ˈbrau̇ˌnizəm noun
( -s )
Usage: usually capitalized
Etymology: Robert Browne died 1633 English clergyman + English -ism
: the views or teachings of Robert Browne who first formulated the principles of Congregationalism and taught that the church is a body of professed believers in Christ united to him and to one another by a covenant, independent of the state, and self-governing by congregations that elect only those officers mentioned in the New Testament