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International Council of Community Churches

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The International Council of Community Churches (ICCC) is a Christian religious association of ecumenically co-operating Protestants and Independent Catholics [1] based in Frankfort, Illinois, in the United States. It is the main organization of the Community Church movement. The ICCC is a member of Churches Uniting in Christ, the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA and the World Council of Churches. In 2010, the ICCC had 148 congregations with 68,300 members.[2] Membership is concentrated primarily in the Midwest.[3] However, there are several congregations in California, New York, and Florida.[3] According to the World Council of Churches, the denomination has 108,806 members worldwide.[4]

History

In 1950, the Biennial Council of the Peoples Church of Christ and Community Centers led by Dr. Joseph M. Evans (until then all Afro-American) and the National Council of Community Churches led by the Rev. Roy A. Burkhardt (until then all Caucasian) joined in a historic merger. At the time, their joining represented the largest interracial merger of religious bodies in America. The new creation was the International Council of Community Churches. Member churches united to be a fellowship of ecumenically minded, freedom-loving congregations cooperating in fulfilling the mission of the Church in the world. As a post-denominational movement, the Council has witnessed and worked for Christian unity, justice and reconciliation in human society.

Governance

The Council operates with an “inverted” pyramid of authority. The local congregations own the Council and determine its emphases and operation. They do so by sending delegates to an Annual Conference. Each local church is entitled to two voting delegates, of which both may be laity or one each lay and clergy (but not two clergy.) Decisions about Council policy are made by the local church delegates voting in Annual Conference. Delegates elect a volunteer board. The board hires and supervises staff and oversees everyday operations. The Rev. Phil Tom is the current Council Minister.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Current Members". Retrieved 2013-08-06.
  2. ^ "2012 Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches". The National Council of Churches. Retrieved 2018-02-26.
  3. ^ a b "2000 Religious Congregations and Membership Study". Glenmary Research Center. Retrieved 2009-12-17.
  4. ^ "International Council of Community Churches". oikoumene.org. World Council of Churches. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
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