The Congregational Way of Life
What does the Mayflower, spiritual revival, Harvard, the Social Gospel Movement, religious freedom, and First Congregational Church of Redlands all have in common?
Congregationalism
What is Congregationalism?
Congregationalism, or the Congregational Way of Life, refers to a specific expression of gathering and scattering as God’s church. Beyond belief in that which we confess each Sunday, we Congregationalists often structure our congregations in such a way that highlights the “priesthood of all believers.”
Generally, congregationalism is a system of church governance where: 1) Christ is the Head of the church, 2) congregations have full autonomy, 3) those within the congregation are equal and called into the priesthood of all believers, and 4) decisions are made through spiritual discernment and a democratic process in congregational meetings.
Historical Impact
Historically, in the United States of America, the Congregational Church played a significant role in shaping the country's religious landscape. It traces its roots back to the Pilgrims and Puritans who settled in New England in the 17th century.
Since the 17th century, the Congregational Church has focused on lived principles such as spiritual commitment, religious freedom, educational advancement, social justice, and community engagement. Yet, as valuable as congregationalism has been to forming so much of U.S. history, there have certainly been historical blights within the Congregational Way. Some examples of this are religious intolerance, epidemics destroying indigenous populations, witch trials, slaveholding by critical spiritual leaders, and denominational division.
The contemporary Congregationalist must wrestle through this history in honest and transparent repentance. Thankfully, historically, the Congregational Way has often taught what turning back to God looks like in tangible ways.
So, how does the Congregational Way express itself at First Congregational Church of Redlands?
When one begins to understand the history of our denomination, it becomes clear why we have persisted through so much history and why we are poised now, perhaps more than ever, to be a place of peace, unity, and worship. How so?
Well, for example, one congregational distinctive that FCC has is unity around our Words of Witness. When we read our Words of Witness every Sunday, we are reminded of the unity we share with one another in Christ as his church. And not just one another; we are part of a much larger global family that spans across generations. Focusing on what unites us together gives us resilience during difficult times in a uniquely divisive age.
Another distinctive of the Congregational Way at FCC is our "shared leadership" model. Our three main governing bodies (the Church Council, Board of Directors, and Board of Deacons) are all populated by our members through a democratic process, which puts the governance and stewardship of the church's resources in the hands of the people of our church. Additionally, all of our spending and committee minutes are available to all our members. We are about transparency and shared leadership.
Finally, our liturgical services provide an alternative to our fast-paced lives and culture enamored with innovation and novelty. We depart from our daily routines to enter a sacred space in our beautiful sanctuary, hymns and music that have withstood the test of time and a teaching from Scripture that brings timeless truths into the present. We then return to our wider communities as carriers of love, peace, unity, and worship, joining Christ in the renewal of all things.