Indiana Historical Society - Manuscripts and Archives Department

INDIANA COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
RECORDS, 1827-1980


Collection #
M 0344
BV 2079-2085


Table of Contents

Collection Information
Scope and Content Note
Box and Folder Listing
Cataloging Information

Reprocessed by:
Paul Brockman
26 May 1998


COLLECTION INFORMATION

VOLUME OF COLLECTION:

15 manuscript boxes and 7 bound volumes, 1 folder of photographs.

COLLECTION DATES:

Inclusive dates, 1827-1980; bulk dates 1888-1975

PROVENANCE:

Indiana Council of Churches, Indianapolis, Indiana

RESTRICTIONS:

None

RELATED HOLDINGS:

Becker, Edwin, The Story of the Indiana Interchurch Center (SC 2351); Institute on Religion & Aging Records (M 0421); Smith, Pamela, Ecumenical Remembrances: A Scrapbook of the Indiana Council of Churches (BV, 626, .I6, S54, 1994).

ALTERNATE FORMATS:

None

REPRODUCTION RIGHTS:

Permission to reproduce or publish material in this collection must be obtained in writing from the Indiana Historical Society

ACCESSION NUMBER:

1980.0911, 1982.1209

 


SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The records of the Indiana Council of Churches consist of general files of the Council, formed in 1943, and of its predecessors: the Indiana Sunday School Union (1888-1901), Indiana Sunday School Association (1901-1922), Indiana Council of Religious Education (1922-1934), and the Indiana Council of Christian Education (1934-1943). Included are minutes of the Executive Committees, Boards of Directors, and various committees; reports; general secretary's correspondence files; scrapbooks; pamphlets and printed reports; publications; and photographs.

The bulk of the records in this collection date from 1888, when the State Executive Committee chose Rev. J.E. Gilbert to be the first paid superintendent of state work. However, the Sunday school movement in Indiana dates to the second decade of the nineteenth century. Current interpretation credits the establishment of Sunday schools in Indiana to the citizens themselves, rather than to eastern missionaries. Yet the impetus for their formation was related to the vision of the American Sunday School Union and the American Home Missionary Society, whose object was to carry the idea of the Sunday or Sabbath school to the frontier.

As a means of exerting a moral influence and of overcoming illiteracy, the Sunday schools often preceded churches and public schools and thus performed an important function in frontier society. The Sabbath schools were distinguished by their interdenominational character, method of teaching Scripture through selected questions, and inclusion of adults as well as children. In 1825, the Sabbath School Union Society, intended as a statewide body, was organized in Charlestown, Clark County, Indiana. One of its early actions was to issue instructions to the public on the organization, procedures, and rules of Indiana Sunday Schools. The involvement of the Sabbath schools in public education in Indiana was strong during the first half of the century and remained so even after the establishment of free public schools under the second Indiana constitution of 1851. The role of the churches and Sunday schools in general education waned, though, following the passage of the Local School Tax Law of 1867.

Among these papers is a typed transcript of the first annual report of the Indiana Sabbath School Union, but this is the only document concerning its early history present in the collection. The American Home Missionary Society papers in the Manuscripts Division of the Indiana State Library and Isaac Reed's The Christian Traveller are good sources for accounts of the activities of Sabbath schools in early nineteenth century Indiana.

After the Civil War a revival and reaffirmation of the Sunday school organization took place. At the founding convention in May 1865, the Union's goals were defined as "to unite all Christians throughout the state, to promote the cause of Sabbath schools and formation of county and township Sabbath school unions to cooperate". A manifestation of the new vitality of the Indiana Sunday schools was the adoption of the Uniform Lesson System in 1872, which standardized the Bible studies being taught at any given time throughout the state. The Indiana model was eventually adopted nationwide.

The Indiana Sunday School Union was a purely voluntary organization until 1888. With the advent of a paid administrator, its goal continued to be cooperation between denominations and district, township, and county Sunday schools. The minutes of the Union's governing bodies and its publication, known as The Awakener after 1893, contain notices of the activities of the organization. Conventions were held on an annual basis to discuss and formulate policy and to inspire and motivate Sunday school workers. At the 1901 convention, the name of the organization was officially changed to the Indiana Sunday School Association. In 1918, a constitutional convention was held to change its structure to reflect a greater diversity of programs and concerns.

