"Polity: (1) political organization; (2) a specific form of political organization; (3) a politically organized unit; (4a) the form or constitution of a politically organized unit; (4b) the form of government of a religious denomination."

Many Americans have a very negative view of politics and political organizations (including government). However, every organization needs rules and a form by which to live and function. If it lacks rules and forms, or if the rules and forms are inadequate, one has a chaotic organization.

We'll learn about the "politics" (in a GOOD sense--the sense of how do we try to have a good organization rather than a chaotic one) of Presbyterianism in this chapter.