Superintendent (ecclesiastical)
Encyclopedia
Superintendent is the head of an administrative division of a Protestant church
, largely historical but still in use in Germany.
after the Protestant Reformation. The office was similar to that of bishop
, but instead of being ordained
by the archbishop
, the superintendent was appointed by the Crown. This new model of ecclesiastical polity
was partly political, as the Roman Catholic
bishops before the Reformation held considerable political power and often used it against the king. Superintendents' loyalty was supposed to lie with the head of the new Church of Sweden
, the monarch. Some Lutheran
theologians
also considered the term less Catholic
and therefore preferable to 'bishop'.
In Sweden proper, the following dioceses have been governed by a superintendent:
The diocese of Lund
was equally administered by superintendents from 1537 to 1637, but was at that time part of Denmark
.
were created by similar provisions. Livonia
came under a superintendent in 1622 and a superintendent-general from 1678. Superintendents were also appointed to Ingria
in 1641 and to Saaremaa
in 1650; a superintendent was also appointed to Estonia
for a shorter period, probably 1622-1638, as well as to Riga
and Reval
.
introduced a Consistory
, led by a General Superintendent, for this German territory of Imperial immediacy.
In 1535 the Estates
of the Land of Hadeln introduced a consistory, led by a General Superintendent.
The Evangelical Lutheran State Church of Hanover used to maintain several consistories until 1922, each led by a General Superintendent.
In the Electorate of Brandenburg the title General Superintendent was used until 1632. In the years since 1817 during the constitutional reforms of the Evangelical Church in Prussia, including the then March of Brandenburg provincial subsection, the title General Superintendent was reintroduced in 1828, with each general superintendency supervising a number of deaneries. The title superintendent referred to the head of a deanery
.
In the Evangelical Church of Berlin-Brandenburg-Silesian Upper Lusatia
, a successor church body of the former, the term Superintendent refers to the head of a deanery
. The term General Superintendent refers to the each head of one of the three regions , each comprising several deaneries.
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
, largely historical but still in use in Germany.
Superintendents in Sweden
Superintendents were created in SwedenSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
after the Protestant Reformation. The office was similar to that of bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
, but instead of being ordained
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
by the archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
, the superintendent was appointed by the Crown. This new model of ecclesiastical polity
Ecclesiastical polity
Ecclesiastical polity is the operational and governance structure of a church or Christian denomination. It also denotes the ministerial structure of the church and the authority relationships between churches...
was partly political, as the Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
bishops before the Reformation held considerable political power and often used it against the king. Superintendents' loyalty was supposed to lie with the head of the new Church of Sweden
Church of Sweden
The Church of Sweden is the largest Christian church in Sweden. The church professes the Lutheran faith and is a member of the Porvoo Communion. With 6,589,769 baptized members, it is the largest Lutheran church in the world, although combined, there are more Lutherans in the member churches of...
, the monarch. Some Lutheran
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
theologians
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
also considered the term less Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
and therefore preferable to 'bishop'.
In Sweden proper, the following dioceses have been governed by a superintendent:
- Diocese of KalmarDiocese of KalmarThe Diocese of Kalmar was a division of the Church of Sweden between 1603 and 1915, when it was merged into the diocese of Växjö in order to allow the new diocese of Luleå to be formed. It was created as a subdivision to the diocese of Linköping, and was under the supervision of a superintendent...
(1603–1678, thereafter presided by a bishop till 1915, when merged with the diocese of Växjö. - Diocese of Göteborg (1620–1665, thereafter presided by a bishop)
- Diocese of Visby (1645–1772, thereafter presided by a bishop)
- Diocese of MariestadDiocese of MariestadThe Diocese of Mariestad was a division of the Church of Sweden between 1583-1646. The diocese was never an episcopal see, as it was under the supervision of a superintendent rather than a bishop. Mariestad cathedral is thus the only church building in Sweden to have gained the rank of cathedral...
(1583–1646, superintendent moved to Karlstad and Mariestad absorbed into the diocese of SkaraDiocese of SkaraThe Diocese of Skara is a diocese of the Church of Sweden , with its seat at Skara in Västergötland...
) - Diocese of KarlstadDiocese of Karlstad-External links:*...
