church authority
Clerical governing right
Church authority is the power to govern religious matters, interpret doctrine, and direct believers within a Christian denomination.
Different traditions locate this authority differently: in the Pope for Catholics, in councils or synods for Orthodox and some Protestants, in scripture alone for evangelicals.
The pastor spoke with church authority on matters of faith and practice.
Disputes over church authority have driven major schisms throughout Christian history.
- archbishopSenior prelate over province
- canon lawReligious institutional regulations
- ordinationClergy appointment ceremony
- catechismReligious teaching guide
- divine rightGod-granted ruling authority
pope · cardinal · dogma · primacy · theology · patriarch · synod · investiture · encyclical · exegesis · orthodoxy · deacon · sacraments · priest · pastoral care · religious order · Vatican · obedience
- CatholicismVatican, cardinals, pope, Holy Communion, popes
- Christian doctrinesalvation by faith, trinity, Trinity, Holy Trinity, creeds
- early churchapostles, apostolic fathers, Acts of the Apostles, Council of Nicaea, Paul
- divine ruletheocracy, divine right, divine mandate, hierocracy, reign
- Christian debates
- church governancediocese, episcopacy, polity, parish councils, archdiocese
church authoritycivil authority
Non-religious governmental power
state power · state authority · secular power · government authority · political authority
church authoritypopular sovereignty
Populace holds ultimate authority
consent of the governed · constitutional authority · social contract · secular humanism
church authorityindividual conscience
One's private moral judgment
personal faith · freedom of conscience · religious liberty · personal revelation · folk religion