Evangelical Fellowship of Congregational Churches
Encyclopedia
The Evangelical Fellowship of Congregational Churches (EFCC) is an association of around 125 independent local churches in the UK
, each practising congregationalist church governance. The EFCC was founded in 1967 by those evangelical Congregationalists who did not want to lose their independence with the formation of the Congregational Church of England and Wales and the subsequent formation of the United Reformed Church
in 1972. The EFCC is an Affinity
partner.
The EFCC churches share a common doctrinal statement, called the Basis of Faith which is Reformed and Evangelical
. As the EFCC churches are congregational, the EFCC does not have any denominational hierarchy. However, the Fellowship does have officers, including a general secretary.
Some of their churches are also in membership of the Congregational Federation
or of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches
(FIEC).
The EFCC is a member of the World Evangelical Congregational Fellowship
(WECF). EFCC hosted the WECF's Triennial Conference in 2007 at Hothorpe Hall, Leicestershire.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, each practising congregationalist church governance. The EFCC was founded in 1967 by those evangelical Congregationalists who did not want to lose their independence with the formation of the Congregational Church of England and Wales and the subsequent formation of the United Reformed Church
United Reformed Church
The United Reformed Church is a Christian church in the United Kingdom. It has approximately 68,000 members in 1,500 congregations with some 700 ministers.-Origins and history:...
in 1972. The EFCC is an Affinity
Affinity (Christian organisation)
Affinity describes itself as "a growing network of many hundreds of Bible-centred churches and Christian agencies throughout Britain and Ireland". It was founded in 1953 as the British Evangelical Council and in 1981 numbered over 2,000 churches. The organization stagnated in the 1980s following...
partner.
The EFCC churches share a common doctrinal statement, called the Basis of Faith which is Reformed and Evangelical
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
. As the EFCC churches are congregational, the EFCC does not have any denominational hierarchy. However, the Fellowship does have officers, including a general secretary.
Some of their churches are also in membership of the Congregational Federation
Congregational Federation
The Congregational Federation is a Federation of independent Congregational churches in England, Scotland and Wales....
or of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches
Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches
The Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches is a network of over 500 independent, evangelical churches mainly in the United Kingdom that preach an evangelical faith...
(FIEC).
The EFCC is a member of the World Evangelical Congregational Fellowship
World Evangelical Congregational Fellowship
The World Evangelical Congregational Fellowship is a global association of evangelical christian Congregational Churches, from various national associations around the world, including: Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, India, Macedonia, Micronesia, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, The...
(WECF). EFCC hosted the WECF's Triennial Conference in 2007 at Hothorpe Hall, Leicestershire.