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Vignettes from the
Congregational Heritage of the Massachusetts Conference

Like a strong rope of many strands, our modern MASSACHUSETTS CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST has evolved from the following four Massachusetts Congregational groups, which were finally all entwined together in a 1928 merger:

1. The MASSACHUSETTS [HOME] MISSIONARY SOCIETY was founded in 1799 for interested clergy and laity. In 1827 it merged with [2] and focused on aiding Massachusetts Congregational churches. It also funded mission work outside the Commonwealth, through its affiliation with the American Home Missionary Society. The word "Home" was added to its name in 1844 to indicate its work was not in a foreign land.

2. The DOMESTIC MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [PROPER] was founded in 1818 for clergy in the General Association of Massachusetts and for interested laity. Short-lived, in 1827 it took on the name of [1] in merging with it.

3. The GENERAL ASSOCIATION OF MASSACHUSETTS [PROPER] was founded in 1802/1803 for Calvinistic Congregational clergy in the Commonwealth. It dropped the word "Proper" from its name, after Maine became its own state in 1820. Over the years, this group became very influential in the life of Massachusetts Congregational churches.

4. The GENERAL CONFERENCE OF CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES IN MASSACHUSETTS was founded in 1860 for laity and clergy delegates from area Conferences [now Associations]. Short-lived, in 1868 it merged with [3] to form the GENERAL ASSOCIATION OF THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. In 1910, this group changed its name to the MASSACHUSETTS CONGREGATIONAL CONFERENCE.

In 1928, the merger of [1/2] with [3/4] created the MASSACHUSETTS CONGREGATIONAL CONFERENCE AND MISSIONARY SOCIETY. After denominational mergers on the national level, this group changed its name. In 1953, it became the MASSACHUSETTS CONGREGATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE. In 1966, it became the MASSACHUSETTS CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, which we know today.

© 2002-2003 Rev. Dr. Douglas K. Showalter, All Rights Reserved -- See Statement regarding copyright

Did You Know That...?
(Click on a question for more details, or on a subhead to read the entire section.)

The Early Days

.....The General Court of Massachusetts has been called the FIRST MISSIONARY SOCIETY of PROTESTANT CHRISTENDOM?

.....Historically, the Congregational churches in Massachusetts tended to be more INDEPENDENT than their sister churches in Connecticut?

.....The MASSACHUSETTS MISSIONARY SOCIETY was founded in 1799 primarily by HOPKINSIANS?

.....Although unintended, INTERDENOMINATIONAL CO-OPERATION was said to have caused Congregationalists to LOSE 2,000 [!] CHURCHES in states beyond the Hudson River, as our country expanded?

.....One of the earliest Congregational churches to split along UNITARIAN/TRINITARIAN lines was the church of the Pilgrims in PLYMOUTH, in 1801?

.....From its beginning in 1802, the GENERAL ASSOCIATION OF MASSACHUSETTS specified in its By-laws, that the articles of faith "generally expressed" in the WESTMINISTER ASSEMBLY'S SHORTER CATECHISM were the "basis of union and fellowship" for the clergy who made up its membership?

.....In the early 19th century, Congregational clergy in the BERKSHIRE ASSOCIATION of ministers strongly criticized one of their colleagues and his church for wishing to sever their relationship after a SHORT PASTORATE of only TEN YEARS?

.....Today's MACUCC is indebted to the clergy and churches in BROOKFIELD and SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES on two counts?

The 1800s

.....DR. NATHANAEL EMMONS (1745-1840), a key founder and longtime first President of the MASSACHUSETTS MISSIONARY SOCIETY held that Congregational churches should be PURE DEMOCRACIES, in which all members have an equal vote in church matters?

.....The older brother of NATHAN HALE, the Revolutionary War hero, was a very important figure in the early years of the General Association of Massachusetts Proper?

.....In 1810, BEVERLY was the site of the FIRST SABBATH SCHOOL held in MASSACHUSETTS?

