ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˈgāshən ə lˌizəm, -shnəˌli- noun
( -s )
1. : a system of church government in which the local congregation has full control and final authority over church matters within its own area
2. capitalized : the faith and government of those evangelical and trinitarian churches that recognize the congregation of each local church as independent of all dictation in church matters within its own area and that trace their formal beginning to England