Church union
Encyclopedia
Church union is the name given to a merger of two or more Christian
denominations
. Such unions may occur in one of two ways.
merged in what is known as the Prussian Union
.
The nineteenth century saw a number of unions between different churches of the same tradition. For example, the United Secession Church
in Scotland was formed in 1820 by a union of various churches which had seceded from the established Church of Scotland
. All these were Presbyterian in both doctrine and practice. In the twentieth century many churches merged as a result of the Ecumenical movement. One of the earliest such unions was in 1925, and formed the United Church of Canada
.
.
On July 24, 1901, the Presbyterian Churches of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia joined together to form the Presbyterian Church of Australia
. This was a federation
, similar to the Federation
which formed the Commonwealth of Australia on January 1 of that same year. In his inaugural moderatorial
address, John Meiklejohn made it clear that the ecclesiastical union consciously reflected the union of the colonies: "We have, by forming this Assembly, formed a Court whose jurisdiction is, as regards territory, equal to, and coterminous with that of the Federal Parliament, and like it, is representative in its character."
This union involved churches of the same denomination in different locations. The individual state churches also kept their individual identities and retained many of their rights and privileges. A federal church rather than a national church was created.
of 1596) is also used for the arrangement whereby a particular group of Orthodox Christians enters communion with the Pope of Rome, while maintaining the Eastern rites.
Such groups are known generically as Eastern Catholic Churches. Their adherents are occasionally referred to as uniates.
In a somewhat parallel way, but on a much smaller scale, Russian Orthodox Church
has integrated certain Old Believer communities, allowing them to keep their rites while recognizing the authority of the national church. This arrangement is known as Edinoverie
.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
denominations
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
. Such unions may occur in one of two ways.
United churches
Some churches have formed as a result of a merger of churches of different denominations. One of the first of these occurred in 1817, when Lutheran and Reformed churches in PrussiaPrussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
merged in what is known as the Prussian Union
Prussian Union (Evangelical Christian Church)
The Prussian Union was the merger of the Lutheran Church and the Reformed Church in Prussia, by a series of decrees – among them the Unionsurkunde – by King Frederick William III...
.
The nineteenth century saw a number of unions between different churches of the same tradition. For example, the United Secession Church
United Secession Church
The United Secession Church was a Scottish Presbyterian denomination. It was founded in 1820 by a union of various churches which had seceded from the established Church of Scotland and existed until 1847....
in Scotland was formed in 1820 by a union of various churches which had seceded from the established Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
. All these were Presbyterian in both doctrine and practice. In the twentieth century many churches merged as a result of the Ecumenical movement. One of the earliest such unions was in 1925, and formed the United Church of Canada
United Church of Canada
The United Church of Canada is a Protestant Christian denomination in Canada. It is the largest Protestant church and, after the Roman Catholic Church, the second-largest Christian church in Canada...
.
Federation
Some churches may join together by way of federationFederation
A federation , also known as a federal state, is a type of sovereign state characterized by a union of partially self-governing states or regions united by a central government...
.
On July 24, 1901, the Presbyterian Churches of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia joined together to form the Presbyterian Church of Australia
Presbyterian Church of Australia
The Presbyterian Church of Australia is the largest Presbyterian denomination in Australia. .-Beginnings:...
. This was a federation
Federation
A federation , also known as a federal state, is a type of sovereign state characterized by a union of partially self-governing states or regions united by a central government...
, similar to the Federation
Federation of Australia
The Federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate British self-governing colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia formed one nation...
which formed the Commonwealth of Australia on January 1 of that same year. In his inaugural moderatorial
Moderator of the General Assembly
The Moderator of the General Assembly is the chairperson of a General Assembly, the highest court of a presbyterian or reformed church. Kirk Sessions and Presbyteries may also style the chairperson as moderator....
address, John Meiklejohn made it clear that the ecclesiastical union consciously reflected the union of the colonies: "We have, by forming this Assembly, formed a Court whose jurisdiction is, as regards territory, equal to, and coterminous with that of the Federal Parliament, and like it, is representative in its character."
This union involved churches of the same denomination in different locations. The individual state churches also kept their individual identities and retained many of their rights and privileges. A federal church rather than a national church was created.
The Uniates and the Edinovertsy
The term "union" (e.g., the Union of BrestUnion of Brest
Union of Brest or Union of Brześć refers to the 1595-1596 decision of the Church of Rus', the "Metropolia of Kiev-Halych and all Rus'", to break relations with the Patriarch of Constantinople and place themselves under the Pope of Rome. At the time, this church included most Ukrainians and...
of 1596) is also used for the arrangement whereby a particular group of Orthodox Christians enters communion with the Pope of Rome, while maintaining the Eastern rites.
Such groups are known generically as Eastern Catholic Churches. Their adherents are occasionally referred to as uniates.
In a somewhat parallel way, but on a much smaller scale, Russian Orthodox Church
Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church or, alternatively, the Moscow Patriarchate The ROC is often said to be the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the world; including all the autocephalous churches under its umbrella, its adherents number over 150 million worldwide—about half of the 300 million...
has integrated certain Old Believer communities, allowing them to keep their rites while recognizing the authority of the national church. This arrangement is known as Edinoverie
Edinoverie
Edinoverie is an arrangement between certain Russian Old Believer communities and the official Russian Orthodox State Church, whereby the communities are treated as a part of the normative Orthodox Church system, while maintaining their own traditional rites...
.