9th Summer Institute on UCC History, Theology and Polity
Geneva Point, New Hampshire
Course Outline
Day 1: Monday, June 11 Clifton Davis
2:00 - 5:00 p.m. Personal introductions
Overview of the Seminar
Requirements for academic credit
UCC Bibliography.
Day 2: Tuesday, June 12 Clifton Davis
9:00 - 12 noon Survey of the history of the
Congregational churches highlighting the contributions
of Congregationalism to the UCC, with a discussion of
some of the personalities whose influence was
particularly impressive.
2:00 - 5:00 p.m. William Imes
A fresh look at some of the major documents from the
Congregational heritage, with emphasis on the Cambridge
Platform of 1648.
Day 3: Wednesday, June 13
9:00 - 12 noon Clifton Davis
Presentation of the Christian Movement through the
lives of some of its formative personalities. This
uniquely American expression of frontier faith was part
of the merger forming the Congregational Christian
Churches, in 1923.
2:00 - 5:00 p.m. William Imes
The history of the German Reformed Church in the
United States; its documents, personalities, worship
emphases, and polity. The distinctive contribution of
Mercersberg Seminary invites us to define the nature of
the church and appreciate its catholicity.
Day 4: Thursday, June 14
9:00 - 12 noon William Imes
The history of the German Evangelical Synod of North
America: its documents, personalities, worship emphases,
and polity. Our focus will be on the ecumenical spirit,
social outreach and theological contribution of this
denomination (especially through the Niebuhrs).
2:00 - 5:00 p.m. Clifton Davis
Issues of Diversity within the United Church of
Christ: looking at various peoples, theological
perspectives, and social concerns that animate the life
of the churches.
Day 5: Friday, June 15
9:00 - 12 noon William Imes
The structure of the United Church of Christ: its
history, present nature, and future direction.
Day 6: Monday, June 18
2:00 - 5:00 p.m. William Imes
A look at the history of worship in the various
traditions making up the UCC, the hymnals in use at
various times, the current UCC Book of Worship.
Day 7: Tuesday, June 19
9:00 - 12:00 noon Clifton Davis
A historical survey of social action movements
affecting 19th and 20th century
churches in the U.S. -- relations with Native Americans,
missions, slavery, temperance, the "Social
Gospel," the labor movement, education (of women),
pacifism.
2:00 - 5:00 p.m. William Imes
Social action concerns facing the contemporary
church, of local, regional, and national focus -- such
as abortion, homosexuality, multi-culturalism, race
relations, economic justice, bio-ethical questions, etc.
Day 8: Wednesday, June 20
9:00 - 12:00 noon William Imes
Christian education in the UCC, curriculum, adult
work, spirituality, and healing.
2:00 - 5:00 p.m. Clifton Davis
The place of Associations within the structure of the
UCC, including processes and procedures relating to
ministry and ministers, ordination and commissioning, a
code of ethics, pastoral abuses and discipline.
Day 9: Thursday, June 21
9:00 - 12:00 noon William Imes
Conferences and their place in UCC structure will be
highlighted. Conference concerns, programs, finance, and
the role of Conference Ministers, along with tensions
between these state structures and the national bodies
will be discussed.
2:00 - 5:00 p.m. Clifton Davis
Models of the church and its fellowship, the
geography and sociology of the UCC will focus the
conversations as we look at the old questions,
"What is the church?"
Day 10: Friday, June 22
9:00 - 12:00 noon William Imes
Models of the parish ministry, the future of
denominations, and "other" concerns as
expressed, will bring the seminar to a close.