Congregational churches are so named because each local congregation has full authority. It is believed that each congregation, made up of men and women devoted to the lordship of Jesus Christ, is fully capable to minister and govern itself through congregational vote. This is in obvious contrast to churches that have an episcopal government, with a hierarchy of bishops ruling over local churches.
Congregational churches emerged among people who escaped persecution from the religious authorities in England and who felt that the Church of England was desperately in need of purification. These Puritans believed the church needed reform not only in its worship but in its style of government as well. The Puritans made the dangerous choice of meeting in homes for Bible study and prayer, something that was illegal because of a state policy that religious meetings were not to take place without priests or bishops being present. Both religious and political authorities in England were displeased with these “separatists.”
One separatist group was led by John Robinson (1575–1625). Because of escalating persecution, Robinson and his congregation of about 100 people fled England in 1609 and settled in the Netherlands. There he encountered another escapee from England’s persecution, William Ames (1576–1633), a great Congregational theologian. Through Ames’s influence, Robinson became a convert to Congregationalism.
In 1620, a large company of Congregationalists set sail for the American colonies in the Mayflower. They made a covenant with each other as believers and as citizens of their new land—a spiritual and political covenant known as the Mayflower Compact. In this document we witness the seeds of a democratic government. Meanwhile, Puritans continued to immigrate into America, and the Massachusetts Bay Colony was eventually established in 1629. Congregational churches were planted, and the movement grew rapidly.
One Congregationalist who impacted his own time and whose influence continues even today is Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758), the greatest intellect to ever emerge among Congregational churches. He played a leading role in the First Great Awakening in the 1730s and 1740s.
Congregationalists certainly played a major role in American history. Some of the New England Congregationalists were leaders in the American Revolution (1775–1783). As well, Congregationalists were involved in founding such influential schools as Harvard (1636), Yale (1707), and Dartmouth (1769).
In the 1800s, the denomination suffered a theological split, rooted mainly in a debate over the Trinity. The conservatives in the group held strongly for the Trinity, while the liberals argued for a radical unity of God (Unitarianism). William Ellery Channing (1780–1842) preached a famous sermon entitled “Unitarian Christianity” in which he argued against the Trinity and sought to demonstrate how irrational the idea is. The sermon was published and reprinted seven times and became a popular pamphlet. This sermon affirmed the Unitarian belief that the ultimate authority is not the voice of the past as revealed in Scripture but the “living voice” of experience and reason. A division in the Congregational church was inevitable.
The American Unitarian Association was founded in 1825 by a dozen graduates of Harvard Divinity School. Most of the older Congregational churches in Massachusetts became Unitarian in theology. Yet traditional Congregational churches survived the split and have maintained steady growth through the years. Today Congregational churches continue to make a strong contribution to the religious life of America. Congregational autonomy certainly fits with American individualism.
Distinctive Ideas in Congregational Churches#
Each local congregation has full authority over its affairs.
Instead of decisions being made by elders or bishops, local churches engage in congregational voting.
Most believe Scripture is a witness or testimony to Jesus Christ.
People can be saved not just from sin but from aimlessness in life.
Most today reject the idea of eternal punishment for the wicked.
Congregational Christian Churches (National Association)#
Founded: 1955 Members: 70,000 Congregations: 430
Beginnings#
The Congregational Christian Churches (National Association) was founded in Detroit, Michigan, in 1955. Many Congregationalists had become concerned about an upcoming 1957 merger of two denominations—the Evangelical and Reformed Church and the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches. This merger, which would become the United Church of Christ, caused concern because it was believed the new body would have a predominantly presbyterial form of church government. Therefore, instead of participating in the merger, those churches desiring to truly remain congregational founded the Congregational Christian Churches (National Association). The association strongly emphasizes the autonomy of the local church.
The Congregational Christian Churches (National Association) is actually less a denomination and more a voluntary association—a cooperative fellowship of churches. Each church in the association fully retains its independence without infringement on its self-government. The association has no binding ecclesiastical authority and no creed members must subscribe to.
