Congregational News of what God did for us is acted out About the Author in broken bread and poured-out cup. The Way Series Word spoken from the pulpit is acted at the Table. Rev. Dr. Arthur Rouner is a graduate of 3. THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES Harvard College, Union Theological Finally, it is the people themselves who show perhaps most clearly the meaning of Seminary, and received his doctorate at the Meeting Luther Seminary. After serving churches in House. They are Massachusetts he served the Colonial Church gathered for one ...the greatest symbol is purpose: to hear in Edina, Minnesota for 32 years. God’s Word and The Meaning on the floor of the to respond to it. The pews are Meeting House in often placed so He is presently the President of the Rouner that the people Center for Missions and Ministry. of the front of the pulpit, or sit almost literally on three perhaps raised up in sides of the pulpit, the better The NACCC is an association of autonomous Churches the sanctuary. It is a to hear what is Meeting most important bound by our belief that Christ alone is the head of the simple, strongly built in their worship. local Church. With this in mind, we express and discuss But even as they theological issues respecting different positions. There is House table. The come, eager and no one document which directs all our Churches, rather expectant to fill clergy and laity are encouraged to establish their own Communion Table. that house with understandings of scripture and congregational life in by their prayer and Arthur A. Rouner, Jr. their listening, Christ. This piece represents the views of one of our the gathered people suggest something respected leaders and is submitted to the larger fellowship D. Min. fundamental to the nature of their of Churches for consideration and/or edification. Meeting House. It is a Meeting House. It is where God’s people are called together “...the Meeting House to meet God and each other. It is where our name receives its fullest meaning: is a place built for a “congregational”. It is where the life of National Association of living congregation to the whole people - not just individual Congregational Christian Churches believers - is seen to be the meaning, and meet a living Lord…” the hope, and the purpose of our Way. 8473 South Howell There is a place for cathedrals. But for us P.O. Box 288 the Meeting House is a place built for a Oak Creek, WI 53154 living congregation to meet a living Lord, and from there to go out to serve Him. 1-800-262-1620 For us, the Congregational Way is as Fax: 414-764-0319 stirring, and exciting, and as beautiful as E-Mail: [email protected] anything in life for the Christian. www.naccc.org The Meaning of the Meeting House

An American traveler stepped into one churches.” They believed that a Christian church From the pew, what does a person look of England’s most beautiful churches, was formed when Christ gathered a few people up to see first? They see the pulpit, the Anglican Cathedral in Lincoln. It together and promised to teach and guide them. high and lifted up in the center of the was during a sunset, and although no Meeting House. Why have most of the In other words, they thought a church was a one was in the pews, the service of Reformed Churches placed the pulpit in company of people among whom a living, acting evensong was about to begin. Fading the center of the peoples’ attention? Lord was present. Two things then, were needed: light filtered through the high window, Because this, to them, has always been the Lord, who had come to speak to His people, and the great Gothic columns moved the symbol of the Word of God dwelling and the people who had come to hear what the the heart toward heaven. The music of in their midst. It may be the minister Lord said. And it is this relationship of speaking the organ and the singing of the choir who stands there and speaks, but it is and hearing that has dominated the whole burst out of the silence like an angel God’s Word the people strain to hear! conception of the Congregational Meeting House. chorus and that mysterious, half- The pulpit is a kind of throne for the darkened cathedral Our Roman brethren make elaborate use of Word of God - a visible sign that the became a place Most Congregational symbol to express the relationship of people to living God is one who speaks to His apart. The traveler God. Statuary crowds their churches. Vaulting people, and that they have tried to will remember these Church buildings in columns suggest the mystery of the divine make a fit place for the Lord to be moments of rare presence and incense and pageantry in the heard. America are very service deepen the sense of awe. and precious And on that pulpit is another symbol, beauty. simple, their décor is Yet, the Congregational Meeting House was never which is the Bible. This is God’s Word meant to be a symbol at all! It was a written and recorded on the Perhaps it is no plain. place for Christian people to meet and In village after village pages of history. Not only wonder that as a for the Word to be preached and through the speaking of a Congregationalist he prayer to be offered. Almost in spite of among New person, but also through the should come away asking: Why doesn’t themselves, these buildings have had a reading of the Bible comes my tradition have cathedrals like that?” meaning. In village after village among England’s hills and the Word of the Lord to His Most Congregational church buildings in New England’s hills and valleys the people. The Book is open, to America are very simple, their decor is pure white lines of Congregational valleys the pure white suggest that God’s Word is plain. And if tradition be followed, our Meeting Houses have reminded the lines of Congregational free to everyone - no longer Congregational church buildings are not generations that people of God made closed to the people, written even “churches;” they are “Meeting those towns. And the character of the Meeting Houses have in a language they could not Houses.” For three hundred years, God they loved is reflected in the understand, and chained to Congregationalists of America have buildings they built. Plain and white. reminded the the pulpit as in medieval rejoiced in their simplicity and have Pure and clean. Simple, yet rich. But times! been uplifted by their plainness. always, the place for worship. Always, generations that people And yet the greatest symbol the place where people were to meet Whence came this tradition? Why were of God made those is on the floor of the Meeting on Sunday morning to hear the living these places of worship so revered by House in front of the pulpit, God who would speak to them there. their Puritan congregations? For towns. or perhaps raised up in the

Congregationalists, what is the meaning center of the sanctuary. It is of the Meeting House? 2. WITHIN THE WALLS a simple, strongly built table. The

But come inside. What does the Meeting House Communion Table. The Holy Table at 1. GATHERED BY GOD mean when viewed from the pew? What symbols which Christ and His friends ate the Last Supper and where we eat it too, in From the earliest days of their do the people see, and how does this building remembrance of Him. It is a Table at separation from the state church in “fitly framed together” bespeak the God they which the Church’s treasured England, Congregationalists have serve? communion silver is set, perhaps only thought of their churches as “gathered six or eight times a year. Here the Good