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Religious Group Founded
(German) Reformed Church in the United States 1725
Abner Jones / Elias Smith 1800
Alexander Campbell's Disciples 1809
American Unitarian Association 1825
Barton W. Stone's Christians 1801
Christian Church 1833
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 1832
Christian Connection/Christian Church 1810
Congregational Christian Churches 1931
Congregationalist Churches 1620
Conservative Congregational Christian Conference 1945
Evangelical and Reformed Church 1934
Evangelical Association of Reformed and Congregational Christian 1998
Evangelical Synod of North America 1872
James O'Kelly's Christians 1792
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 1955
Puritans 1628
Reformed Church in the United States 1934
Unitarian Universalist Association 1961
United Church of Christ 1957
Universalist Church in America 1793
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Description
The Reformed Church in the United States (RCUS) is a communion of Christian churches in the Reformed tradition. It was esta
Abner Jones (c. 1772-1841) and Elias Smith (1769-1846) were former Baptists in New England who established Christian fellow
Alexander Campbell (1788-1866) was an early leader in the Restoration movement. He was born in Ireland, educated at the U
The American Unitarian Association was founded in 1825 by William Ellery Channing as a missionary association. Channing fo
Barton W. Stone (1772-1844) was an editor and former Presbyterian preacher who was expelled from the Presbyterian churc
The Christian Church formed officially from a general convention in 1833 that united churches as old as the 1794 church start
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is one of several large groups that has grown out of the Restoration Movement begu
The Christian Connection, or Christian Church, was formed around 1810 as the congregations associated with the movements
Formed in 1931 by the merger between the National Council of the Congregational Churches and the Christian Church, the G
Founded in America in 1620 by Pilgrims, the Congregational Churches were a strong spiritual and academic force in early Ame
The Conservative Congregational Christian Conference was founded in 1945 by conservative ministers and members of the Co
In 1934, the majority of the Reformed Church in the United States merged with the Evangelical Synod to form the Evangelical
The Evangelical Association of Reformed and Congregational Christian Churches was incorporated in 1998. It began forming a
In 1872, the German Evangelical Synod of North America formed as a merger between the German Evangelical Synod of the W
James O'Kelly (1738-1826) was a preacher in the American Methodist Church at the time when John Wesley sent a letter to th
The National Association of Congregational Christian Churches was founded in 1955 by members of the Congregational Christi
The Puritans arrived in New England around 1630 and directed the New England settlement. They were Congregationalists w
In 1934, the majority of the Reformed Church in the United States (formed in the 1720s) merged with the Evangelical Synod t
The Unitarian Universalist Association was formed in 1961 by the merger of the American Unitarian Association and the Univ
The United Church of Christ was founded in 1957 as a merger of the Congregational-Christian Churches and the Evangelical a
The Universalist Church in America was founded in 1793. In 1961, it merged with the American Unitarian Association to form
 formed tradition. It was established in the U.S. in 1725, with John Philip Boehm as the first minister. Approximately 20 years later, in 1747
o established Christian fellowship in 1800 that eschewed denominational labels and referred to followers simply as Christians.
in Ireland, educated at the University of Glasgow (Scotland), and emigrated to the United States with his mother and siblings at the age of
ary association. Channing focused on ethics over doctrine. The American Unitarian Association merged with the Universalist Church in Am
from the Presbyterian church after the Cane Ridge revival of 1801 in Kentucky. Stone and four other ministers censured by the Synod of K
old as the 1794 church started by James O'Kelly. The Churches united around desires for non-sectarian unity and identification as merely
Restoration Movement begun in the early 19th century by Barton Stone and Thomas and Alexander Campbell.
ociated with the movements of James O'Kelly, Abner Jones/Elias Smith, and Barton Stone united. At the time, it was still a loose fellowship
d the Christian Church, the General Council of Congregational and Christian Churches lasted until it merged with the Evangelical and Reform
academic force in early American Christianity. In 1931, the National Council of the Congregational Churches merged with the Christian Ch
sters and members of the Congregational Christian Churches who opposed the merger that created the United Church of Christ.
ynod to form the Evangelical and Reformed Church. In 1957, the Evangelical and Reformed Church merged with the Congregational and C
d in 1998. It began forming a few years before that, when members of the United Church of Christ became disgruntled with the spread of
an Evangelical Synod of the West, the United Synod of the Northwest, and the United Synod of the East. The word German was dropped f
ohn Wesley sent a letter to the American (Methodist) churches that gave them their independence from the English churches. However, w
of the Congregational Christian Churches who rejected the merger of that church into the United Church of Christ.
y were Congregationalists with regard to how they placed ecclesiastical power in the hands of local congregations, but also aligned congre
with the Evangelical Synod to form the Evangelical and Reformed Church (now a constituent part of the United Church of Christ). At that ti
an Association and the Universalist Church in America. The merger represents the coming together of the two oldest segments of the libe
urches and the Evangelical and Reformed Church. It continues the American Congregational tradition.
nitarian Association to form the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations.
oximately 20 years later, in 1747, the first Coetus of the church was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This effort to organize was led by R
simply as Christians.
mother and siblings at the age of 21 (his father had preceded the family in emigrating). After reuniting, Alexander and his father, Thomas C
th the Universalist Church in America in 1961 to form the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations.
ters censured by the Synod of Kentucky subsequently formed the Springfield Presbytery. This presbytery was dissolved in 1809, however,
nity and identification as merely Christian Churches. In 1931, the Christian Church merged with the Congregational Churches. In 1957, the G

