United Church of Christ – Congregational in the Marshall Islands
Encyclopedia
The United Church of Christ – Congregational in the Marshall Islands (UCCCMI) is a Protestant Christian
church in the Marshall Islands
. With approximately 40,000 members, the UCCCMI is the largest religious group in the Marshall Islands, accounting for about 55 percent of the population.
The UCCCMI has its roots in the Christian missionary
activity begun in the Marshall Islands in 1857 by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions
, which established Congregationalist
churches across the islands. In 1957, when the United Church of Christ
was organized in the United States
, the churches in the Marshall Islands were part of this church. The UCCCMI became autonomous of the American church in 1972 and adopted its present name.
The UCCCMI has 32 congregations in the Marshall Islands and employs 52 pastor
s. It also has congregations in Los Angeles
, Honolulu, and Eugene
, Oregon
. The church operates nine elementary school
s and four high school
s. The church also operates the Marshalls Theological College, a training college for Christian pastors.
The UCCCMI is a member of the World Council of Churches
and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches
and maintains missionary ties with the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
in the United States and the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan
.
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
church in the Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
. With approximately 40,000 members, the UCCCMI is the largest religious group in the Marshall Islands, accounting for about 55 percent of the population.
The UCCCMI has its roots in the Christian missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
activity begun in the Marshall Islands in 1857 by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions
American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions
The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions was the first American Christian foreign mission agency. It was proposed in 1810 by recent graduates of Williams College and officially chartered in 1812. In 1961 it merged with other societies to form the United Church Board for World...
, which established Congregationalist
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
churches across the islands. In 1957, when the United Church of Christ
United Church of Christ
The United Church of Christ is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination primarily in the Reformed tradition but also historically influenced by Lutheranism. The Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches united in 1957 to form the UCC...
was organized in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the churches in the Marshall Islands were part of this church. The UCCCMI became autonomous of the American church in 1972 and adopted its present name.
The UCCCMI has 32 congregations in the Marshall Islands and employs 52 pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
s. It also has congregations in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, Honolulu, and Eugene
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. The church operates nine elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
s and four high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
s. The church also operates the Marshalls Theological College, a training college for Christian pastors.
The UCCCMI is a member of the World Council of Churches
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches
World Alliance of Reformed Churches
The World Alliance of Reformed Churches is a fellowship of more than 200 churches with roots in the 16th-century Reformation, and particularly in the theology of John Calvin...
and maintains missionary ties with the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
The Christian Church is a Mainline Protestant denomination in North America. It is often referred to as The Christian Church, The Disciples of Christ, or more simply as The Disciples...
in the United States and the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
.