City Councils of Churches records, 1909 -- 1970

Collection context

Creator:
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America
Abstract:
The various City Councils of Churches were ecumenical organizations that focused on Christian and church unity at the local level. Among the materials included in the collection are annual reports, bulletins and newsletters, and pamphlets.
Extent:
3 linear feet (3 linear feet; 6 boxes)
Language:
English .
Scope and content:

This collection contains materials created by or for the City Councils of Churches, including administrative materials (such as constitutions, by-laws, and policies), annual reports and meetings records, bulletins and newsletters, pamphlets, event programs, and informational brochures. The materials address a variety of issues common across the cities represented in the collections, including religious education, social welfare and action, youth, and race relations.

Biographical / historical:

The mid-twentieth century was a significant period in the development of the Ecumenical movement in the United States. In 1950, the Foreign Missions Conference of North America gave way to the Division of Foreign Missions of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. According to Ruth Rouse in A History of the Ecumenical Movement, 1517-1948, the unity of eight then-separate national councils, among them the Foreign Missions Conference, the Council of Church Women, and Council for Religious Education, "practically organized all aspects of the Churches' common life in an ecclesiastically-constituted organ of common action." This development, along with the creation of the World Council of Churches in 1948, was a significant one for the ecumenical movement for much of the same reason. For the first time, there were two denominationally-connected groups with common goals of creating Christian unity in both doctrine and action. These goals are reflected in the City Councils of Churches Records and illustrate their execution on a local level. The Constitution for The Federation of Churches of Christ in Albany, New York, for example, stated its object as the development of "the spirit of Christian fellowship and to promote through cooperative effort the spiritual, moral, social, and civic welfare of the community." Similarly, The Council of Churches of Buffalo and Erie County state one of their objects as concerning itself "with all those interests that concern the churches, especially those matters of mutual helpfulness and community influence…" These objectives manifest themselves in the activities of each city council represented in this collection, whether this is in regards to matters of religious education, race relations, or social welfare.

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Onsite storage.

Terms of access:

Some material in this collection may be protected by copyright and other rights. Information concerning copyright, fair use, and reproduction requests can be consulted at Columbia's Copyright Advisory Office.

Preferred citation:

Item description, WAB: City Councils of Churches records, 1909-1970, box #, folder #, The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University in the City of New York.

Location of this collection:
Before you visit:
Researchers must book an appointment at least 5 business days in advance to view special collections material in the reading room. To make the most of your visit, be sure to request your desired materials before booking your appointment, as researchers are limited to one item per hour of appointment time.
Contact:
burke@library.columbia.edu