Conservative Congregational Christian Conference

Conservative Congregational Christian Conference
AbbreviationCCCC, 4Cs
ClassificationEvangelical Protestant
OrientationCongregationalist
PolityCongregational
PresidentThe Rev. Scott Nice[1]
Conference MinisterThe Rev. Dr. Ron Hamilton[2]
AssociationsWorld Evangelical Congregational Fellowship;
National Association of Evangelicals
RegionUnited States
HeadquartersLake Elmo, Minnesota
Origin1948
Branched fromCongregational Christian Churches
Congregations301 (2023)
Members42,296 (2010)
Official websitewww.ccccusa.com

The Conservative Congregational Christian Conference is a Congregationalist denomination in the United States.[3] It is the most conservative and oldest Congregationalist denomination in America following the dissolution of the Congregational Christian Churches.[4] It is a member of the World Evangelical Congregational Fellowship and the National Association of Evangelicals.[5]

History

Background

Further information: Congregationalism in the United States
The Mayflower began the Great Migration to New England. The CCCC describes themselves as "Modern Day Pilgrims."[6]

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 (presbytery) 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.

Jonathan Edwards, Congregationalist theologian and influential figure in the First Great Awakening.

Congregationalists enjoyed the dominant position in early New England: theirs was the established church of several states, even into the 19th century. Congregationalists founded several prominent universities, including Harvard and Yale. They were key players in the First and Second Great Awakening and in the modern mission movement, establishing the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.

After the Civil War, the American denominational mainline formed the National Council of the Congregational Churches of the United States, which in 1931 merged with the restorationist Christian Connection and became 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.[7] Soon, conservatives became concerned with a proposed merger with the 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%.[8] In 1948, the Fellowship established itself as the CCCC.[5]

Brooklyn's Cadman Memorial Church (NACCC) sued to stop the formation of the United Church of Christ.

Concerned parties sued the General Council of the CCC in New York, Judge Steinbrink halting the merger in 1950. The New York Court of Appeals would reverse this judgment in 1953,[9] 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.

Genealogy

National Council of the Congregational Churches of the United StatesChristian ConnectionEvangelical Synod of North AmericaReformed Church in the United States
Congregational Christian ChurchesEvangelical and Reformed Church
Conservative Congregational Christian ConferenceNational Association of Congregational Christian ChurchesUnited Church of ChristEvangelical Association of Reformed and Congregational Christian Churches

Theology

See also: Evangelical theology and Reformed theology

The CCCC is theologically conservative and evangelical. It opposes homosexuality, abortion, and non-marital sexual activity while promoting evangelism, missions and orthodox theology. Congregationalism is historically Reformed (Calvinist), and some ministers have an interest in the study and teachings of Puritanism, especially those in the Reformed Congregational Fellowship.[10][11] 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 CCCC reprints[12] a collection of classical reformed documents, including the Savoy Declaration.

The CCCC Statement of Faith is short, just seven points, and contains most of the tenets of 20th century evangelicalism. These cover:[13]

  1. The inspiration, infallibility and inerrancy of the Bible.
  2. The doctrine of the trinity.
  3. The deity, virgin birth, sinlessness, miracles, atonement, resurrection, ascension and return of Christ.
  4. The regeneration of sinful man.
  5. The indwelling and ministry of the Holy Spirit.
  6. The resurrection of the dead.
  7. The unity of believers.

The Statement 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.[14]

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.[15]

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, subscribe to the Statement of Faith, and support the activity of the conference.[16]

Although committed to common points of faith, the CCCC does allow room for disagreement in matters not pertaining to those subjects addressed in the Statement.

We are a Conference that “majors in the majors”, i.e. clings to the non-negotiables of the historic, orthodox faith, while allowing freedom of form and expression of the great faith passed on to us. Our members have different evangelical theological traditions and perspectives. We allow for diversity of beliefs in secondary issues. Our churches are large and small, with worship that is traditional, contemporary, or blended.[17]

Member churches derive not only from the founding Congregational and Christian Connection traditions, but also Evangelical and Reformed, independent Community churches,[18] and Baptists.[19] Most joining the CCCC have been existing churches rather than new church plants.

