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, have 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
Igreja Evangélica Presbiteriana de Portugal,
Uniting Church in Australia,
United Church of Canada,
Church of North India,
Church of South India and
United Reformed Church. In 1970, the ICC was already formed by several united churches, which were also members of the
Alliance of the Reformed Churches holding the Presbyterian System (ARCPS). Thus, this year, the ICC and ARCPS merged, giving rise to the
World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC). WARC was formed by several churches that defended
Liberal Theology and many congregational denominations preferred not to join the organization. Consequently, the remaining Congregational denominations, which refused to unite with other denominations as well as refused to participate in the
World Alliance of Reformed Churches came together to form a new international organization for the group. The idea for the WECF began at a series of annual meetings of the
Conservative Congregational Christian Conference in 1983, when a number of international delegates at the American meetings expressed an interest in solidifying relationships with other evangelical congregationalists across the globe. A constitutional framework for the Fellowship was ultimately agreed upon, and the WECF held its inaugural assembly in October 1986, in
Sussex, England. ==Statistics==