Editing Conciliarism (section)

==Background==
Conciliar theory has its roots and foundations in both history and theology, arguing that many of the most important decisions of the [[Catholic Church]] have been made through conciliar means, beginning with the [[First Council of Nicaea]] (325). Conciliarism also drew on corporate theories of the church, which allowed the head to be restrained or judged by the members when his actions threatened the welfare of the whole ecclesial body.

In his ''[[Defensor Pacis]]'' (1324), [[Marsilius of Padua]] wrote that the universal Church is a church of the faithful, not the priests. Marsilius focused on the idea that the inequality of the priesthood has no divine basis and that Jesus, not the pope, is the only head of the Catholic Church.<ref name="Marsilius">{{harvnb|Marsilius of Padua|2005}}</ref>

[[William of Ockham]] (d. 1349) wrote some of the earliest documents outlining the basic understanding of conciliarism. His goal in these writings was removal of [[Pope John XXII]], who had revoked a decree favoring ideas of the [[Spiritual Franciscans]] about Christ and the apostles owning nothing individually or in common. Some of his arguments include that the election by the faithful, or their representatives, confers the position of pope and further limits the papal authority. The catholic (universal) church is the congregation of the faithful, not the institutional, which was promised to the [[Apostles in the New Testament|Apostles]] by [[Jesus]].<ref name="Tierney Foundations" />