United States of America
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The first inhabitants of America were the Indians. As of the 16th century Europeans established colonies in the "new world" and brought in slaves from Africa. The British colonies declared their independence and founded the United States in 1776. A conflict over state rights and slavery led to the Civil War of 1861-63. In the second half of the 19th century the United States became a major economic power, through mass immigration from Europe, industrialization and expansion to the west. The American Indians were forced onto reservations or into assimilation. In the 20th century the United States emerged as a political and military power, confronting the communist block. Since the end of the cold war it is the only super power. Immigration in the 20th century, especially from Latin America and Asia, has contributed to the great diversity of the society. Christianity came to the US with the settlers. All the major traditions and denominations are present. The Great Awakenings of the 19th century have played a major role in the emergence of the Evangelical, Holiness, Pentecostal and Charismatic movements and their extension in the world. The African American churches were at the heart of the Civil Rights movement in the 1950-60s which brought an end to racial segregation. New forms of church, e.g. megachurches, non-denominational churches, have originated in the US and spread to other countries. The Catholic Church is the single largest church. Baptists make up 33 percent of the Protestants and independents, Pentecostals 18 percent, and non-denominational Evangelicals and Charismatics 12 percent. Almost all the Orthodox patriarchates have archdioceses or dioceses in the US and are integrated in the society. The National Council of Churches is the ecumenical body, and the National Association of Evangelicals is affiliated with the WEA.
More on the United States:
Church leaders and communities facing situations of violence in New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and New Orleans shared their experiences with an international ecumenical team that visited the United States from 15-23 September 2007. Read more...
Two multimedia portraits of church life in the United States of America can be viewed on the 'Keeping the Faith' website: The Church of Mary Magdalene in Seattle and Blessing of the crab fleet in Alaska.
Ecumenical Organizations and Councils
WCC member churches based in United States of America
- African Methodist Episcopal Church
- African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
- American Baptist Churches in the USA
- Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States
- Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
- Church of the Brethren
- Episcopal Church in the USA
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
- Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East
- Hungarian Reformed Church in America
- International Council of Community Churches
- International Evangelical Church
- Moravian Church in America
- National Baptist Convention of America, Inc.
- National Baptist Convention USA, Inc.
- Orthodox Church in America
- Polish National Catholic Church
- Presbyterian Church (USA)
- Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc.
- Reformed Church in America
- Religious Society of Friends: Friends General Conference
- Religious Society of Friends: Friends United Meeting
- United Church of Christ
- United Methodist Church
WCC member churches present in United States of America
- Armenian Apostolic Church (Holy See of Cilicia)
- Armenian Apostolic Church (Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin)
- Church of the Lord (Aladura) Worldwide
- Congregational Christian Church in American Samoa
- Congregational Christian Church in Samoa
- Coptic Orthodox Church
- Ecumenical Patriarchate
- Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
- Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church Abroad
- Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
- Romanian Orthodox Church
- Russian Orthodox Church
- Serbian Orthodox Church
- Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East
Note: The list of churches present in countries is still in development.