Part I | Brief Summary

Category F | Doctrines

Topic 33 | Institutional autonomy

The concept of religious (sometimes called “church”) autonomy refers to the institutional dimensions of religious freedom. While we often think of religious freedom as an individual right (and it is), there are also important institutional aspects of freedom of religion as well. In the United States, church autonomy is based on both non- establishment and free exercise principles. Since autonomy encompasses values of equality as well as freedom, it is also grounded in the concept of nondiscrimination.