The purpose of the association is to provide churches assistance, encouragement, inspiration, counsel on matters of common concern, and a broader fellowship with other like-minded congregations. Churches can enjoy these benefits without fear of their autonomy or freedom being threatened.
The denomination is heavily involved in social activism. Congregational minister Washington Gladden became famous for his emphasis on the social gospel. Broadly speaking, the association seeks to help the impoverished and disenfranchised around the world.
Beliefs#
Church members are free to follow their own consciences regarding personal beliefs. For this reason, the doctrinal spectrum ranges from liberal to conservative in this denomination. Nevertheless, the association does commit to some basic doctrinal affirmations.
The Bible#
The Bible sets forth the duty of Christians. Christians can walk in the ways of the Lord by following its teachings.
God#
God is loving and compassionate.
Jesus Christ#
Jesus is the Lord and Savior of humankind. He was a perfect revelation of the love of God.
The Holy Spirit#
Church members seek to be led by the Holy Spirit, not by a man-made creed. The Holy Spirit guides each Christian in understanding the Scriptures.
Sin and salvation#
Salvation is based on a confession of faith in Jesus.
The church#
Each church is autonomous and self-governing. Churches are free, however, to work together in associations and conferences. Representatives of all member churches participate in an annual meeting. Women can be ordained.
The sacraments#
Baptism is for both infants and mature believers. In infant baptism, the Christian family commits to nurturing the child in the ways of the Lord. Baptism for mature believers is an outer, visible sign of one’s desire for cleansing from sin. It is normally practiced when one joins the church. The method of baptism can be sprinkling, pouring, or immersion. The church allows people to opt out of baptism should they wish not to participate.
The Lord’s Supper is observed either every month or every other month. All people are welcome to participate—whether church members, members of other churches, or members of no church at all. The sacrament serves as a memorial to Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. It also serves to unite believers with Christ and with other church members.
The Mode of Baptism#
| The Case for Sprinkling or Pouring | The Case for Immersion |
|---|---|
| A secondary meaning of the Greek work baptizo is “to bring under the influence of”. This fits sprinkling or pouring better than immersion. | The primary meaning of the Greek word baptizo is “to immerse”. Prepositions used in conjunction with baptizo (“into” and “out of”) picture immersion. |
| Baptism by sprinkling or pouring better pictures the coming of the Holy Spirit upon a person. | Baptism by immersion best pictures death to the old life and resurrection to the new life in Christ (Romans 6:1-4) |
| The Ancient Near East probably did not have enough water or pools to baptize so many people in New Testament times (Acts 2:41; 8:38) | Archaeologists have uncovered ancient pools all over the Jerusalem area. |
Conservatinve Congregational Christian Conference#
Founded: 1948 Members: 41,775 Congregations: 285
Beginnings#
The early beginnings of this denomination date back to 1935 when Hilmer Sandine, a pastor in Hancock, Minnesota, started a monthly conservative publication called the Congregational Beacon. It was essentially a platform for theologically conservative Congregationalists. Sandine had become convinced that theological liberalism had penetrated the beliefs, policies, and practices of Congregational and Christian churches.
In the following decade, evangelicals within the Congregational Christian churches sensed the need for fellowship and began to meet informally. This ultimately led to the formation of the Conservative Congregational Christian Fellowship in 1945 in Chicago. They reorganized in 1948 as the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference.
The purpose of the conference was to promote worship of God among the churches; to deepen their fellowship with each other; to facilitate their cooperation in evangelism, education, edification, stewardship, missions, and youth activities; and to promote the autonomy of the local church and the freedom of the individual believer in Christ.
Beliefs#
This denomination is theologically conservative but allows for diversity of opinion on peripheral issues.
The Bible#
Both the Old and New Testaments are inspired, inerrant, infallible, and authoritative as God’s Word.
God#
The one true God eternally exists in three persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God is sovereign over all things.
Jesus Christ#
Church members affirm Jesus’s full Deity, virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, substitutionary atonement, bodily resurrection from the dead, ascension into heaven to the right hand of the Father, and personal return in glory.
