wfn.org | UCC Group vows to preserve almost forgotten history

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

UCC Group vows to preserve almost forgotten history

> Written by Martin Bailey
> June 26, 2009

Can the UCC remember what most of us never knew and others have almost
forgotten?

That was the challenge thrown out to a group of more than 80 UCC
members and scholars who met in Grand Rapids, Mich., Thursday on the
eve of the 27th General Synod.

Recognizing that relatively few people are still around to tell the
story of the Christians who joined with Congregationalists back in
1931 and entered the UCC in 1957, the group launched "the Christian
preservation project."  They vowed to gather and share information
about the "least known of the UCC's four constituent groups."

According to historian Barbara Brown Zikmund, there are fewer than 250
local congregations still in existence that trace their roots to the
Christian movement that originated in three parts of the United States
in the 1800s.  She and others explained that the Christians made
significant contributions to our common life, including a passion for
Christian unity, justice and education.  They also were known for a
deep personal piety.

Scholar Elizabeth C. Nordbeck of Lancaster Seminary once pointed out
that the Christians "supported women's public ministries" very early
and that "nearly a dozen 'female laborers' were in their graves before
Antoinette Brown was ordained."

"In significant ways, those early 19th-century Christians have a lot
to teach the United Church of Christ today," Zikmund said. "Like many
people today, they were impatient with organized religion but were
committed to a strong faith; they were turned off by sectarian debates
but interested in strong Christian character."

Those who met Thursday, including nearly two dozen seminarians
involved in a course in UCC history and polity, agreed to seek out
information "that may still be in a closet in some church's music
room;" interview persons for oral histories; and develop a special web
site to preserve and disseminate the history of the Christian
Connection before it is lost forever.

The Christians published what was one of the first religious
newspapers in the world, the Herald of Gospel Liberty.  They also
founded several colleges and carried on extensive educational
ministries.  Although their churches were divided on the issue of
slavery, some were strong abolitionists. The contribution of the
Afro-Christian Churches was substantial, according to Rick Taylor, a
longtime scholar of the movement.  The Historical Society's luncheon
Monday will also be devoted to the heritage of the Christian Church.