Well, primarily that means it is congregationally governed. There aren't bishops, a presbetery or any sort of outside governing body. It's church democracy. Often, congregationally governed churches do belong to a denomination or association, but the it doesn't really have much power over them. It's a voluntary association.

There are at least three denominations that often have names like, "First Neptune Congregational Church, or Smallville Congregational Church" or whatever. They're most likely to be affiliated with the United Church of Christ (UCC), which is typically more liberal than regular mainstream American Prostestantism, although the UCC still considers itself part of the mainline, it really isn't. They could also be part of the Conservative Christian Congregational Conference (CCCC), or the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches (NACCC).

At least a few flavors of Protestantism that are not part of a "Congregational" denomination or association are still congregationally governed. Baptist churches, for instance (of any flavor, not just the southerns, but the more mainline-to-liberal American Baptist Conference, as well). Seeing a sign like that outside though, I would wager the church near you is part of a congregational denomination or at least was at one time.

Personally, I think it's a plus. I don't think I'd do well in a hierarchically governed church. My own church is oddly enough affiliated with both the UCC and the CCCC, which is really hysterically funny if you understand the bents of either organization, and somehow fits us to a T.

happy belated vortex! and it sounds lke you guys had a great day, the Janes.

I didn't get on the boards all day yesterday!So odd. I missed you all. I'm sorry Aimee has to deal with an asshat - but so glad to seeing well handled.

Odd I seem to have become a major homebody. I am so excited that I only have a quick errand to run today.

newest thing in my life is that the county employees ( those that are interested) are participating in a fitness challenge. we set our own activity goals and get extra points for eating veggies, fruits and drinking water. I like it because it is all positive. I think I set my goal too low, but I am trying to work on consistency,rater than really big goals.

Huh. I guess I always assumed there was some central controlling Board of Directors for Baptist churches, or Presbyterian, or whatever. This does go a long way to explaining how my friend's Methodist church looks, walks, and quacks like a Baptist church without being Baptist, I guess.

My own church is oddly enough affiliated with both the UCC and the CCCC

so both liberal and conservative? From the WP article, congregationalists were also called independents, so there seems to be some inherent apparent contradictions.

thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes! now, pray for me (sacrifice a goat, dance naked, whatever) as I gird my loins to go to the DMV to renew my license.

I just skipped three hundred posts of what I presume to be Smallville S1 discussion (er?) to post this for Jilli:

The Endless as dolls

I have the official stuffed Death, Daniel, and Morpheus (oh, and Goldie). Still on the lookout for Delirium, but I doubt I'll ever find her.

The Endless as dolls

Delirium is perfect.

pray for me (sacrifice a goat, dance naked, whatever) as I gird my loins to go to the DMV to renew my license.

Vortex - when we met you didn't look 65+ or anywhere near... why do you have to renew in person?

In utterly random news, I am listening to the soundtrack to 1776, a musical I worked crew for umpteen years ago. My brain is in a happy place.

Huh. I guess I always assumed there was some central controlling Board of Directors for Baptist churches, or Presbyterian, or whatever. This does go a long way to explaining how my friend's Methodist church looks, walks, and quacks like a Baptist church without being Baptist, I guess.

Presbyterian and Methodist churches are not (typically, as far as I know) congregationally goverened. The Presbyterians have a Presbetery as a governing body, and the Methodists have Bishops.

There are plenty of non-denominational churches, and their governmental form can vary, but will sometimes be somewhat congregational (it sort of depends how the church got its start).

Churches that belong to a denomination or conference of some sort generally agree in principal with that body, and the association is often voluntary, so they remain affilated and will agree with denominational decisions, but they will also sometimes leave the denominations, or ignore them.

American Protestantism is very American.