Christian Cyclopedia

Organized in Philadelphia December 1908; 30 denominations represented; combined membership ca. 25 million. Purpose, according to the constitution: 1. to express the fellowship and catholic unity of the Christian church; 2. to bring the Christian bodies of America into united service for Christ and the world; 3. to encourage devotional fellowship and mutual counsel concerning the spiritual life and religious activities of the churches; 4. to secure a larger combined influence for the churches of Christ in all matters affecting the moral and social condition of the people, so as to promote the application of the law of Christ in every relation to human life; 5. to assist in the organization of local branches of the Federal Council, to promote its aim in their communities. The constitution stated that the Council was to have “no authority over the constituent bodies adhering to it. It has no authority to draw up a common creed or form of government or of worship, or in any way to limit the full autonomy of the Christian bodies adhering to it.” Various depts, dealt with missions, research, educ., race relations, radio, soc. service, armed services, prisoners of war, etc. It was absorbed 1950 into the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America (see Union Movements, 13).

E. B. Sanford, Origin and History of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America (Hartford, Connecticut, 1916); J. A. Hutchison, We Are Not Divided: A Critical and Historical Study of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America (New York, 1941).