| International Congregational Fraternity | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Protestant |
| Orientation | Congregational |
| Origin | 1977 |
| Congregations | 2,843 |
| Members | 1,709,402 |
| Official website | www |
The International Congregational Fellowship (International Congregational Fellowship) is an association that brings together congregational denominations around the world in order to promote mutual cooperation. [1]
In 1891, in London, the International Congregational Council (ICC) was founded. This body represented, for many decades, congregational unity throughout the world.
However, in the 20th century, Liberal Theology and Ecumenism spread among congregational churches throughout the world. Many congregational churches, as a result, abandoned the doctrine of biblical inerrancy and also the distinctives of Congregationalism.
In the 1960s and 1970s, several congregational groups around the world merged with Presbyterian and/or Methodist and/or Anglican groups, forming denominations such as the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Portugal [2] , Uniting Church in Australia [3] , United Church of Canada [4] , Church of North India, Church of South India and United Reformed Church [5] .
In 1970, the ICC was already formed by several united churches, which were also members of the Alliance of Reformed Churches that maintain the Presbyterian System (AIRSP). Thus, in that year, the ICC and AIRSP merged, giving rise to the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (AMIR). In 2010, the AMIR merged with the Reformed Ecumenical Council to form the current World Communion of Reformed Churches (CMIR).
In 1975, Congregationalists from various parts of the world met at Chiselhurst in the United Kingdom to discuss the need and possibility of some kind of worldwide fellowship to replace the ICC that had been dissolved that decade. Thus, in 1977, the inaugural conference of the ICF was held. [6]
In the years that followed, the organization expanded, adding congregational unions and associations from around the world. In the 21st century, it is the largest congregational fellowship in the world in terms of membership.
Another large global organization of congregational churches is the World Evangelical Congregational Fellowship (FMEC). This has a more conservative and evangelical stance than the ICF. While the FMEC requires its members to affirm biblical inerrancy, the ICF does not require such a commitment.
Thus, the majority of ICF members are also members of the World Communion of Reformed Churches. [7]
In 2025, the members of the International Congregational Fellowship were: [8]
| Country | Denomination | Number of congregations | Number of members | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe | United Congregational Church of Southern Africa [n 1] | 1,000 | 1,500,000 | 2024 [9] [10] |
| South Africa | Union of Congregational Churches in South Africa | - | - | - |
| Argentina | Evangelical Congregational Church in Argentina [n 1] | 120 | 6,000 | 2021 [11] |
| Armenia | Congregational Churches in Armenia | - | - | - |
| Australia and New Zealand | Congregational Federation of Australia and New Zealand [n 1] | 31 | 2,985 | 2004 [12] |
| Brazil | Evangelical Congregational Church in Brazil | 375 | 50,000 | 2010 [13] [14] |
| South Korea | Korean Puritan Movement | - | - | - |
| United States | National Association of Congregational Christian Churches | 304 | 41,582 | 2020 [15] |
| Greece | Congregational Churches in Greece | - | - | - |
| Guyana | Guyana Congregational Union [n 1] | 40 | 2,452 | 2006 [16] |
| India | Congregational Church of India (Maraland) [n 1] | 23 | 5,500 | 2006 [17] |
| Myanmar | Congregational Church of Myanmar | - | - | - [18] |
| United Kingdom | Union of Welsh Independents [n 1] | 390 | 20,000 | 2006 [19] |
| United Kingdom | Congregational Federation | 235 | 10,883 | 2004 [20] |
| Samoa | Congregational Christian Church of Samoa [n 1] | 325 | 70,000 | 2006 [21] |
| Global | International Congregational Fellowship | 2,843 | 1,709,402 | 2004-2025 |