.....At the 1821 ordination of Dr. Benjamin Wisner at the OLD SOUTH CHURCH in Boston, about 31% of the $463 cost of entertaining guests--including the lodging of clergy--was spent on WINE and SPIRITS?

.....At an 1836 meeting, the WOBURN ASSOCIATION of Congregational ministers debated this question: "Has the majority of the church a right to change or alter any CREED or COVENANT on which the church was constituted?"?

.....In 1842, a local Association of Massachusetts Congregational ministers, sought to SILENCE their colleagues in the General Association of Massachusetts on the subject of SLAVERY?

.....The Conference's CHURCH OF THE PILGRIMAGE in PLYMOUTH initiated a chain of events which led to the creation of the NATIONAL COUNCIL OF THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES OF THE UNITED STATES in 1871?

.....In 1876 and 1878, at its annual meetings in LOWELL and FALL RIVER, respectively, the General Association of the Congregational Churches of Massachusetts, recommended that all Congregational churches in the Commonwealth use only the UNFERMENTED JUICE of the GRAPE at the communion table?

.....Our Conference's ARMENIAN CHURCH OF THE MARTYRS in WORCESTER, gathered in 1892, is said to be the OLDEST ARMENIAN CHURCH in AMERICA?

Early 1900s

.....The FIRST FEMALE CONGREGATIONAL MINISTER to be ordained by a Congregational council in NEW ENGLAND was AMELIA ADELAIDE FROST?

.....At the 1900 Annual Meeting of the General Association held at the FIRST CHURCH in AMHERST, it was reported, on the basis of a survey, that many Massachusetts Congregational clergy were now more interested in CHRISTIAN EDUCATION and NURTURE, than in securing conversion experiences?

.....Up to the turn of the 20th century it had long been the practice in Massachusetts [as well as throughout New England] for the MINISTERIAL STANDING of Congregational clergy to be held by local groups of Congregational clergy [known then as Associations], not by groups which represented the Congregational churches [then known as Conferences]?

.....In Massachusetts Congregationalism, our Conference used to be an "ASSOCIATION," and our Associations used to be "CONFERENCES"?

.....Massachusetts Congregationalists were among the last to form a STATE CONFERENCE?

.....The CRAIGVILLE CONFERENCE CENTER on Cape Cod, eventually came to be used by the Massachusetts Conference, partly as a result of the 1931 MERGER of Congregationalists with the CHRISTIAN DENOMINATION?

.....The merger of the Congregational and Christian churches and their respective youth departments on the national level helped stimulate a strong youth movement, which came to be known as PILGRIM FELLOWSHIP?

.....About 1936, the Trustees of the Massachusetts Congregational Conference created the position of WESTERN SECRETARY of the CONFERENCE?

.....In May 1937, a bill was finally passed in the Massachusetts State Legislature to EXEMPT CHURCH PARSONAGES from STATE TAXATION, up to the amount of $5,000?

1938 - 1947

.....REV. RAY GIBBONS who served the FIRST CHURCH in NORTHAMPTON was said to be the "FATHER of MASSACHUSETTS CONGREGATIONAL SUMMER CONFERENCES for YOUTH"?

.....In the late 1930's and early 1940's, there was a movement in the Massachusetts Conference, and apparently across American Congregationalism, to change old style meeting houses into sanctuaries which had a definite CENTRAL FOCUS for WORSHIP?

......An insightful enumeration of the GREAT TRADITIONS of CONGREGATIONALISM was given by Dr. R. W. Coe at a meeting of the WOBURN ASSOCIATION, likely held near the end of 1941?

.....Within about nine months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, there were 159 Congregational-Christian ministers enlisted as U.S. MILITARY CHAPLAINS?

......In 1942 our Massachusetts Conference supported Christian work among 10 DIFFERENT FOREIGN LANGUAGE SPEAKING GROUPS in the Commonwealth?

.....The Conference's Committee on Moral and Social Welfare called upon Conference clergy, in 1943, to give 1,000 SERMONS/ADDRESSES on the PROBLEMS of ALCOHOL within a period of three months--a virtual "preaching blitz"?

