Wondering about polity.

I was taught that there are three polities of the Church Universal.  Each has its strong points and its limits.  I have never experienced any polity but the Unitarian Universalist form of congregationalism (which most of my readers know I think is a bit eccentric.)  So I am imagining based on observation from my limited perspective.

Episcopal forms of polity seem to be have strengths in looking to the whole Church and being faithful to the poor among us.  Episcopal polity seems to have no problem authorizing leaders or missioning outside the box.  Not electing the Bishops for time limited terms is a bit of non starter for me, but hey, I am a congregationalist.  The Bishop is not just a minister ordained for life, but a part of magisterium, a decision maker.

Presbyterian forms of polity seem to have strengths in non clercial connections between congregations, and I observe in local missions held by more than one congregation.  I think most of what I have seen has been distorted by the councils being more about control than empowerment, but I understand that I have not fully seen the presbyterian way in its fullness.  Couldn't we call this polity the Council polity.  But some kind of council seems wise,  and councils suggest possibilities deep inside this way of polity.

Congregationalists can do what presbyterians do but the councils are ad hoc and more about common work than "doctrine."  (see what a congregationalists I am.) 

But congregationalism's strength is the holding the preisthood and prophethood of all believers in community, of empowering communities to discern their own way doing ministry and doing church.  But a weakness appears in our way of doing congregationalism in how do we become part of the Church Universal, and how do we call ourselves back to the  choice we must make to prioritize the poor.  (The preferencial option isn't really about an "option" to ignore the poor, it is about the choice to be humanely religious by embracing the disempowered "other."  We can choose not to be human, that is the choice.) 

And the weakness of congregationalism that we must solve now, how do we authorize ministry to respond outside our own little circle. 

Of course, congregationalism is the worse possible polity, till we consider the alternatives.