From What It Means to be a Member of a Congregational Christian Church by Henry David Gray, published by the Congregational Christian Churches National Association.
Congregationalism came to America on the Mayflower. The Pilgrim voyage to a
new land was made necessary in order to re-establish a Church on the New Testament
pattern--a fellowship of those who had chosen to be followers of Christ, spiritually
competent to direct their own life and work. Because they had pledged themselves to live
and worship in freedom according to the dictates of conscience, the Pilgrims were
compelled to flee from their homeland. One of the abiding effects of their costly plea for
liberty is that modern Congregationalists will not submit to a conformity which their
forefathers resisted unto death.
Church of the Pilgrims
What the Pilgrims sought to establish in Plymouth was a Christian fellowship like that
which gathered around Jesus Himself. The early disciples had little or no organization,
but in the centuries after the Master's death, attempts to gain influence over all the
Churches were made by leaders in centers like Rome, Antioch, Alexandria, Byzantium, and
Jerusalem. By the year 1000 A.D., the bishop of Rome claimed authority over all
Christendom, and many Churches throughout the western part of Europe submitted to his
authority. The Churches of eastern Europe, all of Asia, and Egypt retained their
independence. The Western or Latin Church became rich and powerful, until about one third
of the land was owned by it, under the rulership of Rome. Corruption increased, and soon
men like Peter Waldo, John Hus, Martin Luther, John Calvin, and John Wyclif were
protesting against the abuses. Reading of the Bible, the rebirth of interest in thought
and in the fine arts, the emergence of science, and the era of global discoveries, all
combined to lead men to think for themselves and, therefore, soon resulted in a desire to
return to the simplicity and sincerity of the New Testament Church.
In England, the Roman system of church government was taken over by the king who declared
himself to be the head of the Church. Robert Browne, Henry Barrow, John Greenwood, John
Penry, William Brewster, and John Robinson were among those who dared to establish free
Churches like those of New Testament days in defiance of royal command. The underground
Churches in England and exiles from Holland provided the passengers of the 'Mayflower'
which sailed from London, July 1620. They became known in history as the Pilgrim Fathers.
A Congregational Church of today is a Church of the Pilgrims, with convictions that
emphasize FAITH, FREEDOM, and FELLOWSHIP.
Congregational Christians believe very deeply in God, in Jesus Christ, in the guiding
Spirit of God, in prayer, in the worth of worship, in the value of the sacraments and holy
rites, and in the power of God to triumph over all that is unholy and evil.
We do not accept any formal statement of faith as binding upon all members of our
Churches. This is not because we think creeds do not matter, but because we think
sincerity of conviction requires full opportunity for intellectual freedom and personal
experience. Thus, every Congregationalist possesses full liberty of conscience in
interpreting the gospel. THE BOND OF OUR CHRISTIAN UNITY AND THE FUNDAMENTAL REQUIREMENT
FOR MEMBERSHIP IN A CONGREGATIONAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH ARE SINCERE CHRISTIAN CONVICTION AND
HONEST DESIRE TO LIVE IN FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHERS AS A FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST.
In our Churches, no statement of the Christian faith can be made binding upon the
conscience of a Chritian man. This means that there are differences of emphasis within and
among our Churches. Every sincere conviction that exalts our Lord is honored among us.
This inclusive basis of membership naturally attacts to the Congregational Christian
fellowship men and women of genuine conviction, of adventurous faith, and of gracious and
brotherly regard for each other's sincerity.
The attitude of the Congregational Christian Churches toward daily life is determined
by the fundamental principle of freedom of conscience. There is no book of discipline, no
canon law (church law), and no set rules and regulations, such as are found in the Roman
Catholic Church, Episcopal Church, Methodist Church, or Presbyterian Church. The educated
conscience of members of the Church is our sole guide to conduct. If a person honestly
believes, as in the presence of God, that his conduct is proper, then the Church accepts
that conduct.
Because of this attitude toward freedom of conscience under Christ, many, who for years
have felt that they could not join a Church which told them what to do and what not to do,
welcome the opportunity to join a Congregational Christian Church. They recognize the fact
that the only ultimate creed we have is that which is shown in our conduct and that this
conduct must be determined freely by us or else it is not acceptable to God. We believe
that the development of individual conviction and conscience is that essential way to
produce real Christian manhood.