......As early as 1946, churches of the Massachusetts Conference were asked "on the basis of present information, and without expressing a final judgment" if they were in favor of the PROPOSED UNION of The Congregational Christian Churches and THE EVANGELICAL AND REFORMED CHURCH?

.....In September 1946, the Moderator of our Massachusetts Conference, Lucius Thayer, made a CHALLENGING COMMENT about our Conference and its churches, to strengthen their Christian witness together?

.....In 1946, the Massachusetts Congregational Conference and Missionary Society had 21 ASSOCIATIONS with a total of 602 CHURCHES?

....In 1947, more than 200 of the Conference's churches celebrated LAYMAN'S SUNDAY and most of those did so on Sunday, October 17?

1947- 1957

....In the statistics for 1947, contained in the 1949 Year Book of the EVANGELICAL AND REFORMED CHURCH denomination, it is shown that there were TWO E & R CHURCHES in Massachusetts?

.....At its Annual Meeting in 1948, Massachusetts Conference delegates unanimously passed a resolution urging the Conference's churches to work with the PLANNED PARENTHOOD LEAGUE to change a longstanding Commonwealth law?

.....The Massachusetts Conference first acquired its present FRAMINGHAM CONFERENCE CENTER in the summer of 1950 and that 5,000 [!] PEOPLE were expected to be present for its dedication on May 13, 1951?

......Our Massachusetts Conference was said to have had the FIRST PROTESTANT COMMUNION SERVICE ever TELEVISED?

......In 1954 it was reported that the Massachusetts Conference owned 28% of all the INVESTED FUNDS held by Congregational Christian conferences across America?

.....In 1954, about six months before the U. S. Senate finally condemned the behavior of Senator Joseph McCarthy, which came to be known derogatorily as "MCCARTHYISM," the delegates of the Massachusetts Conference adopted a significant RESOLUTION on "CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES"?

....In 1957, members of the Massachusetts Conference played key roles in RE-CREATING the FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH in AMERICA?

.....A CLERGY SHORTAGE was a serious concern of the Massachusetts Conference, at its 1957 Annual Meeting held at the FIRST CHURCH IN NEWTON?

1960s

....In 1960, our Massachusetts Conference welcomed Rev. Dr. Proculo A. Rodriguez and his wife, from the Republic of the Philippines, as its FIRST "MISSIONARIES TO MASSACHUSETTS"?

....By January 1, 1962, 74.7% of the reported 5,402 Congregational Christian churches in America had voted to JOIN the UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, whose Constitution had finally been adopted in July 1961?

....On July 5, 1963, delegates to the United Church of Christ's Fourth General Synod meeting, held in Denver, passed a resolution which the Conference's "Pilgrim State News" characterized as "A CLARION CALL FOR RACIAL JUSTICE NOW"?

....At the Massachusetts Conference's 1964 Annual Meeting, held in PITTSFIELD, the majority of delegates voted for a resolution on CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE and for a resolution which, in essence, supported the Supreme Court's 1962 rejection of TEACHER-LED PRAYER and BIBLE READING in AMERICA'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

....The first person in the Massachusetts Conference to be recognized as a COMMISSIONED WORKER in the UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST was JULOUISE PAULSEN?

....The Massachusetts Conference's Annual Meeting held on May 1966 in SPRINGFIELD, was the first such Annual Meeting to have OFFICIAL OBSERVERS present from ROMAN CATHOLIC and OTHER RELIGIOUS GROUPS in MASSACHUSETTS?

.... At the Conference's 1966 Annual Meeting, 670 (92.6%) delegates voted to change the Conference's name, from the Massachusetts Congregational Christian Conference to the MASSACHUSETTS CONFERENCE of the UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST?

This page is copyrighted by Rev. Dr. Doug Showalter of Falmouth, who is writing a history of the Conference. You are welcome to use the information above in your personal study and church work, but duplication of the text on this page in any form for distribution requires the author's permission. Comments and corrections are welcomed. Look for updates of this page. You may contact Doug at dougshow@cape.com.

 

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