Centralization of the Church

Centralization of the church refers to the process by which authority, decision-making, and doctrines become concentrated in a single, unified leadership—often at the papal or episcopal level—rather than being distributed among local churches or individual clergy. This structure ensures consistency in teachings, practices, and policies across the entire church hierarchy. Centralization strengthens unity and doctrinal control, but can also reduce local autonomy. Historically, it has played a key role in shaping church organization, authority, and response to theological or administrative issues, making the church’s leadership more cohesive and authoritative worldwide.