Following the proposals of the Indiana Survey of Religious Education completed during 1920, the Indiana denominations and county Sunday school organizations met to form the Indiana Sunday School Council of Religious Education in December, 1923. Its name was shortened to the Indiana Council of Religious Education in 1925. After March 1934, the body was known as the Indiana Council of Christian Education. The Council of Christian Education in consultation with the State Pastors Conference, the Indiana Council of Church Women, and eleven church denominations formed the Indiana Council of Churches in 1943. The Council of Christian Education's functional successor was the Division of Education of the Indiana Council of Churches.

The basic structure of the organization consisted of the Annual Assembly, the Board of Directors, and the Executive Committee. The Annual Assembly met annually in January. Its members were elected by the denominations and the two affiliated interdenominational agencies. The Board of Directors was elected by the Assembly, met quarterly, and included two or more representatives from the denominations and affiliates. The Executive Committee was appointed by the Board of Directors and met monthly. The various departments and divisions of the Council - Administration, Christian Education (became Educational Ministries in 1967), Christian Life and Work, Missions and Service, Research and Development - were responsible to the Executive Committee. The Executive or General Secretary was the chief administrator of the organization. The files of executive secretaries E.T. Albertson, R.L. Holland, and Walter F. Horlander are included in these papers.

Source: Hartman, Grover L., A School for God's People: A History of the Sunday School Movement in Indiana (Indianapolis: Central Publishing Co., Inc., 1980).


BOX AND FOLDER LISTING

BOX 1: Organizational Files, 1827-1927; Minutes, 1888-1941

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Inventory

2

INDIANA SABBATH SCHOOL UNION Annual Report, 1827, typed transcript n.d.; INDIANA SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION/INDIANA SUNDAY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION (also BV 2082-2083)

3

Executive Committee and Board of Directors Minutes, 1888-1941 (also BV 2078-2081, 2084)

4

Abstracts of Minutes, typed transcript 1916-1929

5

Articles of Association 1906-1909

6

Pamphlets 1916, n.d.

7

INDIANA COUNCIL OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION--INDIANA COUNCIL OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION as of March 1934 By-Laws and Constitution

8

Executive Committee and Board Minutes, 1925-1926

9

Executive Committee and Board Minutes, 1929

10

Executive Committee and Board Minutes, 1930

11

Executive Committee and Board Minutes, 1931

12

Executive Committee and Board Minutes, 1932

13

Executive Committee and Board Minutes, 1933

14

Executive Committee and Board Minutes, 1934

15

Executive Committee and Board Minutes, 1935

16

Executive Committee and Board Minutes, 1936

17

Executive Committee and Board Minutes, 1937

18

Executive Committee and Board Minutes, 1938

19

Executive Committee and Board Minutes, 1939

20

Executive Committee and Board Minutes, 1940

21

Executive Committee and Board Minutes, 1941

22

Executive Committee Minutes, 1942

23

Board of Directors Minutes, 1942

 

BOX 2: Young People's Division, 1923-1934; Correspondence & Reports, 1931-1941; Children's Division, 1931-1938; County Council Programs, 1925-1947

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Indiana Young People's Conference, 1923-1926

2

Indiana Young People's Conference, 1927-1930

3

Indiana Young People's Conference, 1931-1937, 1939

4

State Young People's Committee, 1931-1932

5

State Young People's Committee, 1933

6

State Young People's Committee, 1934

7

Peace Commission, 1941

8

General Secretary Correspondence, 1941

9

General Secretary Correspondence, 1943

10

Executive Committee Reports 1931-1940

11

Children's Division, Leadership Training Survey, 1931-1932

12

Children's Division, Professional Advisory Session, 1938

13

Children's Division, International Council of Religious Education Reports, 1931-1932.

14

Children's Division, International Council of Religious Education Reports, 1936-1938

15

Children's Division, Indiana Council of Christian Education--75 years of progress, n.d.

16

Children's Division, pamphlets, 1929, n.d.

17

County Council programs, Adams County, 1932-1943

18

County Council programs, Boone County, 1930-1940

19

County Council programs, Cass County, 1932-1943

20

County Council programs, Clay County, 1931-1944

21

County Council programs, Kosciusko County, 1925-1926

22

County Council programs, Marshall County, 1930-1947

 

BOX 3: County Council Programs, 1926-1945; Indiana State Pastor's Conference, 1931-1960

