Middle judicatory

A middle judicatory is an administrative structure or organization found in religious denominations between the local congregation and the widest or highest national or international level.[1] While the term originated in Presbyterianism—with its layers of church courts rising from local session to presbytery to general assembly[2]—the term has been widely adopted by other Christian communions, including Anglicanism,[3] Lutheranism,[4] Methodism,[5] Roman Catholicism[6] and even some congregationalist churches,[7] among others.

Depending on the tradition, a judicatory may be called a classis, conference, diocese, district, eparchy, ordinariate, presbytery, synod or another term.[1] Middle judicatories may also be layered, with dioceses being grouped into provinces, districts being grouped into annual conferences or presbyteries being grouped into synods.[8] The typical funding model for middle judicatories is by apportionments or tithes paid from individual member congregations that have achieved a minimal level of financial stability.[9] Despite being organized into conventions and associations, in the Baptist tradition the local congregation is the primary church unit, so not all Baptist conventions are considered middle judicatories.[10]

  1. ^ a b Richey, Russell E. (2010). "Denominationalism". In Lippy, Charles H.; Williams, Peter W. (eds.). Encyclopedia of religion in America, volume 1. Washington, D.C.: CQ Press. pp. 547–548. Retrieved 27 August 2024. Such campaigns disclose yet a third internal system, congregations and regional or middle judicatories. The latter, variously termed association, presbytery, conference, diocese, region, or synod, functions administratively between congregations and the national or international structures and authority. At this level, church officials decide to ordain, hire, and dismiss clergy; conduct problem solving; mount educational, training, and outreach programs; and negotiate denominational style, ethos, and identity. Bishops, presidents, clerks, district superintendents, and their staffs interact with pastors and congregations in quite complex ways, behaving in effect like congregations' regional service centers. This level deals with charges of clerical misconduct either through denominational judicial procedures or through civil or criminal proceedings, or through both. Findings can sometimes be appealed to other levels, but much denominational judicial, disciplinary, and personnel activity focuses on the regional judicatory.
  2. ^ Reifsnyder, Richard W. (1992). "Managing the mission". In Coalter, Milton J.; Mulder, John M.; Weeks, Louis B. (eds.). The organizational revolution: Presbyterians and American denominationalism. Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox. p. 69. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  3. ^ Hall, Peter Dobkin (2001). "Historical perspectives on religion, government and social welfare in America". In Walsh, Andrew (ed.). Can charitable choice work? Covering religions's impact on urban affairs and social services. Hartford, Connecticut: Pew Program on Religion and Public Media. p. 94. ISBN 1931767025.
  4. ^ Crabtree, J. Russell (2016). The State of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Magi Press. p. 11.
  5. ^ Willimon, William H. (2012). Bishop: the art of questioning authority by an authority in question. Nashville, Tennessee: Abingdon Press. p. 96. ISBN 9781426742293. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  6. ^ Zajac, Frances Barsodi (March 9, 2017). "Catholics and Lutherans join to commemorate the Reformation". Herald-Standard. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  7. ^ Child, Virginia Helman (1999). "Education for faith and spiritual formation among middle-judicatory volunteers in the Connecticut Conference United Church of Christ" (doctoral dissertation). Hartford Seminary. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  8. ^ Vallet, Ronald E. (1995). The mainline church's funding crisis: issues and possibilities. Grand Rapids, Michigan: W. B. Eerdmans. p. 144. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  9. ^ Lummis, Adair T. "Connections and Unity Among and Between Congregations, Middle (Regional) Judicatories and Their National Church". Hartford Institute for Religious Research. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  10. ^ Igleheart, Glenn A. (1980). "Ecumenical concerns among Southern Baptists". In Boney, William Jerry; Igleheart, Glenn A. (eds.). Baptists and ecumenism. Valley Force, Pennsylvania: Judson Press. p. 57. ISBN 0817008934. Retrieved 27 August 2024.