What is the Church of Christ Uniting?

The Church of Christ Uniting was a proposed effort to bring together several mainline Protestant denominations in the United States during the mid-20th century. This idea grew out of a broader push for Christian unity, especially among more theologically liberal Protestant groups that hoped to move beyond denominational divisions and present a more unified witness to the world. The initiative was led by the Consultation on Church Union, which began in 1962 and included churches like the United Methodist Church, the Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the United Church of Christ, and others. Their vision was to create a single, united church that would preserve theological diversity while sharing a common structure, ministry, and mission. In 1970, the Consultation released a document called The Plan of Union, which laid out the framework for this new denomination to be named the Church of Christ Uniting.

Theologically, the Church of Christ Uniting aimed to embrace a wide range of Protestant traditions. It sought to blend aspects of Reformed, Methodist, Episcopal, and other church structures. The plan included a shared ministry that would affirm different forms of ordination and sacramental practice, along with a unified liturgy and confession of faith. However, despite the optimism of some leaders, the proposal met with considerable resistance from within the participating denominations. Many were concerned about potential compromises in doctrine, questions of church authority, and the possible loss of their unique denominational identities. Because of these concerns, the Church of Christ Uniting never became a reality. By the 1980s, the movement had lost much of its momentum and eventually gave way to a new organization called Churches Uniting in Christ, which focused more on collaborative ministry than on structural merger.

From a biblical standpoint, the desire for unity among believers is admirable and reflects the heart of Jesus’ prayer in John 17:21, where He prayed “that they may all be one...so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (ESV). The apostle Paul also urged the church to “maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3, ESV). Still, Scripture makes it clear that unity must be grounded in truth. Paul warned strongly against altering the gospel message, writing, “If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:9, ESV). So, while unity is a biblical goal, it must be rooted in a shared commitment to the truth of the gospel, not just in organizational or institutional alignment.

Although the Church of Christ Uniting never came to fruition, it remains an important part of the story of American Protestantism and the broader ecumenical movement. It reflects both the deep longing for visible unity among Christians and the real difficulties of achieving that unity without compromising essential biblical truths. As followers of Christ, we are called to pursue unity in Him—but always in a way that aligns with the truth of God’s Word (John 17:17; 2 Timothy 4:2–4).