(1647–1772, superintendent moved from Mariestad; presided by a bishop since 1772) - Diocese of Härnösand (1647–1772, thereafter presided by a bishop)
The diocese of Lund
Diocese of Lund
-External links:* from Nordisk Familjebok, in Swedish...
was equally administered by superintendents from 1537 to 1637, but was at that time part of Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
.
Superintendents in the Baltic States
The Church of Sweden's organisation in the Baltic provincesBaltic region
The terms Baltic region, Baltic Rim countries, and Baltic Rim refer to slightly different combinations of countries in the general area surrounding the Baltic Sea.- Etymology :...
were created by similar provisions. Livonia
Livonia
Livonia is a historic region along the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea. It was once the land of the Finnic Livonians inhabiting the principal ancient Livonian County Metsepole with its center at Turaida...
came under a superintendent in 1622 and a superintendent-general from 1678. Superintendents were also appointed to Ingria
Ingria
Ingria is a historical region in the eastern Baltic, now part of Russia, comprising the southern bank of the river Neva, between the Gulf of Finland, the Narva River, Lake Peipus in the west, and Lake Ladoga and the western bank of the Volkhov river in the east...
in 1641 and to Saaremaa
Saaremaa
Saaremaa is the largest island in Estonia, measuring 2,673 km². The main island of Saare County, it is located in the Baltic Sea, south of Hiiumaa island, and belongs to the West Estonian Archipelago...
in 1650; a superintendent was also appointed to Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
for a shorter period, probably 1622-1638, as well as to Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
and Reval
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
.
Superintendents in Germany
In 1652 the general government of Swedish Bremen-VerdenBremen-Verden
Bremen-Verden, formally the Duchies of Bremen and Verden , were two territories and immediate fiefs of the Holy Roman Empire, which emerged and gained Imperial immediacy in 1180...
introduced a Consistory
Consistory
-Antiquity:Originally, the Latin word consistorium meant simply 'sitting together', just as the Greek synedrion ....
, led by a General Superintendent, for this German territory of Imperial immediacy.
In 1535 the Estates
Estates of the realm
The Estates of the realm were the broad social orders of the hierarchically conceived society, recognized in the Middle Ages and Early Modern period in Christian Europe; they are sometimes distinguished as the three estates: the clergy, the nobility, and commoners, and are often referred to by...
of the Land of Hadeln introduced a consistory, led by a General Superintendent.
The Evangelical Lutheran State Church of Hanover used to maintain several consistories until 1922, each led by a General Superintendent.
In the Electorate of Brandenburg the title General Superintendent was used until 1632. In the years since 1817 during the constitutional reforms of the Evangelical Church in Prussia, including the then March of Brandenburg provincial subsection, the title General Superintendent was reintroduced in 1828, with each general superintendency supervising a number of deaneries. The title superintendent referred to the head of a deanery
Deanery
A Deanery is an ecclesiastical entity in both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England. A deanery is either the jurisdiction or residence of a Dean.- Catholic usage :...
.
In the Evangelical Church of Berlin-Brandenburg-Silesian Upper Lusatia
Evangelical Church of Berlin-Brandenburg-Silesian Upper Lusatia
The Evangelical Church Berlin-Brandenburg-Silesian Upper Lusatia is a Protestant church body in the German states of Brandenburg, Berlin and a part of Saxony. The seat of the church is in Berlin. It is the most important Protestant denomination in the area....
, a successor church body of the former, the term Superintendent refers to the head of a deanery
Deanery
A Deanery is an ecclesiastical entity in both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England. A deanery is either the jurisdiction or residence of a Dean.- Catholic usage :...
. The term General Superintendent refers to the each head of one of the three regions , each comprising several deaneries.
See also
- General Superintendent (Church of the Nazarene)General Superintendent (Church of the Nazarene)General Superintendent is the highest elected office within the Church of the Nazarene. General Superintendents are elected by the General Assembly of the denomination for a four year term to expire at the end of the next General Assembly....
- District Superintendent (United Methodist Church)District Superintendent (United Methodist Church)A District Superintendent, often abbreviated D.S., in the United Methodist Church is a clergyperson who serves in a supervisory position over a geographic District of churches providing spiritual and administrative leadership to those churches and their pastors...