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The Conservative Congregational Christian Conference is a Protestant, Congregationalist denomination in the United States. It is the most conservative and oldest Congregationalist denomination in America following the dissolution of the Congregational Christian Churches.[3] It is a member of the World Evangelical Congregational Fellowship and the National Association of Evangelicals.[4]

History

Background

The Mayflower began the Great Migration to New England.

The congregationalist tradition traces itself to English and American Puritanism. Presbyterians and Congregationalists both opposed certain practices and liturgical requirements of the Church of England, including its episcopal polity. Presbyterians desired a system where a body of elders (presbyters) would govern the churches, while congregationalists asserted that the local church (congregation), with its officers, was to govern itself. As early as the 16th century, the Brownists would advocate for independent congregations. New England ministers formalized the congregationalist system with the Cambridge Platform of 1648, and those in England with the Savoy Declaration of 1658.

The US denominational mainline formed in the 19th century as the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches, which eventually merged with the restorationist Christian Connection in 1931, becoming the Congregational Christian Churches (CCC).

Denominational Origins

The CCCC has its roots in the Conservative Congregational Christian Fellowship, formed in 1945 by conservative members of the CCC concerned about the dominance of liberalism in their denomination. Due to the decentralized nature of congregational polity, a denominational split was not first seen as necessary.[5] Soon, conservatives became concerned with a proposed merger with Evangelical and Reformed (E&R) church, fearing it would compromise their polity. Additionally, the terms of the proposed merger first required a 75% affirmative vote from all churches, but only received 53%.[6] In 1948, the Fellowship established itself as the CCCC.[4]

Concerned parties sued the General Council of the CCC in Brooklyn, New York, Judge Steinbrink halting the merger in 1950. The New York Court of Appeals would reverse this judgment in 1953,[7] allowing the CCC and E&R to ultimately form the United Church of Christ in 1957.

The CCCC was not the only Congregationalist denomination to oppose merger. Other churches left the CCC to become independent, or joined the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches (NACCC) which formed in 1955 over the same polity concerns, without concerns over liberal theology.

Theology

The CCCC is theologically conservative and evangelical. It opposes homosexuality, abortion, and non-marital sexual activity. The CCCC holds to traditional Protestant Christian faith and inerrancy is a guiding principle in Biblical interpretation carried out by ministers and teachers. Some ministers have sought to revive an interest in the study and teachings of Puritanism, especially the Reformed Congregational Fellowship;[8][9] however, both Reformed and Arminian emphases may be found in the CCCC, as is usually the case with larger, more broadly-based evangelical groups.

The conference does not govern the doctrine of its constituent churches, but it does occasionally produce position papers stating the denomination's view on various issues. These include statements on biblical marriage, the ministerial standing of women, racial reconciliation, the charismatic movement, homosexuality, abortion and euthanasia.[10]

Practices

Park Street Church in Boston is a notable member church of the CCCC.

The CCCC admits churches of any origin that operate according to congregational polity and that subscribe to the denomination's Statement of Faith.[11] The Statement contains most of the tenets of 20th century evangelicalism and is almost identical to that of the National Association of Evangelicals. Harold Ockenga, a founder of the NAE, was a prominent pastor in the early years of the CCCC.[12]

Although committed strongly to common points of faith, the CCCC does allow room for disagreement in matters not pertaining to those subjects addressed in the Statement. The motto “In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty, and in all things, love” is repeated freely in CCCC circles. Member churches derive not only from the founding Congregational and Christian traditions, but also Evangelical and Reformed (former UCC member congregations), Baptist, and non-denominational heritages; most churches joining the CCCC subsequent to the denomination's founding have been acquisitions, rather than new starts.

Structure

The local church is the basic unit of the CCCC, but churches and pastors nevertheless agree to voluntarily associate with other churches of like mind. To that end, regional fellowships are established across the United States, much in the same manner as the UCC and NACCC; the role of the regional body is more similar to the NACCC than the UCC, in order to restrain the tendency toward inter-congregational authority. Moderators of each area fellowship are chosen by the local fellowship (composed of representatives from area CCCC churches and nearby CCCC member ministers). Area Representatives are appointed by the Conference Minister (who functions as the Executive Director or National Pastor for the CCCC). Area Representatives serve as local CCCC contacts, to represent the Conference Minister, and to serve as a liaison between the national organization and the area fellowships.

Growth

Staub Memorial Congregational Church in Portland, Oregon joined in 1958.

Despite the scale of concern in the 1940s, the conference started very small, with only sixteen churches in 1959.[6] It has experienced steady growth since its founding:[13]

Year Churches
1961 34
1970 110
1980 132
1990 178
2001 256
2010 298

Membership is concentrated primarily in the Northeast and Midwest.[14] As of 2010, the CCCC had 42,296 members.[15]

Church multiplication is a "ministry priority" of the CCCC, and the denomination operates a church planting arm called Nineveh Network.[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Welcome From CCCC President". Conservative Congregational Christian Conference. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  2. ^ "Welcome From CCCC Conference Minister". Conservative Congregational Christian Conference. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  3. ^ "Researching the Congregational Story | Congregational Library & Archives". www.congregationallibrary.org. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
  4. ^ a b Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches. National Council of Churches. 2010. p. 103.
  5. ^ "Birth of the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference". The FORESEE. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  6. ^ a b Modern Day Pilgrims: A Proud Heritage The History of the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference (75th Anniversary ed.). pp. 14, 27.
  7. ^ "CADMAN MEM'L CONG. SOC. OF BROOKLYN v. Kenyon". Justia Law. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  8. ^ "What Do You Believe?". Reformed Congregational Fellowship. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
  9. ^ Wanamaker, Paul; Van der Swaagh, Paul (February 2018). "Reformed Congregational Fellowship Conference". The FORESEE. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
  10. ^ "CCCC Position Papers". Conservative Congregational Christian Conference. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
  11. ^ "CCCC Constitution". Conservative Congregational Christian Conference. 2015. Retrieved 2024-03-28. Churches are not necessarily barred from membership because of other affiliations so long as they adhere to the Statement of Faith and the Statement of Polity and the workings of the Conference.
  12. ^ Wetzig, Rod (April 2023). "The Early Years of the CCCC". The FORESEE. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  13. ^ "Groups - Religious Profiles | US Religion". www.thearda.com. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  14. ^ "2000 Religious Congregations and Membership Study". Glenmary Research Center. Retrieved 2009-12-17.
  15. ^ "2015-16 Yearbook for the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-03-28.Yearbook for the CCCC
  16. ^ "Church Multiplication". Conservative Congregational Christian Conference. Retrieved 2024-03-28.

Sources

Yearbook, Conservative Congregational Christian Conference
Handbook of Denominations, 12th edition (Abingdon Press)
Modern Day Pilgrims (2000: Foresee Publications, St. Paul, Minn.)
Foresee (official newsletter of the Conference)

External links