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Better Together Congregations with Built-In Ecumenism

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Better Together Congregations with Built-In Ecumenism JACK MARCUM | GO FIGURE Congregations with built-in ecumenism small number of Presbyterian congregations are ecumenical A by definition, some having Better together federated with a congregation of PC(USA) congregations a liated another denomination and others being jointly affiliated with the with other denominations PC(USA) and one or more other denominations. The practice of federation has been around since the 1890s, when FEDERATED UNION it was introduced as a solution for CONGREGATIONS CONGREGATIONS small or dying congregations—and for those that had lost their buildings In there were In there were federated congregations union congregations due to fire or some other disaster. representing of the representing of the Other federations came about during PC(USA)’s congregations PC(USA)’s congregations World War I, when many ministers were away as chaplains. DENOMINATION Number of congregations Federated congregations may keep separate membership rolls for each UCC UCC denomination, and often separate ABC Single Aliations ABC mission budgets as well. Historically, as these complex structures became DOC CPC UMC UMC DOC burdensome, some big partners swal- ELCA lowed up little partners. In other ELCA CCCC cases they hit on the idea of dual RCA Multiple Aliations EC UCC UMC alignment with one membership roll: UCC DOC ABC union congregations. RCA MOR UMC DOC UMC DOC As the ecumenical movement UCC UMC UMC ELCA UCC UMC DOC ABC UCC DOC DOC ABC UCC UMC DOC grew after World War II, with its UMC ABC UCC UMC ELCA predictions of a decline in denomi- nationalism, many multiply aligned KEY TO DENOMINATIONS union congregations were started. ABC American Baptist Churches–USA CCCC Conservative Congregational Christian Conference But promoting many denominational CPC Cumberland Presbyterian Church DOC Disciples of Christ programs and attending various judi- EC Episcopal Church catory meetings killed off some union ELCA Evangelical Lutheran Church in America New York has the most MOR Moravian Church congregations. Others went back to federated and union RCA Reformed Church in America one or two denominations. congregations UCC United Church of Christ federated ( ) and UMC United Methodist Church The relatively small number of union ( ) federated and union congregations in COMPARING CONGREGATIONS BY TYPE the PC(USA) can also be attributed to our polity. In general, congrega- Federated Union PC(USA) tional churches find it easier to coop- Number of congregations in ............ ( ) ( ) ( ) Median membership .................................... erate or merge, because they have Membership range ........................................ to to to fewer denominational structures. Regional distribution • Northeast ............................................... • Midwest .................................................. Jack Marcum is coordinator of Research • South........................................................ Services of the Presbyterian Mission • West ......................................................... Agency. He would like to thank Richard Taylor for his insights on the history of » Other findings pcusa.org/research federated and union congregations. INFOGRAPHIC BY JEFFREY LAWRENCE pcusa.org/today | OCTober 2013 7.
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