84 CHURCH The, forms of government, Sylvester Hassell The so-called Christian churches, both Catholics and Protestants, are governed by three principal, or general forms of church government, viz;
Bishops; [Episcopal]—The Catholic, Episcopal, Greek Church, and Methodists are governed by Bishops. Presbyteries, Synods, or General Assemblies—The Presbyterians hold to this form of government; while the Lutherans are governed by a combination of the Presbyterian and the Episcopal form.
Congregational—Congregationalist, Baptist , and many other sects hold to this form. They maintain that each congregation or society of Christians is, and should be, independent of all others in its ecclesiastical power, and should be bound to each other only by the cords of love and fellowship.” (R.H. Pittman)