# Congregational Christian Churches in Canada

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Congregational Christian Churches in Canada Abbreviation CCCC, 4Cs Orientation Congregationalist Theology Evangelical Protestant Polity Congregational Region Canada Headquarters Simcoe, Ontario Congregations 30 Official website https://www.cccc.ca/

The **Congregational Christian Churches in Canada** (or **4Cs**) is an [evangelical](/source/Evangelicalism) [Protestant](/source/Protestant) [Christian denomination](/source/Christian_denomination), headquartered in [Simcoe, Ontario](/source/Simcoe%2C_Ontario). It is a member of the [World Evangelical Congregational Fellowship](/source/World_Evangelical_Congregational_Fellowship).

## Organization and leadership

The name "congregational" generally describes its preferred organizational style, which promotes local church autonomy and ownership, while fostering fellowship and accountability between churches at the national level.

The 4Cs is led by a National Board of Directors, representing different areas of the country and coordinated by the Chairman and the National Pastor who give spiritual oversight to the broader Church. The denomination meets annually at a National Conference, which confirms a new location (West, Maritimes or Central Canada) for the following year.

## Historical roots

The roots of Congregational Christianity can be traced back to the Protestant Reformation in England. Congregational Churches were established in the New World by non-Conformist Christians, some of these arriving (in what would become Canada) out of roots in New England. The revivals of the [Great Awakening](/source/Great_Awakening) significantly contributed to the spread of congregational style and ministry all over the North American continent. Globally, Congregational ministry and missionaries spread to places like Hawaii and much of the south Pacific.

## Canadian hiatus

As a name and evangelical movement in Canada, Congregationalism was probably better known (and understood) in the 19th century, but many Congregational churches voted to join with Methodists and a majority of Presbyterians to form the United Church of Canada in 1925. As a direct consequence, the term "Congregational Church" fell into disuse, and virtually disappeared in Canada. A remnant of churches still congregational in polity were concentrated in Southern Ontario, and were known as the "Ontario Christian Churches". These churches affiliated with the [Conservative Congregational Christian Conference](/source/Conservative_Congregational_Christian_Conference) in the United States in 1965, but retained their independence as a separate conference.

## Recent history and opposition to theological liberalism

In response to what they regarded as increasing [theological liberalism](/source/Theological_liberalism) within the [United Church of Canada](/source/United_Church_of_Canada), particularly the denomination’s 1988 decision permitting the ordination of openly non-celibate gay ministers, some evangelical members left the church and sought affiliation with conservative congregations outside the denomination. A number of these individuals and congregations subsequently connected with the *Congregational Christian Churches of Ontario*, contributing to the later growth of the Congregational Christian Churches in Canada.[1]

## Current situation

The 4Cs represent a family of about 30 evangelical churches across Canada, each one committed to living out the Biblical witness of Jesus Christ — His Great Commands and Great Commission — in the power of the Holy Spirit. The 4Cs is a member of the [Evangelical Fellowship of Canada](/source/Evangelical_Fellowship_of_Canada). Its congregations have a strong desire to present and represent Jesus to willing listeners, to pray for revival, to foster caring in both global and local mission projects, and to work hand-in-hand with committed Christians of other denominations.

The 4Cs are willing to incorporate community churches who may be looking for affiliation, and can provide both a national network and healthy accountability for member churches. Its congregations are varied in worship style, and in local focus, but all share a common commitment to Biblical faith and creed, and a commitment to fostering interdependence in fellowship with one another.

The 4Cs' vision statement is: "Proclaiming Jesus Christ. Making Disciples. Building Healthy Churches."

## See also

- [List of Congregational churches](/source/List_of_Congregational_churches)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Flatt, Kevin (2010). ["The Loyal Opposition: A Brief History of the Renewal Movement in the United Church of Canada, 1966–2010"](https://web.archive.org/web/20231014201300/https://files.evangelicalfellowship.ca/min/rc/cft/V03I03/Loyal_Opposition.PDF) (PDF). *Church & Faith Trends*. **3** (3). [Evangelical Fellowship of Canada](/source/Evangelical_Fellowship_of_Canada). Archived from [the original](https://files.evangelicalfellowship.ca/min/rc/cft/V03I03/Loyal_Opposition.PDF) (PDF) on 2023-10-14. Retrieved 2026-05-08.

## External links

- [Congregational Christian Churches in Canada](http://www.cccc.ca)

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Church Calvinist Continental Reformed Canadian and American Reformed Churches Christian Reformed Church in North America[b] Free Reformed Churches of North America Heritage Reformed Congregations Netherlands Reformed Congregations Reformed Church in America[b] Reformed Congregations in North America United Reformed Churches in North America Presbyterian Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church L'Église réformée du Québec (Reformed Church of Quebec)[b] Free Presbyterian Church of North America Orthodox Presbyterian Church Presbyterian Church in America Presbyterian Church in Canada[c] Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America Congregationalist Congregational Christian Churches in Canada[b] Anglican Communion Anglican Church of Canada[c] Continuing Anglican Catholic Church of Canada[b] Realignment Anglican Church in North America[b] Anabaptist Brethren in Christ Church[b] Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches[b] Evangelical Mennonite Conference[b] Evangelical Mennonite Mission Conference[b] Fellowship of Evangelical Bible Churches[b] Mennonite Church Canada[b] The United Brethren Church In Canada[b] Radical Pietism Evangelical Covenant Church[b] Evangelical Free Church of Canada[b] Baptist (Main article) General Baptist General Conference of Canada[b] Canadian Baptist Ministries[b] Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec Canadian Baptists of Western Canada Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada Union of French Baptist Churches of Canada Canadian National Baptist Convention[b] Primitive Baptist Conference of New Brunswick, Maine and Nova Scotia The Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches in Canada[b] Landmark Missionary Baptist Association of Quebec North American Baptist Conference Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Convention of Canada Reformed Sovereign Grace Fellowship of Canada Regular Covenanted Baptist Church of Canada Methodist British Methodist Episcopal Church Church of the Nazarene[b] Free Methodist Church in Canada[b] Salvation Army[b] Wesleyan Church[b] Pentecostal Trinitarian Apostolic Church of Pentecost Canadian Assemblies of God[b] Christian Ministers' Association Church of God Canada[b] French World Christian Fellowship Independent Assemblies of God, International[b] International Fellowship of Christian Assemblies Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada[b] Pentecostal Assemblies of Newfoundland and Labrador[b] The Foursquare Church[b] The Pentecostal Holiness Church of Canada[b] Oneness United Pentecostal Church International Charismatic Evangelical Orthodox Church Vineyard Canada[b] Higher Life The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada[b] Other Associated Gospel Churches of Canada[b] Restorationism Stone–Campbell Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Evangelical Christian Church in Canada Mormonism Church of Jesus Christ Restored The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Canada Unitarian Canadian Unitarian Council ^ Not in communion with the rest of the Catholic Church, part of the Union of Scranton ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai Part of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada ^ a b Observer member of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada

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