the congregation). Some are “congregational” in nature, “bottom up”, meaning each member congregation is somewhat independent, owning their own facilities and calling their own ministers (although usually from an approved list and with denominational assistance). Many denominations are a combination of both.
Usually denominations have a common “Confession” (statements of doctrines and beliefs), a common name and a common governance and polity. In some, this is well developed and regarded as binding, in some it’s pretty loose with a lot of “room” for the local congregation to apply such as they wish.
There are no examples of denominations in the New Testament. While some historians argue there were none until the 4th century, we do see at least some elementary aspects of cooperation in the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15) and the collection for the saints (both showing associating and cooperating). For the first 300 years, Christianity was mostly an illegal, underground religion – more a movement than anything – often on the run and meeting informally and occasionally even secretly in “house churches” as the illegal status required. This changed when Christianity was made legal; almost immediately a denomination was formed.
Today, there are literally thousands of denominations, although about 90% of Christians are in 8 or so groupings of such. The fact that there are billions of Christian people, millions of congregations and thousands of denominations has no relevance to the fact that there is ONE, holy, catholic, communion of saints. Irrespective of our institutions, WE are ONE by virtue of our one Lord Jesus, our one faith in Christ, our one baptism (Ephesians 4:5-6, Romans 12:5, Ephesians 4:25, 1 Corinthians 10:17 and 12:12-26).
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