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International Congregational Fellowship

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International Congregational Fraternity
ClassificationProtestant
OrientationCongregational
Origin1977
Congregations2,843
Members1,709,402
Official websitewww.internationalcongregationalfellowship.org

The International Congregational Fellowship (International Congregational Fellowship) is an association that brings together congregational denominations around the world in order to promote mutual cooperation.[1]

History

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Background

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In 1891, in London, the International Congregational Council (ICC) was founded. This body represented, for many decades, congregational unity throughout the world.

However, in the 20th century, Liberal Theology and Ecumenism spread among congregational churches throughout the world. Many congregational churches, as a result, abandoned the doctrine of biblical inerrancy and also the distinctives of Congregationalism.

In the 1960s and 1970s, several congregational groups around the world merged with Presbyterian and/or Methodist and/or Anglican groups, forming denominations such as the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Portugal,[2] Uniting Church in Australia,[3] United Church of Canada,[4] Church of North India, Church of South India and United Reformed Church.[5]

In 1970, the ICC was already formed by several united churches, which were also members of the Alliance of Reformed Churches that maintain the Presbyterian System (AIRSP). Thus, in that year, the ICC and AIRSP merged, giving rise to the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (AMIR). In 2010, the AMIR merged with the Reformed Ecumenical Council to form the current World Communion of Reformed Churches (CMIR).

Formation

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In 1975, Congregationalists from various parts of the world met at Chiselhurst in the United Kingdom to discuss the need and possibility of some kind of worldwide fellowship to replace the ICC that had been dissolved that decade. Thus, in 1977, the inaugural conference of the ICF was held. [6]

In the years that followed, the organization expanded, adding congregational unions and associations from around the world. In the 21st century, it is the largest congregational fellowship in the world in terms of membership.

Differentiation of the World Evangelical Congregational Fellowship

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Another large global organization of congregational churches is the World Evangelical Congregational Fellowship (FMEC). This has a more conservative and evangelical stance than the ICF. While the FMEC requires its members to affirm biblical inerrancy, the ICF does not require such a commitment.

Thus, the majority of ICF members are also members of the World Communion of Reformed Churches.[7]

Members

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In 2025, the members of the International Congregational Fellowship were:[8]

Country Denomination Number of congregations Number of members Year
South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe United Congregational Church of Southern Africa[n 1] 1,000 1,500,000 2024[9][10]
South Africa Union of Congregational Churches in South Africa - - -
Argentina Evangelical Congregational Church in Argentina[n 1] 120 6,000 2021[11]
Armenia Congregational Churches in Armenia - - -
Australia and New Zealand Congregational Federation of Australia and New Zealand[n 1] 31 2,985 2004[12]
Brazil Evangelical Congregational Church in Brazil 375 50,000 2010[13][14]
South Korea Korean Puritan Movement - - -
United States National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 304 41,582 2020[15]
Greece Congregational Churches in Greece - - -
Guyana Guyana Congregational Union[n 1] 40 2,452 2006[16]
India Congregational Church of India (Maraland)[n 1] 23 5,500 2006[17]
Myanmar Congregational Church of Myanmar - - -[18]
United Kingdom Union of Welsh Independents[n 1] 390 20,000 2006[19]
United Kingdom Congregational Federation 235 10,883 2004[20]
Samoa Congregational Christian Church of Samoa[n 1] 325 70,000 2006[21]
Global International Congregational Fellowship 2,843 1,709,402 2004-2025

References

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  1. ^ J. Gordon Melton (2005). Encyclopedia of Protestantism. Infobase Publishing. ISBN 9780816069835.
  2. ^ "History of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Portugal". Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  3. ^ "United Church in Australia". World Council of Churches. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  4. ^ "History of the United Church of Canada". British Dictionary. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  5. ^ "United Reformed Church". World Council of Churches. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  6. ^ "History of the International Congregational Fellowship". Retrieved May 2, 2025.
  7. ^ "World Communion of Reformed Churches:Member Churches". Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  8. ^ "Members of the International Congregational Fellowship". Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  9. ^ "United Congregational Church of Southern Africa". Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  10. ^ "History of the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa". Archived from the original on 25 July 2013. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  11. ^ "Evangelical Congregational Churches in Argentina". February 16, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  12. ^ "Congregational Federation of Australia and New Zealand". Reformiert Online. July 2, 2004. Archived from the original on December 23, 2005. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  13. ^ "Protestantism in Brazil". Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  14. ^ "Reformiert Online: Evangelical Congregational Church of Brazil". Archived from the original on May 23, 2005. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  15. ^ "2020 United States Census of Religion". Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  16. ^ "Guyana Congregational Union". Reformiert Online. 17 February 2006. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  17. ^ "Congregational Church of India (Maraland)". Reformiert Online. 8 February 2006. Archived from the original on October 1, 2022. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  18. ^ "Congregational Church of Myanmar". Retrieved May 2, 2025.
  19. ^ "Union of Welsh Independents". Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  20. ^ "Congregational Federation". Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  21. ^ "Congregational Church of Samoa". Reformiert Online. 17 February 2006. Retrieved August 11, 2022.

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g It is also a member of the World Communion of Reformed Churches.
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