Örtliche Gemeinde

Quelle: Entnommen 1:1 aus der Wikipedia - (Autoren) Eine örtliche Gemeinde ist eine christliche Organisation, die sich an einem bestimmten Ort versammelt. Viele sind formell organisiert mit Verordnungen und Satzungen, werden von Pfarrern oder Laienleitern geführt, und sind in Ländern, wo es erlaubt wird, auf einen gemeinnützigen Status ausgerichtet. Örtliche Gemeinden stehen in Beziehung oder sind verbunden mit Denominationen und verbinden sie mit einer besonderen Tradition innerhalb der christlichen Religion, da sie in einem weiten Sinn eine Geschichte, Kultur und lehrmässiges Ergbut mit anderen Gemeinde-Körperschaften derselben Tradition verkörpern.

Arten

Eine örtliche Gemeinde kann eine unabhängige freie Gemeinde sein, aber auch in Beziehung zu anderen Versammlungen einer Denomination oder Konvention stehen, wie die Gemeinden der Baptisten oder wie die deutsche oder schweizerische Landeskirchen. Sie kann sich mit anderen Gemeinden unter der Aufsicht eines Pfarramtes als presbyterianische Gemeinde vereinigen. Sie kann sich auch mit anderen Pfarreien unter der Aufsicht eines Bischofs, wie die Methodisten, Anglikaner, und Orthodoxen. Schliesslich kann die örtliche Gemeinde als unterste Subdivision in einer grossen globalen Hierarchie funktionieren, wie unter der Führung eines Priesters, so wie der Papst der Römisch-katholischen Kirche. Such association or unity is a church's ecclesiastical polity.

Description

Among congregational churches, since each local church is autonomous, there are no formal lines of responsibility to organizational levels of higher authority. Deacons of each church are elected by the congregation. In some Baptist congregations, for example, deacons function much like a board of directors or executive committee authorized to make important decisions, although these congregations typically retain the right to vote on major decisions such as purchasing or selling property, large spending and the hiring or firing of pastors and other paid ministers. In many such local churches, the role of deacons includes pastoral and nurturing responsibilities. Typically, congregational churches have informal worship styles, less structured services, and may tend toward modern music and celebrations.

Local churches united with others under the oversight of a bishop are normally called "parishes", by Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran communions. Each parish usually has one active parish church, though seldom and historically more than one. The parish church has always been fundamental to the life of every parish community, especially in rural areas. For example, in the Church of England, parish churches are the oldest churches to be found in England. A number are substantially of Anglo-Saxon date and all subsequent periods of architecture are represented in the country. Most parishes have churches that date back to the Middle Ages. Thus, such local churches tend to favor traditional, formal worship styles, liturgy, and classical music styles, although modern trends are common as well.

Local parishes of the Roman Catholic Church, like episcopal parishes, favor formal worship styles, and still more traditional structure in services. The importance of formal office is also a distinctive trait; thus a solemn mass may include the presence of officers of the Knights of Columbus as an escort for the regional bishop when he is present. Likewise, vestments are valued to inculcate the solemnity of the Holy Eucharist and are typically more elaborate than in other churches.

A local church may also be a mission, that is a smaller church under the sponsorship of a larger congregation, a bishop, or a greater church hierarchy. Often congregational churches prefer to call such local mission churches "church plants."

A local church may also work in association with parachurch organizations. While ParaChurch Organizations/Ministries are vital to accomplishing specific missions on behalf of the church they do not normally take the place of the local church. Ministries, Bible Studies and other such Parachurch partnerships may be seen as beneficial and as a great means of personal growth and effective ministry but without superseding (in priority and commitment) the local body of Christ.

Local church vs. denomination

The word denomination is sometimes used as a synonym of local church. Sometimes, however, denomination is used to mean the whole tradition to which the local church belongs. So, for example, some writers refer to the United Methodist Church as a denomination, while others refer to Methodism as a denomination. For this reason, many scholars in the disciplines of Theology and Religious Studies prefer to speak in the following manner: a religion is a broad movement, sharing a common world view and some doctrinal and philosophical positions, a tradition is a movement within a religion, a church body a physical manifestation of a tradition and a congregation a local gathering of believers who belong to the church body.

See also

Portal:Christianity – Übersicht zu Pluspedia-Inhalten für das Thema Christianity

• The Local Churches
• Ecclesia (church)
• Ecclesiastical polity
• Congregational church
• Parish
• Simple church
• Early centers of Christianity