A: The word "polity" comes from the Greek language, means “city”, and refers to the form of government used in a city or nation. For churches, polity refers to the way a church is organized and governed. Most Christian denominations fall into one of four types of polity. Congregational polity means governance by every member of a local, autonomous, independent congregation. Presbyterial polity depends upon governing by elected representatives of clergy and lay people. Episcopal polity governs by bishops, either chosen or elected. But Anglican polity is a combination of presbyterial and episcopal traditions, where bishops share power with clergy and laity under a constitution.

Very few people in The Episcopal Church have total power to make unilateral decisions; on the other hand, not everyone has equal authority to make communal decisions. Ideally, those who have authority will listen carefully, reflect, study and pray about every side of an issue before a decision is made. And after a decision has been made, they will openly communicate how they arrived at their decision. Of course, not everyone will agree, but it is always hoped that everyone will understand and that while not everyone will able to totally support a decision, it is hoped that everyone can live with it.

The Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church is the document which contains the polity of The Episcopal Church in the United States. First drawn up in 1789, it has been revised by General Convention over the centuries as change and understanding have necessitated. Each diocese also has a constitution and canons, which serve as an outline drafted to govern local church life. Canon Law does not dominate the existence of The Episcopal Church, and our church can be seen as loose, rather than strict in interpreting our canons. Our common life as a church may seem complicated, but we have, over time, tried to balance the tensions always evident in church life between change and continuity, diversity and unity.

Source: Archivist and Historian Mary Klein

WHERE AUTHORITY COMES FROM (based on a training from the Vital Congregations Committee in the Diocese of Michigan)
In the Episcopal Church we believe that authority is given to us through baptism. We all have equal and mutual authority through our baptism:

* The Holy Spirit is active in everyone’s life, gives us each unique and incomplete gifts, and unites us in a larger whole (I Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4). Every person’s gift is important to the Body of Christ. We are each more significant because we are part of Christ’s Body.
* All baptized persons have a ministry (Baptismal Covenant; TEC Title III, Canon 1).
* This is true for everyone: communicants, vestry members, deacons, priests, and bishops.

THE "FLOW" OF BAPTISMAL AUTHORITY: LOCAL CONGREGATION

The process of sharing Baptismal authority begins with the “communicants” in the parish. At the parish annual meeting, the “adult communicants in good standing" vote to elect new members of the vestry, thereby investing some of their baptismal authority in the vestry. This means that a person who is over 16, has their baptism recorded, has received Holy Communion at least three times in the congregation, is faithful in worship, and who works, prays and gives for the spread of God’s Kingdom is a member.

When a communicant votes in the annual meeting of her parish, she invests SOME of her baptismal authority in the Vestry. The vestry members receive that authority as responsibility to make decisions on behalf of the parish. A vestry’s election of wardens and appointment of a rector are further examples of investing SOME of one’s baptismal authority in others.

THE "FLOW" OF BAPTISMAL AUTHORITY: DIOCESE

The congregation also invests baptismal authority in the three delegates it sends to the annual Diocesan Convention. Delegates have seat, voice, and vote and are charged with
* Electing a bishop (when required);
* Passing the diocesan budget;

* Electing leaders of the diocese (Standing Committee, Diocesan Council, Trustees, etc.), who in turn receive the baptismal authority as responsibility to make their particular decisions on behalf of the diocese;
* Setting policy and canon law for the diocese; and

* Every three years, electing the Diocese of Utah deputies to General Convention.

THE "FLOW" OF BAPTISMAL AUTHORITY: THE WIDER CHURCH

When the Diocesan Bishop(s) and the Deputies attend the General Convention, they take with them the baptismal authority invested in them to make decisions for the Episcopal Church on behalf of the Diocese that sent them. They in turn elect the President of the House of Deputies (from among the deputies) and the Presiding Bishop (from among the bishops).

SHARED AUTHORITY

When we invest our baptismal authority in others through election, we “surrender” our authority to them, which they then receive as “responsibility” to exercise that authority on our behalf for the good of the whole Body (similar to a representative democracy). The method of sharing is expressed in a variety of rules and structures, all of which are incomplete and imperfect representations of the Body of Christ which we need to live into:

* National Constitution and Canons * State corporate laws
* Diocesan Constitution and Canons * Church Bylaws

On every level of our Church, authority is shared between lay people and ordained people. * Parish Level – Annual Parish Meeting ------> Vestry, Wardens, and Clergy share authority

* Diocesan Level – Bishop and Standing Committee, Diocesan Convention (voting in bicameral houses: clergy and lay), Diocesan Council, other Diocesan committees
* National Level – General Convention (voting in bicameral houses: bishops and deputies), Presiding Bishop, commissions and committees

Through our Baptismal Covenant, both lay and ordained are fully responsible for the mission and operations of the Body. A body does not function and has no power (see, e.g., Matthew 18:18-20) unless the parts work together. Every part takes on significant responsibility for leading some parts of this ministry and collaborating with the other parts.

Baptismal authority belongs to all of us and is best used in a church community working together and supporting one another. If we are not generous and loving in every direction of this flow of authority, we will not thrive. Jesus proclaims the Great Commandment as the primary rule in God’s Kingdom (Luke 10:27). We need always to keep that overall objective in mind.

Author: The Reverend Ashley Wright