Congregationalism

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Created on Wednesday, 30 November -0001 00:00

What is a Congregationalist?

From Pastor Stu Merkel's message on April 22 2012

Where Congregationalism started:

Congregationalists came to this New World on The Mayflower under the leadership of Elder William Brewster landing at Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620.

The Pilgrims sought to establish at Plymouth Colony a Christian fellowship like that which gathered around Jesus himself. Congregationalists include the Pilgrims of Plymouth, and the Puritans of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, which were organized in union by the Cambridge 

Platform in 1648. These settlers had John Cotton as their most influential leader, beginning in 1633. Jonathan Edwards, considered by some to be the most important theologian produced in the United States, was also a Congregationalist.

Congregationalists advocated a return to the simplicity and authenticity they believed was described in the New Testament. Congregationalists believe their model of church governance fulfills the description of the early church and allows people the most direct relationship with God.

Congregationalism flourished in North America for the next 300 years. In the 20th century the Congregational Churches went through a series of mergers with other similar denominations. In 1957 a movement to establish a larger body was met with some resistance. About 90% of the Congregational Churches joined the United Church of Christ. Some churches abstained from the merger while others voted it down. A majority of the latter congregations became members of a new fellowship of continuing Congregational churches called the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches. Shortly after Faith Community Church was planted they affiliated with the NACCC and continue with the same today.

For more information on the NACCC, visit their website and be sure to check out information on the Summer 2012 meeting in Minnesota.

What Do Congregational Christians Believe?

By Rev. Steven A. Peay, Ph.D.

The Congregational Christian tradition is descended from the English ‘Reformed’ tradition. Congregationalists share their faith-roots with those in the Episcopal and Presbyterian churches. As a consequence, the ‘Congregational Way’ assumes the perspective of classical Christian faith.

Essentially the Congregational Churches have held to:

• • One God in three distinct Persons (the Holy Trinity): the Father (Creator), the Son (Redeemer), the Holy Spirit (Sustainer).
  • The redemptive work of Jesus Christ as the source of salvation.
  • The Church as divinely instituted, comprising both an invisible and a visible reality, headed by Christ and made present by believers joined in covenant. The local church is seen as complete in itself.
  • The authority of the holy scriptures as the rule for faith and life.
  • Two Sacraments (‘Seals of the Covenant’) Baptism and the Lord’s Supper — other ‘holy ordinances’ or ‘rites’ (such as marriage) are not seen as having the same place as the sacraments or as biblically instituted.

Great emphasis is placed upon the individual believer’s relationship to a God who relates in a personal manner. Tied with that relationship is the need for the individual to inform his/her conscience and act freely in accord with it; developing a spirituality that is, at once, personal and communal. This understanding reflects very strongly the emphasis and orientation of the Church during its earliest period.

The Covenant: The Congregational Way places stress on the covenant as the binding force by which the Church is gathered. Through both the Old and New Testaments God made covenant with his people and it is in “owning the covenant” that Congregationalist believe they become a part of God’s “gathered people.” Within the congregation there is a fundamental equality of believers, not, however, because the Church is a democracy. Rather, the understanding is that of Scripture, Christ is the head of the Church. What we attempt to do here and now is to carry out God’s will expressed in Christ by the grace and operation of the Holy Spirit. The Covenant also marks the distinction between a Congregational Church being ‘autonomous’ as opposed to being ‘independent.’ Since the covenant implies fellowship with other bodies of covenanted believers, the local congregation is self-governing, but is not independent.

What Are Congregationalists? Congregationalists are ‘classical’ Christians who hold to the idea that the local congregation of covenanted believers is the most authentic way to approach the task of being Christ’s body in the world. Within the gathered people, then, Christ is seen as the head of the Church (his body) and the members work together in equality and charity.