a system of Christian doctrines and ecclesiastical government in which each congregation is self-governing and maintains bonds of faith with other similar local congregations
Derived forms
Congregationalist (ˌCongreˈgationalist)
adjective, noun
congregationalism in American English
(ˌkɑŋgrəˈgeɪʃənəlˌɪzəm; ˌkɑngrəˈgeɪʃənəlˌɪzəm)
noun
1.
a form of church organization in which each local congregation is self-governing
2. [C-]
the beliefs and practices of a Protestant denomination in which each member church is self-governing: prominent in early New England and later marked by union with other Protestant denominations