The Holy Spirit#
The Holy Spirit regenerates sinners, guides believers in understanding God’s Word, indwells them, and enables them to live a godly life in an evil world.
Sin and salvation#
Man is fallen in sin. Redemption is available through faith in Christ.
The church#
Membership in the church is restricted to those who profess regeneration. The task of the church is threefold: to worship God, edify the saints, and evangelize the world. Each local church is autonomous, and government is congregational. Churches join in fellowship with other churches for cooperative endeavors. This is facilitated through the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference. Each church makes its own policy regarding the role of women in the church.
The sacraments#
The two sacraments are baptism (both children and adults) and the Lord’s Supper.
The end times#
Jesus will return in great power and glory. Members are free to believe as they wish regarding the specific sequence of events leading up to the second coming. All humanity will be resurrected—the saved (a “resurrection of life”) and the lost (a “resurrection of damnation”).
Infant Baptism Versus Believer’s Baptism#
| The Case for Infant Baptism | The Case for Believer’s Baptism |
|---|---|
| Infant baptism is analogous to circumcision in the Old Testament, which was done to infant boys. | The New Testament pattern is that a person is baptized following his or her conversion experience (Acts 16:29-34). |
| Household baptisms in the New Testament must have included infants (Acts 16:33) | Household baptisms, such as described in Acts 16:33, do not specify the presence of infants. |
United Church of Christ#
Founded: 1958 Members: 1,145,000 Congregations: 5375
Beginnings#
The United Church of Christ was founded in 1957 in Cleveland, Ohio, as a result of a merger between the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches and the Evangelical and Reformed Church. These two uniting bodies were themselves the results of former mergers that took place in the early twentieth century.
The denomination’s name, the United Church of Christ, reflects their motto, “That they may all be one.” This motto is rooted in Jesus’s prayer for the unity of the church (John 17:21). Church members believe that unity and fellowship do not depend on perfect doctrinal agreement but rather on the simple choice to maintain unity.
The doctrinal spectrum in the denomination ranges from liberal to moderately evangelical, though the conference leadership is predominantly liberal. The denomination is socially active, having been heavily influenced by the social gospel movement of the early twentieth century. Members work for peace, seek to reduce arms, stand for human rights (including those of homosexuals and bisexuals), oppose racism and sexism, and resist violence in all forms. The denomination ordains women to the ministry.
Beliefs#
The Bible#
The Bible is the source for understanding the good news of the gospel and is the foundation for all statements of faith.
God#
God is the Creator of man and the universe and exists eternally in three persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Jesus Christ#
Jesus is the man of Nazareth who was crucified for our sins and rose from the dead, thereby conquering sin and death. By His death He has provided reconciliation of the world to Himself. Jesus is the sole head of the church.
The Holy Spirit#
The Holy Spirit is present among God’s people, and He renews the church of Jesus Christ.
Sin and salvation#
God desires to save all human beings from aimlessness and sin. Justification is by grace through faith. Jesus promises that all who trust in Him will receive forgiveness of sins, eternal life in His eternal kingdom, and the fullness of His grace.
The church#
The mission of the church is to follow the way of the risen Christ, to proclaim Christ’s gospel to a fallen world, to embody the love of God to all humanity, to stand for justice and peace, to confront evil wherever it may be found, to minister to the oppressed and disenfranchised of the world, and to work for the healing and wholeness of life for all people.
Church polity involves a combination of congregational and presbyterial styles. Local churches are guaranteed the right to own their own property and call their own ministers, and they are free to withdraw from the denomination at any time. Most issues are decided at the local level. The national conference advises churches and individual members, but the advice is not binding.
The sacraments#
The church practices infant baptism and believer’s baptism, both normally done by sprinkling. Water is viewed as a symbol of washing, and washing represents renewal. Baptism thus symbolizes the believer being adopted into a new life that is hid with Christ.
The Lord’s Supper is open to all baptized Christians. The bread and wine are symbols of the body and blood of Jesus. The Lord’s Supper is a means of grace to those who partake.
The end times#
Christ will come again to judge humanity. Views about heaven and hell vary.