"Union church" redirects here. For nondenominational churches in Australia, see
Union Church (Australia).
For churches within the Unitarianism movement, see
Unitarianism. For unions within Eastern and Catholic Christianity, see
Eastern Catholic Churches. For the more general concept, see
Church union.
A united church, also called a uniting church, is a denomination formed from the merger or other form of
church union of two or more different
Protestant Christian denominations, a number of which come from separate and distinct denominational orientations or traditions.[1]Multi-denominationalism, or a multi-denominational church or organization, is a
congregation or organization that is affiliated with two or more
Christian denominations, whether they be part of the same tradition or from separate and distinct traditions.[2][3]
Historically, unions of Protestant churches were enforced by the state, usually in order to have a stricter control over the religious sphere of its people, but also for other organizational reasons. As modern Christian
ecumenism progresses, unions between various Protestant traditions are becoming more and more common,[4] resulting in a growing number of united and uniting churches.
Since the mid-20th century, and the rise of
secularism worldwide,
mainline Protestantism has shrunk.[9][10][11][12] Among others,
Reformed (Calvinist),
Anglican, and
Lutheran churches have merged, often creating large nationwide denominations.[1] In some countries,
Methodist and
Congregational denominations have also merged. The phenomenon is much less common among
evangelical,
nondenominational and
charismatic church as new ones arise and many of them remain independent of each other, although in some cases instances of evangelical church congregations joining multiple denominations in a phenomenon known as "multi-denominationalism" does occur; but in most cases Evangelicals cooperate with each other through
interdenominationalism while still maintaining denominational distinctions.[2][3]
Around the world, each united or uniting church comprises a different mix of predecessor Protestant denominations.[1] Trends are visible, however, as most united and uniting churches have one or more predecessors with heritage in the Reformed tradition and many are members of the
World Alliance of Reformed Churches.
Kiribati:
Kiribati Uniting Church,[28] a union of several Protestant denominations in Kiribati, including Congregationalists, Evangelicals, Anglicans, and Presbyterians.
^Norwood B. Tye, Journeying with the United Church of Christ in the Philippines: A History (Quezon City: United Church of Christ in the Philippines, 1994), 246-247
^Guillermo Manuel, "A Study of the Movement for Union and Closer Cooperation Among the Protestant Churches of the Philippines", p. 54.
"Union church" redirects here. For nondenominational churches in Australia, see
Union Church (Australia).
For churches within the Unitarianism movement, see
Unitarianism. For unions within Eastern and Catholic Christianity, see
Eastern Catholic Churches. For the more general concept, see
Church union.
A united church, also called a uniting church, is a denomination formed from the merger or other form of
church union of two or more different
Protestant Christian denominations, a number of which come from separate and distinct denominational orientations or traditions.[1]Multi-denominationalism, or a multi-denominational church or organization, is a
congregation or organization that is affiliated with two or more
Christian denominations, whether they be part of the same tradition or from separate and distinct traditions.[2][3]
Historically, unions of Protestant churches were enforced by the state, usually in order to have a stricter control over the religious sphere of its people, but also for other organizational reasons. As modern Christian
ecumenism progresses, unions between various Protestant traditions are becoming more and more common,[4] resulting in a growing number of united and uniting churches.
Since the mid-20th century, and the rise of
secularism worldwide,
mainline Protestantism has shrunk.[9][10][11][12] Among others,
Reformed (Calvinist),
Anglican, and
Lutheran churches have merged, often creating large nationwide denominations.[1] In some countries,
Methodist and
Congregational denominations have also merged. The phenomenon is much less common among
evangelical,
nondenominational and
charismatic church as new ones arise and many of them remain independent of each other, although in some cases instances of evangelical church congregations joining multiple denominations in a phenomenon known as "multi-denominationalism" does occur; but in most cases Evangelicals cooperate with each other through
interdenominationalism while still maintaining denominational distinctions.[2][3]
Around the world, each united or uniting church comprises a different mix of predecessor Protestant denominations.[1] Trends are visible, however, as most united and uniting churches have one or more predecessors with heritage in the Reformed tradition and many are members of the
World Alliance of Reformed Churches.
Kiribati:
Kiribati Uniting Church,[28] a union of several Protestant denominations in Kiribati, including Congregationalists, Evangelicals, Anglicans, and Presbyterians.
^Norwood B. Tye, Journeying with the United Church of Christ in the Philippines: A History (Quezon City: United Church of Christ in the Philippines, 1994), 246-247
^Guillermo Manuel, "A Study of the Movement for Union and Closer Cooperation Among the Protestant Churches of the Philippines", p. 54.