College of Levantine Churches: Difference between revisions

===Provinces===

====Metropoles====

The College of Levantine Churches is divided into administrative areas known as "Metropoles", which are similar in scope and role as {{wp|diocese}}s within the [[Catholic Church]]. Unlike the Catholic Church, Metropoles are governed by Metropolitan Committee, comprised of three bishops, one from each of the episcopal congregations. This structure, in part based on  {{wp|Gospel of Matthew|Matthew}} 18:20 ("For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them."), is designed to ensure each of the episcopal congregations are represented in local governance. Metropolitan Committees handle responsibilities such as sanctions of clerics, ordinations, as well as submissions of individuals to the episcopal congregations to be considered for consecration as bishop. Each bishop within a Metropole is responsible for the daily administration and oversight of most issues for their particular Church within the Metropole. Accordingly, despite the equal share of authority within Metropolitan Committees, it has been observed that the bishops of the Fraternal Church have ''de facto'' authority over all believers within a Metropole due to the overwhelming majority presence of the Fraternal Church within the College. As a result, Fraternal Church bishops are often expected to make shows of humility to the two other bishops within Metropolitan Committees to avoid offense or pretention of authority.

Metropoles were formed as part of the 1974 reforms, consolidating many disparate local administrative structures. Prior to the establishment of the Episcopal Congregation of the Reformed Church in 1994, most Metropolitan Committees had two members, though some particularly large Metropoles had three, with the third member agreed upon by the bishops of the Fraternal and Methodist episcopal congregations within that Metropole.

===Mission Areas===

In addition to the organization of the College in [[Levantia]], the College has erected "Mission Areas", administrative jurisdictions outside Levantia for the purpose of missionary activity and spreading the faith. The majority of active mission areas in the late 2020s are in [[Alshar]], with a sizeable and growing number being in [[Crona]]. Mission Areas function under a shared jurisdictional basis, with individual congregations and metropole-like "regions" functioning in an area, while a growing number of missions also include independently operating "faith engagement groups", non-clerical organizations of volunteers which preach to local populations. The faith engagement groups are known to be more {{wp|Evangelical Christian|Evangelical}} in theological outlook and temperament than the primary Collegiate hierarchy.