Make That “Post-Enlightenment” Gnostics

According to the New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge,

The term “church federation” has come into use in recent years to designate the spirit and methods of cooperation and unity that in varied ways are bringing Protestant Churches and Christian bodies into organized affiliation and united action in matters of common interest and service. . . . Historically the federation movement is the United States is linked with the development of the spirit of unity which found expression in the nineteenth century through the American branch of the Evangelical Alliance (q.v.). A conference held in New York, Dec. 3, 1899, took steps which resulted in the organization of the National Federation of Churches and Christian Workers. . . . The difference between federated union and organic church union is clearly defined in the stipulation that “this Federal Council shall have no authority over the constituent bodies adhering to it: but its province shall be limited to the expression of its counsel and the recommending of a course of action in matters of common interest to the Churches, local councils, and individual Christians.” (New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, vol. 3, ed. Samuel Macauley Jackson [Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1952, digital facsimile edition] 90, 91, emphasis added)

Did you catch the date of the first “federation” of churches? They’re nineteenth century. This means that the CREC’s form of government is not only Gnostic, it’s post-Enlightenment Gnostic!

It gets better. Notice the words “this Federal Council shall have no authority over the constituent bodies adhering to it: but its province shall be limited to the expression of its counsel and the recommending of a course of action,” which are taken from the NFCCW Constitution, and compare them with this line: “The decisions of the assemblies with regard to the local congregation are spiritually authoritative, but practically advisory,” which is from the CREC Constitution.

At least the National Federation of Churches and Christian Workers didn’t mistake itself for a presbytery.

Thank you.