Local churches make up the basic structure of the United Church of Christ. We say they are autonomous, which means they have the freedom to govern themselves and to establish their own internal structures of governance.

There is no bishop or diocese telling the local church what to do.  We think letting the local church be self-responsible and set up its own system of governance makes a lot of sense.  Afterall, who knows its unique situation best?

This also helps explain why no two UCC are exactly the same.