United and uniting churches are churches formed from the merger or other form of union of two or more different Protestant denominations.
Perhaps the oldest example of a united church is found in Germany, where the Evangelical Church in Germany is a federation of Lutheran, United and Reformed churches, a union dating back to 1817 in some parts of Germany (see Prussian Union). The first union was at a synod in Idstein to form the Protestant Church in Nassau in August 1817, commemorated in naming the church of Idstein Unionskirche 100 years later.
Around the world, each united or uniting church comprises a different mix of predecessor denominations. Trends are visible, however, as most united and uniting churches have one or more predecessors with heritage in the Reformed tradition (either Presbyterian, Congregationalist, or both) and many are members of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches.
Read more about United And Uniting Churches: Conciliar Movement, United and Uniting Churches Around The World
Famous quotes containing the words united, uniting and/or churches:
“The United States is the only great nation whose government is operated without a budget. The fact is to be the more striking when it is considered that budgets and budget procedures are the outgrowth of democratic doctrines and have an important part in developing the modern constitutional rights.... The constitutional purpose of a budget is to make government responsive to public opinion and responsible for its acts.”
—William Howard Taft (18571930)
“That we can come here today and in the presence of thousands and tens of thousands of the survivors of the gallant army of Northern Virginia and their descendants, establish such an enduring monument by their hospitable welcome and acclaim, is conclusive proof of the uniting of the sections, and a universal confession that all that was done was well done, that the battle had to be fought, that the sections had to be tried, but that in the end, the result has inured to the common benefit of all.”
—William Howard Taft (18571930)
“By 1879, seven churches of various denominations were holding services, which led the local Chronicle to comment, All have but one religion and one God in common; it is the Crucified Carbonate.”
—Administration in the State of Colo, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)