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The purpose of the Department was "to build the Christian Community through translating the growing spirit of unity within Christendom -- the spirit of ecumenicity -- into cooperative action." The functions of the Department included the following:
The files are arranged alphabetically by subject. Items within the files are arranged chronologically by year, month, and day. Partially dated items are placed at the end of the month or year; undated documents are placed after all dated material. The files detail the organization, history, and activities of the Inter-Council Field Department, which in many ways was the forerunner of the National Council of Churches.
The archives of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America have been dated from 1950 to 1972; however, there is material dating from before and after this time period. Documents from the predecessor organizations date from as early as 1839. There is also a small amount of material found in the files from as late as 1975. The year 1972 was selected as a cutoff date for the archives because of the major reorganization which the NCC underwent at this time. The archives are arranged in the following record groups:NCC RG 1: Planning Committee for the NCC, 1941-1951 NCC RG 2: General Assemblies, 1952-1972NCC RG 3: General Board, 1950-1972NCC RG 4: General Secretary, 1950-1973NCC RG 5: Deputy General Secretary, 1947-1975NCC RG 6: Division of Christian Life and Mission, 1945-1973NCC RG 7: Division of Home Missions, 1950-1964NCC RG 8: Division of Overseas Ministries, 1914-1972NCC RG 9: Division of Christian Education, 1897-1974NCC RG 10: Division of Christian Unity, 1935-1973NCC RG 11: Office of Administration, 1938-1973NCC RG 12: Assistant General Secretary for Executive Operations, 1950-1966NCC RG 13: Washington Office, 1951-1966NCC RG 14: Office of Planning and Program, 1943-1973NCC RG 15: Department of Information, 1951-1974NCC RG 16: Broadcasting and Film Commission, 1923-1974NCC RG 17: Special Topics, 1951-1970NCC RG 18: Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America, 1894-1952NCC RG 19: International Council of Religious Education, 1839-1953NCC RG 20: Missionary Education Movement of the United States and Canada, 1901-1952NCC RG 21: National Protestant Council of Higher Education, 1911-1951NCC RG 22: United Stewardship Council, 1917-1950NCC RG 23: Inter-Council Field Department, 1935-1950NCC RG 24: Association of Council Secretaries, 1915-1971NCC RG 25: Church Executive Development Board, 1960-1974NCC RG 26: Home Missions Council of North America, 1903-1951NCC RG 27: Foreign Missions Conference of North America, 1887-1951NCC RG 28: Scrapbooks, 1915-1963
Catalog NoteIn the society's electronic catalog, all 28 NCC record groups are cataloged together as the records of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
1
The Comity Report, 1950
2
Constitution for a Council of Churches, Undated
3
Directory of American Cooperative Christianity, Dec 1943-June 1950
4
Functions and Procedures, April 1940
5
Inter-Council Staff Conference, Minutes, Dec 1936-Sept 1950
6
Minutes, July 1935-Oct 1939
7
Minutes, April 1940-March 1942
8
Minutes, Oct 1942-Dec 1944
9
Minutes, April 1945-April 1948
10
Minutes, Oct 1948-Oct 1950
11
Miscellaneous, April 1936-April 1950
12
Plan Book, 1942-1948
13
Southeastern Inter-Council Field Office, March 1947-Nov 1950; n.d.
14
United Christian Advance, April-Aug 1937; n.d.