Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism Major form of Protestant Christianity that became the national Church of Scotland in 1690. It arose in the mid-16th century from the teachings of John Calvin in Switzerland, and was taken to Britain by the Scottish religious reformer John Knox. Ministers, occasionally called pastors, are elected by their congregations and confirmed in their office by the Presbytery, a group of ministers from the local area. Members of the Presbytery are responsible for ordaining and installing (and removing) Church ministers. Once ordained, the minister carries out his work assisted by elders and trustees. Each presbytery sends delegates to a annual synod and to a General Assembly. In 1972, the Presbyterian Church of England (formed 1876) united with the Congregational Church of England and Wales. There are Presbyterian Churches all over the world, particularly in North America, where the Presbyterian Church (USA) was formed in 1983 through the merger of several older groups.
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Presbyterianism
