Collegialism

A theory of church-state relationship associated with H. Grotius* and S. Pufendorf.* Church and state are both purely voluntary associations (collegia) in which supreme authority rests with the body of the members. A civil magistrate has no relations with the church other than those which he enjoys with every other voluntary association within the territory. C.M. Pfaff (1686-1760), chancellor of Württemberg, defending collegialism against territorialism, claimed that the rights which princes possess in ecclesiastical matters are conferred on them by the church.