Presbyterian is a little bit different than that. Each church has the Session, made up from church members (not clergy) that governs that church. Each church in turn is a member of a Presbetary, which governs a selection of churches, and those in turn are members of a synod.

At each of these levels it is run by lay people, not by clergy. The church membership calls a Pastor and make the decision who to hire. In many other denomination the preacher is assigned to that church by a higher body.

Anyway, basically Presbyterians are kinda congregationally run on a large scale.

Thanks a lot, JZ--how do you expect me to teach another class DED from the CUTE?

Congregational is the oldest denomination in the US. They're very tolerant and accepting.

Most are, yep. I was raised Congregational Protestant and love my church like I cannot even tell you. It was incredibly difficult for me to admit that I didn't believe in the Jesus story and therefore couldn't be Christian anymore. I loved that community and everything they stood for. Stupid principles making me leave a church I loved because I didn't believe in its faith.

I just got nostalgic and looked it up. They have a new web page: [link]

This is their mission statement:

Welcome! Following the life and teachings of Jesus, we are a church that strives to be a place of grace, welcoming all regardless of theological expression, age, race, gender, sexual identity, national origin or financial means. In our Church Constitution we recognize that “each member shall have the undisturbed right to follow the word of God according to the dictates of his or her own conscience, under the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit.” The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, established in 1665, cherishes this proud Pilgrim tradition. We would be honored by your presence among us, and we invite you to help us become what we endeavor to be.

Sigh. If you are interested in theology, check out the sermons by David Good in particular. I swear that man sounds like James Earl Jones and writes like...I don't even know what. Beautifully and with incredible depth.

Btw, Safari doesn't seem to like their page.

The Single Cutest Matilda Picture In The History Of EVAR

I'm swooned.

The Endless as dolls

Hee! Those are charming.

And oh! The Matilda picture! So, so darling!

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

Love!

Homiciiiiide! Homiciiiiide! We may see murder yeeeeeet!

I never went to church (outside of when I went with the grandparents) until mom joined the Unitarian church. I'm guessing mom and step-dad are still members. It's where we had my little brother's funeral, and they were married by the pastor there.

My father's Catholic, but I don't remember ever going to church with him-ever. Mom was raised Methodist or some such. Step-dad's family founded Christian Science, which is...odd to me.

I'm an atheist, so I mostly don't bother unless it's a family thing. I do kinda miss the people we knew from the UU church though.

Thanks for all the anniversary wishes! Party is tomorrow night. I'm trying for pictures.

I knew I was forgetting something! Beautiful little Matilda! Gorgeous smile!

Oh Matilda is joyful to behold! So cute!

Book talk went well. These girls want to read, man! Someone snatched up the Jackson book (yay), I talked to two girls about UCLA (they both want to go there), and there was a 13-year-old into reading classics. Their teacher was the sweetest thing that ever lived. This will become a regular thing (going into the classrooms and talking and handing out books). On the downside, I found out that the library isn't open for use to anyone. Something about needing all the security and not wanting the kids to take books and keep them. I want to do something about this...

Oh, Endless Dolls, adorable.

Matilda, even more so! Happy baby face = irresistible.

I am loving your tales of juvie, GC. It makes me both happy and sad that the girsl are slurping up literature so eagerly - the enthusiasm is great, but that the apparent lack of availability is disturbing.

In a recent Adventure in Genealogy we found the Napa church that we thought a great-uncle had founded (turned out he was the second pastor, but he was there for 14 years) and it's Lutheran, Missouri Synod. The hodgepdge of religions in my family never fails to amuse me.

And bless you for the work Gloomcookie.

I volunteered for the AVP (alternatives to violence program) at the local maximum security prison. That was the stuff of stories, I tell you what. And the experience showed me, in relatively short order how special someone needs to be to do that work and how I am not that special person.

The fellow I partnered with was so tender hearted about it that I saw him throwing up on the side of the highway one day after we finished. I could 'take it', but chose not to after a while.

Then I interned at an innercity middle school hoping to catch the kids before they ended up there. That too take a special person that is not I. So, with hand over my heart, I bow in gratitude in your general direction. Thank you for helping those I wish I was strong enough to help.

Each church in turn is a member of a Presbetary, which governs a selection of churches, and those in turn are members of a synod.

Yes, this is where it differs from a congregationally governed churches. The UCC has a yearly meeting called the general synod, but it does not govern any of the member congregations. It governs the denomination and the congregations are, by definition, free to thumb their noses at the denomination.

In a wholly congregationally governed church, there's no governing body outside the congregation itself. Every "body" that has a say in how the church runs is a committee internal to the church and those committee members are all elected by the congregation, and the congregation still has annual meetings off all members (and sometimes special congregational meetings) to vote not only on the committee members, but on the budget, raises for the staff, etc. The committees handle the day to day stuff (which Sunday School curriculum will we use; which charities are we donating to; building maintenance; how to spend what the church has budgeted; etc., etc., etc., etc.).

We also call our pastors and have to vote on their hiring.