Form of church government based on rule by elders, or presbyters.
The presbyters who govern the church are grouped in a hierarchy of courts, the highest of which is the general assembly. They are elected by the members of the congregation for fixed terms, in a system intended to affirm the equality of all Christians. The term Presbyterianism also refers to a denomination, the Presbyterian Church. The modern Presbyterian churches trace their origins to the Calvinist churches of the British Isles; in continental Europe such congregations were known as John Knox in 1557, but it is also well established in England, Wales, and the U.S. See also {{link=Calvinism">Calvinism .