Syllabus and Readings

All required reading assignments are listed below. Participants are also asked to prepare a few short reports based on reading and interviews. For March 5, prepare sections 1-3. For March 12, prepare sections 4-6.

INSTRUCTOR: Daniel Sack, Member, Cleveland Park Congregational United Church of Christ, Washington, DC, dsackdc@gmail.com.

Goals for the History Institute

Participants will obtain knowledge of

  • Origins and development of the five primary constituent traditions (Congregational, Christian, Evangelical, Reformed, and Afro-Christian)

  • Congregational history

  • Founding of the United Church of Christ

  • Developments in the United Church of Christ from 1957 to the present

  • More resources for understanding the UCC’s history

Pre-Institute Assignments

1.  The classic history of the United Church of Christ is the “four streams” narrative. Read the short course on UCC history to learn that story. What are the key moments in UCC history? How does it fit into the broader history of Christianity? Take a look at these graphics that offer a visual interpretation of that history:

Do these graphics help? What do they include? What do they focus on? Also watch this brief critique of the “four streams” narrative.

2.  Churches and denominations are not just institutions—they are people and ideas. Read these chapters to get a better sense of the people who shaped these streams:

These chapters leave out the Afro-Christian story, which has been recognized as the fifth stream. To understand that stream, read this History of Afro-Christian Connection. For each of the five streams, how would you describe these people? What were their social and spiritual challenges? How did theirchurches help them respond to those challenges? What distinctive element do they bring to the United Church of Christ.

3. As noted, many accounts of UCC history often neglect the African-American story. To learn more about this tradition, choose one of these primary documents and come prepared to talk about it.

4.  All history is local. The Constitution of the UCC says that the basic unit of the United Church of Christ is the local church. Research the history of one local UCC congregation and come to the institute prepared to share information in a three minute report. You can do this research online and by telephone. Look at the church’s web site for the congregation’s history. Interview a long standing member or the pastor. Here are some possible questions: When was it founded? Why? What traditions are part of its past? What was it before 1957, if it existed before 1957? Where is it located? Why? Was it always in the same place? How many members did it have ten years ago, twenty years ago, etc.? Have its racial or ethnic or socio-economic characteristics changed? Choose a congregation with some history in your association, ideally one that you do not know. Here are some possibilities if you are in the Potomac Association:

In the District of Columbia:

In Maryland:

In Virginia:

If you are not in the Potomac Association, research a church in your association or conference.

5.  In order to understand the events that led up to the formation of the United Church of Christ in 1957, read:

What inspired the move toward unity among American Protestants in the early 20 th century? What were the challenges involved in the formation of the UCC?  Why did the process take so long?

6.  Many accounts conclude the UCC’s history with the 1957 merger, but we have done a lot in the succeeding 66 years. The documents listed below mark crucial moments in that history. Read one and come prepared to tell the rest of the class about it.

SUMMARY OF PRE-INSTITUTE ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Read the classic “four stream” narrative of UCC history and a critique of that narrative.

2. Learn about the people and ideas that shaped the five streams.

3. Learn about the African American and Afro-Christian history of the UCC and come prepared to discuss a document from that history.

4. Prepare a brief history of one local UCC congregation.

5. Read about the history leading up to the merger or union in 1957.

6. Choose an important document from the last few decades and come prepared to discuss it.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

To learn more about the Afro-Christian tradition, you can read Afro-Christian Convention: The Fifth Stream of the United Church of Christ. You can also watch a discussion among several of the authors, and watch the testimony of a UCC pastor who grew up in that tradition.

The “four stream” narrative leaves out a lot of stories in our history. You can find stories in these collections:

The American Missionary Association, founded by our UCC ancestors to fight against slavery, also built churches, founded colleges, and lead for racial justice. You can learn about that history in On the Heels of Freedom by Joyce Hollyday.

(Updated 1/28/2024)