Disciples Ecumenical Consultative Council
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| Disciples Ecumenical Consultative Council Disciples World Communion | |
|---|---|
| Type | Communion |
| Classification | Protestant |
| Orientation | Restoration Movement (Disciples), Reformed |
| Polity | Congregational |
| General Secretary | Paul S. Tché |
| Moderator | Shernett Smith |
| Region | 18 countries |
| Headquarters | Indianapolis |
| Origin | 1979 |
| Congregations | 15,528 |
| Members | 4.5 million members |
The Disciples Ecumenical Consultative Council (DECC), also named the Disciples of Christ World Communion, is a worldwide council of member churches associated with the Disciples of Christ, including United and Uniting Churches which Disciples churches have joined. It is an associate member of the World Communion of Reformed Churches. The headquarters is in Indianapolis.
History
[edit | edit source]The Council has its origins in a meeting organized by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Nairobi during the World Council of Churches conference in 1975.[1] The Council was officially founded in 1979 in Kingston, Jamaica by 12 denominations.[2] According to a denomination census released in 2025, it claimed 18 member denominations in 18 countries and 4.5 million members.[3]
Member list
[edit | edit source]In 2024, the DECC had 18 members:[4]
| Country | denominational subfamily | Denomination | Number of congregations | Number of members | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Disciples of Christ | Evangelical Church of the Disciples of Christ | 7 | 700 | 2006[5] |
| Australia | Churches of Christ | Churches of Christ in Australia | 430 | 40,000 | 2006[6] |
| Canada | Disciples of Christ | Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Canada | 25 | 2,606 | 2006[7] |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | Disciples of Christ | Church of Christ in Congo - Community of Disciples of Christ | 193 | 650,000 | 2006[8]
|
| Ghana | Churches of Christ | United Churches of Christ of Christ (Ghana) | - | - | - |
| India | United Churches (Presbyterians, Anglicans, Methodists and Disciples of Christ) | Church of North India | 4,600 | 2,300,000 | 2025[9] |
| Jamaica | United Churches (Presbyterians, Congregationalists and Disciples of Christ) | United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands | 194 | 14,000 | 2025[10] |
| Malawi | Churches of Christ | Church of Christ in Malawi | 4,000 | 75,000 | 1991[11][12] |
| Mexico | Disciples of Christ | Association of Evangelical Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ) | - | - | - |
| New Zealand | Churches of Christ | Association of Churches of Christ in New Zealand | 33 | 2,000 | 2006[13] |
| Paraguay | Disciples of Christ | Disciples of Christ Church in Paraguay | 12 | - | 2020[14] |
| Puerto Rico | Disciples of Christ | Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Puerto Rico | 105 | 19,000 | 2024[15] |
| South Africa | Congregational | United Congregational Church of Southern Africa | 1,000 | 1,500,000 | 2024[16][17] |
| United Kingdom | United Churches (Presbyterians, Congregationalists and Disciples of Christ) | United Reformed Church | 1,242 | 35,844 | 2022[18] |
| United Kingdom | Churches of Christ | Fellowship of the Churches of Christ in England | 63 | 2,621 | 2020[19] |
| United States | Disciples of Christ | Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) | 3,624 | 277,864 | 2022[20] |
| Vanuatu | Churches of Christ | Churches of Christ - Vanuatu | - | - | - |
| Zimbabwe | Churches of Christ | Association of Churches of Christ in Zimbabwe | - | - | - |
| Global | Total | Ecumenical Disciples Advisory Council | 15,528 | 4,919,635 | 2004-2024 |
Beliefs
[edit | edit source]The Council is an associate member of the World Communion of Reformed Churches.[21]
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ Ans Joachim van der Bent, Historical Dictionary of Ecumenical Christianity, Scarecrow Press, Lanham MD, 1994, p. 76
- ^ J. Gordon Melton, Martin Baumann, Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices, ABC-CLIO, Santa Barbara, 2010, p. 891
- ^ Disciples Ecumenical Consultative Council, About the DECC, disciplesworldcommunion.org, USA, accessed August 16, 2025
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- ^ World Communion of Reformed Churches, Members, wcrc.ch, accessed August 16, 2025