| A Brief History Of The The United Church of Christ in the Philippines |
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6:23 "Say to Aaron and his sons, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, 6:24 The LORD bless you and keep you: 6:25 The LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you: 6:26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.
The United Church of Christ in the Philippines is made up of the following denominations: the Presbyterians, methodists, Baptists, Episcopalians, United Brethern, Congregationalists, and the Disciples of Christ.
In 1901, the Evangelical Union was organized. Today this is known as the World Council of Churches. This was representatives of various mission groups and organizations allied to the church. It was an attempt to bring unity and cooperation among the mission groups and would eliminate competition among these mission groups and allies.
In 1943- the Evangelical church in the Philippines were formed with the coming together of the United Evangelical Church, the Church of Christ (Disciples), some segments of of the Iglesia Evangelica Methodista en las Filipinas (IEMELIF), Iglesia Evangelica National, the Philippine Methodist Church, and some independent local congregations remained as the Evangelical Church of the Philippines.
In 1947- under the initiative of the Philippine Federation of Christian Churches (now NCCP), a basis of union was sent to different churches for study and approval. The said basis of union was based on the following:
1. Loyalty to Jesus Christ, the Head and Lord of the church, on fidelty to the cause of the Kingdom of God.
2. Unity of Spirit and Life
3. Unity in diversity of gifts and ministries (interpretation, forms of worship, and mode of operation).
In 1948, 167 representatives of the United Evangelical Church in the Philippines, the Evangelical Church, and the Philippine Methodist Church signed the basis of union, and the Declaration of Union, which proclaimed the three churches "shall be one church known as the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, the UCCP.
The union in 1948 brought together three different types of policy or church government. - Spiritual oversight of Bishops in the United Brethern and the Methodist tradition.
- The collegial process and decision making and administration of the Presbyterian Church.
- The autonomy of the local church of the Congregational Church and the Disciples of Christ
By its very nature, UCCP is at once Evangelical, Ecumenical, and Prophetic. As its faith confession continues to broaden its efforts to deal with the roots of injustice and unpeace, and is strengthen by a sense of spirituality that is renewed by its consistent immersion with the people.
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