Evangelical church alliance
Encyclopedia
The Evangelical Church Alliance ("ECA") is an Inter-denominational
association of Christian ministers that exists to serve the goal of spreading the Christian
religion.
Its official website asserts that it provides credentials to "pastor
s, teacher
s, para church leaders, missionaries, evangelist
s, speakers, youth work
ers, professor
s, military chaplain
s, and fire, industrial, hospice, police, and prison chaplains, to name a few".
The ECA is associated with the National Association of Evangelicals
and the Evangelical Council of Financial Accountability.
As with similar organizations of such an age, the ECA has scant documentary history. However, a letter from C.S. Hanley's wife Minnie still exists, which provides some evidence of the initial vision of the organisation.
Soon after the death of C.S. Hanley, a decision was made by the board of WFMA to divest the organisation. However, the WFMA was re-established in two locations by separate groups within the organization. Each claimed the support of Mrs. Hanley.
Rev. C.S. Osterhus organized the WFMA in Robbinsdale, Minnesota
while another portion of membership under the leadership of Dr. Montgomery organized in Webster Groves, Missouri
. In the case of the latter, the name "Fundamental Ministerial Association" was chosen in 1931 to reflect the organization's basis of unity and to distinguish the organization from the WFMA in Minnesota.
On July 21, 1958 during the annual convention at Trinity Seminary and Bible College in Chicago, Illinois, a more comprehensive constitution was created and the name was changed to The Evangelical Church Alliance.
The ECA's membership includes over 2,400 constituents. Its official website describes its motto as being: "In things essential, unity; in things nonessential, liberty and in all things, charity."
Rev., Dr. Henry A. (Hank) Roso - Vice President
Rev., Dr. George L. Miller, Chairman of the Board
Rev. Michael Darrin Jones - Chaplain
Rev. Phil Driscoll
Religious denomination
A religious denomination is a subgroup within a religion that operates under a common name, tradition, and identity.The term describes various Christian denominations...
association of Christian ministers that exists to serve the goal of spreading the Christian
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...
religion.
Its official website asserts that it provides credentials to "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, teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
s, para church leaders, missionaries, evangelist
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
s, speakers, youth work
Youth work
In the United Kingdom youth work is the process of creating an environment where young people can engage in informal educational activities. Different varieties of youth work include centre-based work, detached work, school-based work and religion based work....
ers, professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
s, military chaplain
Military chaplain
A military chaplain is a chaplain who ministers to soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and other members of the military. In many countries, chaplains also minister to the family members of military personnel, to civilian noncombatants working for military organizations and to civilians within the...
s, and fire, industrial, hospice, police, and prison chaplains, to name a few".
The ECA is associated with the National Association of Evangelicals
National Association of Evangelicals
The National Association of Evangelicals is a fellowship of member denominations, churches, organizations, and individuals. Its goal is to honor God by connecting and representing evangelicals in the United States. Today it works in four main areas: Church & Faith Partners, Government Relations,...
and the Evangelical Council of Financial Accountability.
History
The ECA was established in 1887 by the Reverend C.S. Hanley in Shenadoah, Iowa as the World's Faith Missionary Association (WFMA).As with similar organizations of such an age, the ECA has scant documentary history. However, a letter from C.S. Hanley's wife Minnie still exists, which provides some evidence of the initial vision of the organisation.
- "My darling husband truly had a world vision of bringing Christian leadership into harmonious relation to each other. . . The World's Faith Missionary Association was organized and equipped for this purpose."http://www.ecainternational.org/history.html
Soon after the death of C.S. Hanley, a decision was made by the board of WFMA to divest the organisation. However, the WFMA was re-established in two locations by separate groups within the organization. Each claimed the support of Mrs. Hanley.
Rev. C.S. Osterhus organized the WFMA in Robbinsdale, Minnesota
Robbinsdale, Minnesota
Robbinsdale is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 13,953 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water....
while another portion of membership under the leadership of Dr. Montgomery organized in Webster Groves, Missouri
Webster Groves, Missouri
Webster Groves is an inner-ring suburb of St. Louis, located in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 22,995 at the 2010 census. The city is named after New England politician Daniel Webster....
. In the case of the latter, the name "Fundamental Ministerial Association" was chosen in 1931 to reflect the organization's basis of unity and to distinguish the organization from the WFMA in Minnesota.
On July 21, 1958 during the annual convention at Trinity Seminary and Bible College in Chicago, Illinois, a more comprehensive constitution was created and the name was changed to The Evangelical Church Alliance.
The ECA's membership includes over 2,400 constituents. Its official website describes its motto as being: "In things essential, unity; in things nonessential, liberty and in all things, charity."
Current Leadership
Rev., Dr. Sam Goebel - President and CEORev., Dr. Henry A. (Hank) Roso - Vice President
Rev., Dr. George L. Miller, Chairman of the Board
Current Members Include
Rev. Joseph Scott Shubert - MinisterRev. Michael Darrin Jones - Chaplain
Rev. Phil Driscoll
Phil Driscoll
Phil Driscoll is a contemporary Christian singer, composer, and perhaps best known for his trumpet playing. He has a music and speaking ministry. Driscoll won a Best Gospel Performance Grammy Award in 1984 for a duet with Debby Boone on "Keep the Fire Burning", and has been nominated for two...