Abrigalasts: Difference between revisions

The default theological foundations of Abrigalast churches are {{wp|Trinitarianism|Trinitarian}} and {{wp|Council of Chalcedon|Chalcedonian}}.  

Kiravian writers typically classify the Abrigalasts as a {{wp|Proto-Protestantism|proto-Protestant}} or "para-Protestant" movement, rather than Protestants proper, whereas [[Catholic Levantia|Catholic Levantine]] writers typically describe them as {{wp|Spiritual Christianity|"folk Protestants"}}. Over time, many congregations (especially smaller ones outside of the large, established settlement areas) have either drifted toward more conventional Protestant views or formally adopted Protestant creeds, particularly those of a Calvinistic orientation.

In general, Abrigalasts conserve most sacraments of the Catholic Church, albeit without a sacerdotal understanding and with radically different implementation. {{wp|Infant baptism|Baptism of infants}} is universally practised; in the Serikordan Purchases it is a congregational affair performed by the pastor of the week, while in Suderavia it is generally performed by fathers or midwives shortly after birth. Confirmation has special significance, as confirmed believers become eligible for sortition. Reconciliation is a public affair, and confession of sins is made regularly to the assembled congregation in a revival of early Christian practice.

There are two leadership offices in Abrigalast churches: Pastors and Bishops. Both pastors and bishops are chosen periodically by sortition from among the church's membership. Pastors are usually sortitioned^{[is this a word?]} on a weekly basis and bishops on a monthly basis. Some churches allow women to be selected as pastors and fewer as bishops, but most do not. In all sub-denominations, the pastor's primary (and sometimes only) role is to supervise and officiate over the casting of lots. In congregations that handle money, the pastor is typically responsible for taking up collection and taking care of the proceeds. In many churches, the pastor also has some role in leading or organising prayer services in the fashion of a {{wp|lay preacher}}, and in more liturgically-oriented churches the pastor's role may superficially resemble that of a Catholic priest. A bishop's primary responsibility is to supervise the sortition of pastors, though in more structured congregations they take on administrative duties and act as procedural facilitators in business meetings. In "Abiding churches" (those that fully comply with civil authority but abstain from politics), pastors and bishops serve as officers of their congregation's {{wp|Registered association (Finland)|registered association}} for civil purposes and sign documents and cheques on behalf of the congregation.  

Traditionally, pastors select lectors, doorkeepers, ushers, etc. from among the confirmed members of their flock by sortition, though smaller and more minimalist groups dispense with this.

*'''Integrism vs. Secularism''' - Integrist congregations believe that the congregation should be a cohesive economic and social unit as well as a religious one, and that decisions on temporal matters should be agreed to or cast upon at church meetings. Secular congregations believe that economic and social matters should be handled at separate "business meetings" or left to individual families to work out organically. All integrist congregations engage in or aspire to some form of communal or coöperative living. Secular congregations can also engage in communal/coöperative living, though some (called "homesteader churches") have abandoned collective economics entirely.

Currents related to civil authority:

*'''Abiding churches''' - Congregations whose members abstain from [[Voting around the world|voting]], political activity, and military service, but otherwise abide by civil laws where they live, register with the authorities, and pay taxes.

*'''Removing churches''' - Congregations who take active measures to minimise their contact with political society, often by settling in remote and lightly-governed areas, but still abide by the civil authority when strictly necessary, if only to the most limited extent practicable. Removing Abrigalasts opt out of government programmes such as {{wp|social insurance}} wherever possible and avail themselves of religious exemptions to public mandates where available.

*'''Defiant churches''' - Congregations who reject the legitimacy of civil authority on principle. Abrigalasts of this current may refuse civil registration or engage in {{wp|tax resistance}} In extreme cases, Defiant Abrigalasts refuse to handle money or use public roads.

Abrigalasts of Kiravian origin have lived in Crona for centuries, often arriving far ahead of formal colonisation initiatives. In 1665, twenty Abrigalast families from Serikorda's Rapperen community settled in [[Porfíria]]. Congregational fissions and population pressure spurred the migration of people descended from these settlers to form several generations of daughter communities on the advancing frontiers of [[Porfíria|Kiravian Cusinaut]]. Anouther founder population of Abrigalasts departed Suderavia in 1734 and settled in the [[Green River Colony]].