- Antistes
Antistes (from Latin anti "before" and sto "stand") was from the 16th to the 19th century the title of the head of the church in the
Reformed Churches inSwitzerland . It was the highest office in churches withsynod al church governance.The word was used first in
1525 as an unofficial title of honor forHuldrych Zwingli inZurich , then 1530 forJohannes Oecolampadius inBasle and 1532 forHeinrich Bullinger in Zurich.The antistes was elected by the great council (the parliament) of the city and held besides this office also a pastorship of one of the main churches.
The antistes had to be an ordained minister. He was the official representative of the church. He was presiding the
synod , and the theological examinations of candidates for the office of pastor. His direct rights were very limited, but a man with high leadership capabilities like Zwingli or Bullinger could exert a great influence on the church in this office.In the late 19th century the title was replaced by other office designations, e.g. church president or president of the church council.
Source: * [http://www.dhs.ch/externe/protect/textes/d/D11731.html Article "Antistes"] in the Historical Lexicon of Switzerland (German)
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