Presbyterianism, Form of church government based on rule by elders, or presbyters. The presbyters who govern the church are grouped in a hierarchy of courts, the highest of which is the general assembly. They are elected by the members of the congregation for fixed terms, in a system intended to affirm the equality of all Christians. The term Presbyterianism also refers to a denomination, the Presbyterian Church. The modern Presbyterian churches trace their origins to the Calvinist churches of the British Isles; in continental Europe such congregations were known as Reformed churches. The Presbyterian Church is strongest in Scotland, where it was founded by John Knox in 1557, but it is also well established in England, Wales, and the U.S. See also Calvinism.
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