What happens when churches go vague on theology and detailed on politics? With the National Council of Churches (NCC), currently celebrating its 75th anniversary, we have the answer.
Have you ever heard of the NCC? If you are under age 60, likely not. But for decades it was the premier liberal voice for Protestant Christianity in America. In 1958 President Dwight Eisenhower laid the cornerstone on the new building in New York that would house the NCC and other Protestant agencies, in a tribute to their wide influence. Newspapers boasted that the new 19-story Interchurch Center, built with help from the Rockefellers, would house 37 Protestant denominations representing 40 million Americans and 144,000 congregations. Occupants included the Methodists, Presbyterians, Reformed Church, and American Baptists, and a host of mainline Protestant agencies.
For decades, the NCC had hundreds of employees and large budgets, and the council commanded respect as a pillar of American civil society. It was for public religion what the American Bar Association was for lawyers. It still has 37 member denominations. But, like those denominations, it is a shell of its former self, with a small staff and budget. What remains of the NCC is nestled in a small suite in the Methodist Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. What happened?
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Comment by John N Kenyon on August 1, 2023 at 8:15 pm
I’m 73. Two masters degrees; 1 an MDiv. Well acquainted with the NCC, the NAE and the liberal vs conservative theological debates. Not at all surprised at the collapse of the NCC. Not surprised, either that you can’t deal with a diphthong in the doctrine Nicene Creed. Not surprised the GMC will make the diphthong another schismatic issue. Not surprised your reader won’t know the issue, either.
Comment by David on August 2, 2023 at 11:51 am
In the 1950-1960s, there was much talk of ecumenism and denominations coming together. This had its roots in the World’s Parliament of Religions held in Chicago in 1893. That has largely faded away with denominations splitting.
Comment by Tom on August 2, 2023 at 5:27 pm
Christopher Johnson used to call them “The National Council of Churches that Nobody Goes to Anymore.”
Comment by George on August 3, 2023 at 4:37 pm
Mixing politics with religion never goes well. Using four bit words and crowing about one’s master’s degrees doesn’t change that fact.
Comment by Bob on August 4, 2023 at 3:46 pm
In the Mikado the executioner sings a delightful song about a little list of people to be done away with. The refrain is that they never will be missed, no they never will be missed. Who has noticed the disappearance of the ncc?