How does a congregation leave?

The governing documents provide no path

• Catholic religious institutes

  Partial — some structures are not publicly documented

• Hillsong Church

  Partial — some structures are not publicly documented

• Roman Catholic Church — dioceses and parishes

  Partial — some structures are not publicly documented

• The Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans)

  Built from primary governing documents

• The Society of Jesus (Jesuits)

  Built from primary governing documents

• The United Methodist Church

  Built from primary governing documents

The congregation may simply vote to go

• Acts 29

  Partial — some structures are not publicly documented

• Anglican Church in North America

  Built from primary governing documents

• Presbyterian Church in America

  Partial — some structures are not publicly documented

• The Southern Baptist Convention

  Built from primary governing documents

Through a defined process, with conditions

• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

  Partial — some structures are not publicly documented

• Global Methodist Church

  Built from primary governing documents

Disputed in practice

• Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

  Partial — some structures are not publicly documented

• The Episcopal Church

  Built from primary governing documents

Not established

For these bodies the arrangement is not publicly documented. The gap is recorded on each profile with the reason.

• The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

  Built from primary governing documents