Page "Canadian and American Reformed Churches" Paragraph 4

Believing that the government of the church must be regulated by the Bible, the Canadian Reformed Churches practice a traditionally Reformed " bottom-up " polity, as opposed to a " top-down " model of church government.

This approach to church polity reflects their continental Reformed roots.

It is both anti-hierarchical and anti-independent, promoting both the autonomy of the local church and the need to cooperate within a federation.

For example, the question of whether or not women should be allowed to vote in church matters is a question that is left to be answered at the local level.

Although women may vote in some churches, they are still unable to hold office on councils or represent their churches at a synod level.