Presbyterianism
/ˌprezbɪˈtɪərɪənɪzəm/noun
mass noun
- a form of Protestant Church government in which the Church is administered locally by the minister with a group of elected elders of equal rank, and regionally and nationally by representative courts of ministers and elders长老制（一种新教教会管理形式, 教会由本地牧师会同选举产生的同级别长老团管理, 地区及全国性教会则由选举产生的牧师及长老组织起来管理）。
Presbyterianism was first introduced in Geneva in 1541 under John Calvin, in the belief that it best represented the pattern of the early church. There are now many Presbyterian Churches (often called Reformed Churches) worldwide, notably in the Netherlands and Scotland and in countries with which they have historic links (including the United States and Northern Ireland). They typically subscribe (more or less strictly) to the Westminster Confession.