In preaching from the pulpits of Congregational Christian Churches, the centrality of
conscience is fully recognized. This means that our ministers feel free to preach the
truch as God leads them to see the truth, without any dogmatic insistence as to the
conduct of the Church members. The appeal is to conscience under Christ and to the
reasonableness of the viewpoint proposed. This attitude lifts the whole matter of
Christian conduct out of the realm of controversy and personalities and draws together
into one body of truthseekers all who sincerely seek to live according to the pattern of
Jesus Christ.
Congregational Christians stand for an open Bible in the fullest sense; a Bible that is
open in our Churches, in our homes, in our schools; open to be read in our own language
with all the insight that reverent study, prayerful meditation, and Christian living can
bring to bear upon it.
We believe that the Bible contains rich spiritual guidance for every person and for every
family and that devotional reading and study of the scriptures in the home will foster
inner unity and outer strength.
It is our conviction that the Word of God which is to be found in the Bible will inspire
and direct the Church and will yield fresh light and truth for each new age.
We cherish the aim that each person shall be able to read and interpret the Bible for
himself with trust, confidence, and affection, and that he shall be able to experience its
power to build him up into a strong, courageous, and intelligent follower of Jesus Christ.
Christian Churches throughout the world are organized in five ways:
1. Monarchial, with one final authority and ruler. Such is the Roman Pontiff.
2. Episcopal. The word comes from the Greek meaning "bishop." Episcopal and
Methodist Churches in the United States have bishops who are elected for life, to whom are
given certain powers over the Churches. Bishops usually claim to be ordained in direct
line from the apostle Peter. Canon law or a book of discipline rules in these bodies.
3. Presbyterial. A nationally organized church body, with power to govern committed to
area presbyteries, state synods, and finally to the national General Assembly, which is
supreme over all and which makes the law of the Churches.
4. Congregational. A fellowship of self-governing churches voluntarily working together in
area associations, state conferences, and various national council and mission bodies,
with control and authority reserved to the local church.
5. Independent. Bodies of Christian people with no denominational connection, each
functioning independently.
The Congregational Way was the seed bed of American constitutional government and has been
in the forefront of democratic endeavors through the years.
Each of our Churches is autonomous and self-governing and entirely free from external
control. A Congregational Christian Church is a body of people who have pledged themselves
to follow Christ, and who, because they seek to order all of their life and work according
to His leading, cannot accept as authoritative the decisions of any other body, since to
do so would be to avoid the responsibility of finding God's way in their own right. The
authority within a Congregational Christian Church is the authority of Christ, exercised
under the scriptural principles of persuasion, example, contagion, and inspiration. All
decisions of bodies outside the local Church are simply by way of recommendation and
advice; they have as much worth as there is in the wisdom of them, and no more.
In Congregationalism there are no superintendents, or bishops, or popes, or presbyteries,
or national councils with any authority to dictate the policies, programs, finances, forms
of worship, pastor-people relationships, or other affairs of the individual Church.
Congregational Christians feel that this form of Church organization is closest to the New
Testament example, and offers by far the greatest flexibility in dealing with the changing
demands which each age or locality makes upon the Church of Christ. Congregational
insistence upon the absolute rule of Christ within His Church is the basis of all our
cooperation with other denominations. When you join a Congregational Christian Church, you
accept the comprehensive view that all believers are one in Christ, regardless of their
denomination.
Each of our Churches would phrase, in its own way, the responsibilities, duties, and
privileges of membership. But in every instance, the list would be likely to contain the
following responsibilities of a Church member:
1. To have a sincere Christian faith.
2. To attend the services of worship and Church meetings.
3. To pray regularly, particularly in the family.
4. To participate in the life and work of the church, according to talents God has given.
5. To give systematic financial support to the Church's work at home, and to its program
of missionary, social, educational, and medical service.
6. To seek and follow the guidance of God in the affairs of daily life, particularly
business.
7. To show a friendly care for the poor, struggling, lonely, weak, or sick.
8. To promote the spirit of harmony within the Church, seeking always to follow the way of
the Master with restraint, understanding, and love.
9. To maintain a strict watch over one's personal character.
10. To seek to bring the love of Christ and the joy of fellowship to others.