): When I say "Congregationalist" I think of a congregation that is governed by the membership, through something like quarterly business meetings (& ALL of the members, not just the men). But people in our congregation say it has a "Congregationalist" governance style because there is no entity above it, telling it what to do. I grew up in the MB, and there was a LOT of 'governance' above the congregation. Next up was not so much governance, but someone who had experience in the leadership of a local MB congregation might know something about it that I don't, because I moved away w/o every having taken any leadership role of any kind, except for being sent out as a missionary, and supported by the congregation. Anyway, the next level of organization is the Region (3 congregations in Oklahoma & Arkansas), then the District (Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Colorado). Then there was the US General Conference, and in those days, the US and Canada formed the North American Conf. (They have since gone their separate ways, as I understand.)
Anyway - to the point. (Finally!) The conservatives seem to be saying that that is Top Down, and to some extent it is, but it isn't the sort of top-down micro management that is typical of the conservative congregations with which I am acquainted. It is just that the 'Top' is the bishop and the other ministers (and woe unto they which attempt to tell them what to do <archaic language chosen on purpose>). I don't think that fits with what people keep telling me is the meaning of this German word. I figure I must be missing something, but I still haven't put my finger on it.
