RELIGIOUS ENCYCLOPEDIA
Congreg'ationalists
of faith issued at Dayton, O., in Feb., 1906, by the joint committee on doctrine, in view of the proposed imion of Congregationalists, Methodist Protestants, and United Brethren is likely to be adopted widely. It is sincerely Evangelical and affirms " consent to the teaching of the ancient symbols of the undivided church, and to that substance of Cliristian doctrine which is common to the creeds and confessions which we have inherited from the past." But it is silent as to some doctrines formerly enunciated m such utterances. No Congregational church, however, is obliged to accept any creed or declaration of faith. (For text of the documents mentioned here and further information cf. Schaff, Creeds, i. 820-840; iii. 707-737; W Walker, The Creeds and Platforms of Congregationalism, New York, 1893; A. E. Dunning, Congregationalists in America, 1884; The Congregationalist, Feb. 17, 1906.)
During the lasftwenty-five years two tendencies have appeared. One is to put less emphasis upon certain doctrines, e.g., the fall of man, the governmental theory of the atonement, the
2. Late equal and infallible inspiration of
Tenden- ^j^g Scriptures, and eternal punishment, and more upon certain others, e.g., the divine fatherhood, human brotherhood, and the immanence of the divine Spirit. The other is "to shorten and simplify creeds. The old Calvinistic phraseology is being abandoned. Some churches adopt two creeds; one a formal declaration, like the Creed of 1883, expressing its doctrinal position fully, and another, the Apostles' Creed, or some even briefer, simpler statement of vital truths, for use in admitting children or other comparatively immature applicants for church-membership. Some churches even have discarded the creed and content themselves with a covenant.
IV. Polity and Practise: The two underlying principles of Congregationalism have been stated: (1) the independence of the local church, and (2) the fellowship of the churches. The 1. The Two joint committee on polity in view of
tTuder- the proposed union has expressed them lying well, viz.: " (a) The unit of our fellow- Principles, ship ig lYiQ local church, and the character of our fellowship is that of a representative democracy, (b) Our coordinate principles are freedom and fellowship, a freedom which leaves each local church free in its separate affairs, a fellowship which unites all the churches for mutual care and cooperant action." During the Colonial period the American churches ordinarily accepted the Cambridge Platform (1649) UDtil the Saybrook Platform (1705) superseded it in Connecticut. The framers of these accepted the Westminster and Savoy Confessions in respect to doctrine, but not as to church govermnent. The former emphasized the independence of the local church, the fellowship of the churches, and the representative character of the ministry, funrlamental principles of Congregationalism, but nevertheless gave to the civil magistrate excessive authority in matters of faith and practise alike. Ihe latter provided for consociations of churches and associations of ministers, established by and
under the authority of civil law, an abnormal system which was not abrogated formally until 1784 and which remained in more or less active use for rnany years longer. At present each church has entire self-control in its own ecclesiastical affairs. It may draw up its creed and covenant, formulate its order of worship, elect and install its pastor and other officers, etc. Until within about thirty years it was customary in the United States for a society, or parish, to be formed side by side with each church to attend to all its secular concerns. Ordinarily most of its members were also church-members, so that neither body antagonized the other. But differences occasionally arose. For example, as the pastor held a legal relation to the society only, the society sometimes could elect, or depose, the pastor in opposition to a majority of the church. It is now becoming common for the church itself to be incorporated, thus being enabled to manage all its affairs, whether religious or secular.
Most churches adopt creeds and covenants which are similar, and often identical. And in matters of common interest each church seeks the advice and cooperation of its sister churches. In the settlement or dismissal of a pastor fellowship is recognized by calling a council. Formerly no man excepting the pastor of a church was considered a minister. But within fifty years, owing largely to the need of ministers where churches had not yet been established, this conception has been broadened, and now a man ordained to serve anywhere as a pastor or evangelist is accepted as a minister.
Councils are temporary bodies, composed of pastors and delegates, chiefly of neighboring churches, assembled by a letter missive from some church to recognize its existence or to advise and assist it in regard to the settlement of a pastor, a case of discipline, or any other matter as to which
advice is desired and in which the 2. Councils, other churches also are interested.
The membership of a council is limited strictly to the representatives of the invited churches and any individuals invited by name, and its action is limited, with equal strictness, to the matters specified in the letter missive. The result of a council is only morally binding, but usually is accepted as final. In cases of difficulty between two churches or between a church and one or more of its members, if both sides unite in calling the council, it is termed mutual. If a church refuse to join a justly aggrieved member in calling a council, he may summon one, which, if the church persist in its refusal, acts as an ex-parte council. A council, unless it is to be ex parte, always must be called by some church, excepting that one may be called by a company of persons seeking recognition as a new church. In a case affecting the welfare of the whole body of churches, and in which the church particularly involved refuses to act, a council to consider the situation in that church may be summoned by any other church. This emergency, however, occurs rarely. When controversies reach the civil courts, the courts refuse to go behind the usages of Congregationalism, as determined by councils, and merely declare what they are.
Congreg'atlonaUBts Conon of Tarsus