me, it was still a loose fellowship of churches, and they preferred the name The Christian Church. In 1832, many of the churches within thi
with the Evangelical and Reformed Church in 1957 to form the United Church of Christ.
es merged with the Christian Church into the General Council of Congregational and Christian Churches.
nited Church of Christ.
d with the Congregational and Christian Churches to form the United Church of Christ.
e disgruntled with the spread of more liberal theology in that denomination. The Evangelical Association of Reformed and Congregational
he word German was dropped from the name in 1927, and in 1934, this group merged with the Reformed Church in the United States to f
he English churches. However, with this notice came the appointment of Francis Asbury to the head of the American church, which eventu

egations, but also aligned congregations to colonial governments.

nited Church of Christ). At that time, the Eureka Classis (based in South Dakota) refused to join the merger and continued as the Reformed
two oldest segments of the liberal tradition. Unitarian Universalism is a creedless religion with Judeo-Christian roots. It draws also from Ea
s effort to organize was led by Rev. Michael Schlatter. About 100 years later, in 1863, the various Synods and Classes of the church united

xander and his father, Thomas Campbell, recognized their similar positions in religious thought. In 1809, Thomas Campbell published his D

was dissolved in 1809, however, as the founders protested Presbyterian polity in their celebrated document, The Last Will and Testament
gational Churches. In 1957, the General Council of Congregational and Christian Churches was part of the merger that formed the United C

many of the churches within this group that were led by Barton Stone united with those of Alexander Campbell. This produced the Stone-

f Reformed and Congregational Christian Churches is a voluntary association providing partnership, resources, and unity to likeminded con
Church in the United States to form the Evangelical and Reformed Church.
American church, which eventually proved problematic for O'Kelly. After disagreement between O'Kelly and Asbury over the preaching a

r and continued as the Reformed Church in the United States and laid claim to the history of that body from the eighteenth century. The C
stian roots. It draws also from Eastern, humanist, and other religious traditions, and encourages its members to seek religious truth out of
 nd Classes of the church united to form the General Synod. The church was then reorganized in the 1930s; in 1934, this denomination me

homas Campbell published his Declaration and Address of the Christian Association of Washington, which became a classic in the Restorati

nt, The Last Will and Testament of the Springfield Presbytery. The group took the new name Christian Church. In 1832, Stone's movement
merger that formed the United Church of Christ.

mpbell. This produced the Stone-Campbell movement that would become the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The remaining group c

ces, and unity to likeminded congregations who may or may not be part of formal denominations.

and Asbury over the preaching autonomy of Circuit Riders, O'Kelly left the Methodist conference (this was in 1792) and took a number of m

m the eighteenth century. The Church is a member of the International Conference of Reformed Churches.
ers to seek religious truth out of their own reflection and experience.
 ; in 1934, this denomination merged with the Evangelical Synod of North America to form the Evangelical and Reformed Church. The part

became a classic in the Restoration literature. Alexander became a powerful editor of religious publications. In 1832, the Campbell movem

rch. In 1832, Stone's movement (followers of which were called Christians) merged with Alexander Campbell's movement to become the S

of Christ). The remaining group continued to exist as the non-Stone-Campbell Christians.

in 1792) and took a number of members with him. This new group operated as The Republican Methodists for several years before remov
and Reformed Church. The part of the church that did not merge continued on with the same name. In 1957, the Evangelical and Reforme

ns. In 1832, the Campbell movement (the followers of which were referred to as Disciples of Christ) merged with Barton W. Stone's movem

bell's movement to become the Stone-Campbell movement.

s for several years before removing the denominational name and simply choosing to be called Christians. This was per the advice of Rice
57, the Evangelical and Reformed Church merged with the Congregational Christian Churches to form the United Church of Christ.

d with Barton W. Stone's movement, becoming the Stone-Campbell movement.

This was per the advice of Rice Haggard, another preacher in the area, who would later give the same advice to Barton Stone.
United Church of Christ.

vice to Barton Stone.