Structure

See also: Congregational polity
Goffstown Congregational Church, established 1768.

Conference membership is voluntary and afforded to churches, ministers, Consecrated Laborers, and individual laymen.[20] The CCCC is divided into regions (Northeast, Mideast, Mid Atlantic, Southeast, North Central and West),[21] with regional pastors, area pastors, and local fellowships. 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.

The Conference is governed by an elected board of directors of twelve to thirty people for established terms. The board is responsible for Conference business, the appointment of a Chaplaincy Endorsing Agent, and the denominational publication arm (the FORESEE).[22]

Like other decentralized denominations (cf. the Friends' Yearly Meeting or Southern Baptist Convention), much of the denominational activity happens at an annual event, called the "Annual Gathering."

Growth

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

Over a quarter million members of Congregational Christian Churches opposed or abstained from the vote to form the UCC.[23] Despite the scale of concern, the conference started very small, having only sixteen churches in 1959.[8] It has experienced steady growth since its founding, with 34 churches in 1961, 132 in 1980, 256 in 2001,[24] and 301 by 2023.

Membership is concentrated in the Northeast and Midwest.[25] As of 2010, the CCCC had 42,296 members.[26]

Church multiplication is a "ministry priority" of the CCCC, and the denomination operates a church planting arm called Nineveh Network.[27]

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. ^ "Conservative Congregational Christian Conference (CCCC) | Description & History | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
  4. ^ "Researching the Congregational Story | Congregational Library & Archives". www.congregationallibrary.org. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
  5. ^ a b Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches. National Council of Churches. 2010. p. 103.
  6. ^ "Modern Day Pilgrims: The History of the CCCC". The FORESEE. November 2023. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
  7. ^ Blood, Wesley D. "Birth of the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference". The FORESEE. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  8. ^ a b Modern Day Pilgrims: A Proud Heritage The History of the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference (75th Anniversary ed.). pp. 14, 27.
  9. ^ "CADMAN MEM'L CONG. SOC. OF BROOKLYN v. Kenyon". Justia Law. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  10. ^ "What Do You Believe?". Reformed Congregational Fellowship. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
  11. ^ Wanamaker, Paul; Van der Swaagh, Kirk (February 2018). "Reformed Congregational Fellowship Conference". The FORESEE. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
  12. ^ "Historic Documents of Congregationalism". NextStep Resources. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
  13. ^ "Statement of Faith". Conservative Congregational Christian Conference. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
  14. ^ Wetzig, Rod (April 2023). "The Early Years of the CCCC". The FORESEE. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  15. ^ "CCCC Position Papers". Conservative Congregational Christian Conference. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
  16. ^ "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.
  17. ^ "Welcome From CCCC President". Conservative Congregational Christian Conference. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
  18. ^ "About Us". Conservative Congregational Christian Conference. Retrieved 2024-03-29. Our member churches include those who are Congregational, Christian, and Evangelical and Reformed in their background, as well as independent Community churches. Our member ministers also come from diverse backgrounds.
  19. ^ "Churches". The Nineveh Network. Retrieved 2024-03-29. First Baptist Church Salem
  20. ^ "CCCC Constitution". Conservative Congregational Christian Conference. 2015. V.1. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
  21. ^ "CCCC Area Pastors". Conservative Congregational Christian Conference. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
  22. ^ "CCCC Constitution". Conservative Congregational Christian Conference. VIII. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
  23. ^ "United Church Declares Constitution in Force". ChristianityToday.com. 1961-07-17. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
  24. ^ "Groups - Religious Profiles | US Religion". www.thearda.com. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  25. ^ "2000 Religious Congregations and Membership Study". Glenmary Research Center. Retrieved 2009-12-17.
  26. ^ "2015-16 Yearbook for the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-03-28.Yearbook for the CCCC
  27. ^ "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)