Constant and Consistent in the CCCC

RON HAMILTON, CCCC CONFERENCE MINISTER

I have the unique opportunity to visit member churches of the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference all across our nation. I’ve often mentioned that one thing I’ve learned since I became Conference Minister is “you can do church many different ways.” Our congregational polity allows for our churches to minister in unique ways to the context of their community and the makeup of the congregation. There is much diversity in the churches that make up the CCCC.

Our Conference has urban churches and rural churches. We have many churches in small towns. There are mega-churches in our fellowship and many very small churches. There are churches in our Conference that are over 300 years old and we are blessed to have many church plants that are less than 5 years old.
The worship in our churches can be very traditional and even somewhat liturgical. But it is very common to worship in a CCCC church with contemporary music and modern innovations. I’ve seen pastors dressed in robes, in suits, and in blue jeans. It is not fair to say that the churches of our fellowship look alike.
However, with all of this diversity, there is one constant. The member churches of our Conference all align with our Statement of Faith and the teaching and preaching of the Bible is central to the ministry of all of our churches.
We believe the Bible consisting of the Old and New Testament, to be the only inspired, inerrant, infallible, authoritative Word of God written.
I have been so encouraged that the preaching of the Word is central to the worship of our churches. I have often been stirred on in my own walk with the Lord by a sermon I’ve heard in one of our churches. I’ve attended Sunday School classes that are centered on Bible study and application of Scripture. I’ve had the opportunity to visit small groups in member churches that are Bible-centered and the members seek to live in obedience to the Word.

The expression of worship in our churches can take many different forms. The look of our facilities can vary from high church architecture to a high school gymnasium. The worship songs can be 17th Century or composed last month. But, one things is consistent in our churches. The Word of God is central and the Bible is proclaimed faithfully by our pastors. The deep conviction of our faith is lived out in continual obedience to 2 Timothy 4:2:

Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.