Gemeinde (plural: Gemeinden) in Germany or Austria is the smallest administrative division of local government having corporate status and powers of self-government. It is a German word for borough, commune, community, township or municipality.A Gemeinde which shows certain aspects of urban life can be entitled by state government to lead the designation Stadt (town). Gemeinde in the sense of the Amish way of life ruled by the Ordnung, it functions as a description for certain congregations often centering on a church and sharing some local social structures like church service.