Presbyterianism

System of Christian Protestant church government, expounded during the Reformation by John Calvin in Geneva, Switzerland, which gives its name to the established Church of Scotland, and is also practised in England, Wales, Ireland, Switzerland, North America, and elsewhere. There is no compulsory form of worship and each congregation is governed by presbyters or elders (clerical or lay), who are of equal rank.

Congregations are grouped in presbyteries, synods, and general assemblies.

Presbyterianism came to the American colonies in the 17th century with Scottish and northern Irish immigrants. The main body is the Presbyterian Church in America, with more than 3 million members. Other groups include the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, the Bible Presbyterian Church, and the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. In Canada, most Presbyterians united with Congregationalists and Methodists in 1925 to form the United Church of Canada.