|This article does not cite any references or sources. (July
2008)| A local church is a Christian religious organization that
meets in a particular location. Many are formally organized,
with constitutions and by-laws, maintain offices, are served by
pastors or lay leaders, and, in nations where this is
permissible, often seek seek non-profit corporate status. Local
churches often relate or affiliate with denominations,
connecting them with a specific tradition within the Christian
religion, sharing in a broad sense a history, culture and
doctrinal heritage with other church bodies of the same
tradition. A local church may be an independently run
congregational church and may be associated with other similar
congregations in a denomination or convention, as are the
churches of the Southern Baptist Convention or like German or
Swiss Landeskirchen. It may be united with other congregations
under the oversight of a council of pastors as are Presbyterian
churches. It may be united with other parishes under the ov