Authority in Swedenborgianism is distributed between church hierarchy and doctrinal sources. The General Church of the New Jerusalem (one Swedenborgian body) is governed by a bishop and synod, while the Swedenborgian Church (another body) is congregational. Both hold Swedenborg's theological writings as authoritative New Revelation illuminating the inner sense of Scripture.

The Bible interpreted through Swedenborg's works comprises the doctrinal authority. Swedenborg is not worshipped but is understood as the human instrument through whom God revealed the spiritual sense of Scripture for the New Church age. Different Swedenborgian bodies vary in their governmental structure—some more hierarchical (General Church) and others more democratic (Swedenborgian Church).