While we talk much about our congregations being autonomous, in reality many are episcopalian in government.
Autonomy is self-government.
For a congregation to be autonomous, the members must approve those who are appointed to capacities of leadership and service, and they must continue to exercise the right of approving or recalling those who are serving. Once either of these rights is forfeited, autonomy has faded and episcopacy has set in. We tend to confuse independence with autonomy. A group may be independent of all others and not be autonomous, even as a nation may be independent, but because it is ruled by a non-elected king or dictator, it is not autonomous. The earthly operation of the church is democratic even though in its spiritual form it is a kingdom with Christ as King.