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

County Council programs, Miami County, 1926-1943

2

County Council programs, Monroe County, 1931-1935

3

County Council programs, Morgan County, 1930-1942

4

County Council programs, Pulaski County, 1930-1933

5

County Council programs, Randolph County, 1926-1945

6

County Council programs, Tippecanoe County, 1930-1945

7

County Council programs, White County, 1930-1945

8

Indiana State Pastor's Conference, Minutes, 1931-1935

9

Indiana State Pastor's Conference, Minutes, 1936-1938

10

Indiana State Pastor's Conference, Minutes, 1940

11

Indiana State Pastor's Conference, Minutes, 1940-1941

12

Indiana State Pastor's Conference, Minutes, 1942

13

Indiana State Pastor's Conference, Minutes, 1942-1960

14

Indiana State Pastor's Conference, State Council of Churches-Reports of the Denominational Action Approving Organization, 1943

 

BOX 4: Indiana State Pastor's Conference, 1936-1954; Division of Educational Ministries, 1951-1968

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Indiana State Pastor's Conference, Indiana Council of Church Women, 1941-1942

2

Indiana State Pastor's Conference, Church Federation of Indianapolis, 1935-1948

3

Indiana State Pastor's Conference, General Secretary correspondence, 1942-1945

4

Indiana State Pastor's Conference, publications, mimeographed reports, 1954

5

Indiana State Pastor's Conference, newsclippings, 1943, 1946

6

Indiana State Pastor's Conference, newsclippings, 1949-1950

7

Indiana State Pastor's Conference, miscellaneous information on history and structure, 1943, n.d.

8

Division of Educational Ministries, Fall Institute, 1951-1961

9

Division of Educational Ministries, Fall Institute, 1961-1963

10

Division of Educational Ministries, Weekday Religious Education in Indiana, 1960

11

Division of Educational Ministries, Vacation School Leadership Program, 1965-1966

12

Division of Educational Ministries, Vacation School Leadership Program, 1966-1967

13

Division of Educational Ministries, Vacation School Leadership Program 1968, folder 1

14

Division of Educational Ministries, Vacation School Leadership Program, 1968, folder 2

15

Division of Educational Ministries, Vacation School Leadership Program, 1968, folder 3

 

BOX 5: Division of Educational Ministries, 1968-1971; Association Executive Secretary's Files, 1967-1972

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Division of Educational Ministries, Vacation School Leadership Program, 1968

2

Division of Educational Ministries, Vacation School Leadership Program, 1968-1969

3

Division of Educational Ministries, Vacation School Leadership Program, 1971

4

Division of Educational Ministries, Indiana School for Church Leadership, 1965

5

Division of Educational Ministries, Indiana School for Church Leadership, 1968

6

Division of Educational Ministries, Indiana School for Church Leadership, 1969

7

Division of Educational Ministries, Indiana School for Church Leadership, 1970

8

Division of Educational Ministries, Indiana School for Church Leadership, 1971

9

Association Executive Secretary's Files, Miscellaneous States, 1967-1972

10

Association Executive Secretary's Files, Massachusetts Council of Churches, 1968

11

Association Executive Secretary's Files, Nebraska Council of Churches, 1968

12

Association Executive Secretary's Files, Kansas Council of Churches, 1967-1968

13

Association Executive Secretary's Files, World Council of Christian Education, 1969-1970

 

BOX 6: Association Executive Secretary's Files, 1969-1978; Division of Research & Planning, 1943-1970; Division of Business & Finance, 1949-1980

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Association Executive Secretary's Files, TV and Church Education, 1970

2

Association Executive Secretary's Files, Literature Association, 1969-1971

3

Association Executive Secretary's Files, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan Leadership Training, 1970-1971

4

Association Executive Secretary's Files, Minutes, 1971

5

Association Executive Secretary's Files, Youth Week 1971

6

Association Executive Secretary's Files, "Ecumenical Education in Indiana Yesterday and Tomorrow" by Walter F. Horlander, 1976

7

Association Executive Secretary's Files, Faith and Life Award, 1978

8

Division of Research & Planning, Reports, 1943-1944

9

Division of Research & Planning, Reports, 1960-1962

10

Division of Research & Planning, Reports, 1963

11

Division of Research & Planning, Reports, 1964

12

Division of Research & Planning, Minutes, 1965

13

Division of Research & Planning, Reports, 1966

14

Division of Research & Planning, Reports, 1967

15

Division of Research & Planning, Reports, 1968

16

Division of Research & Planning, Reports, 1969-1970

17

Division of Business & Finance, Reports, 1949

18

Division of Business & Finance, Reports, 1958-1974

19

Division of Business & Finance, Reports, 1975-1980

 

BOX 7: Department of Children's Work, 1960-1972; Department of Youth Ministry, 1952-1972

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Department of Children's Work, Files, 1960-1961

2

Department of Children's Work, Files, 1961

3

Department of Children's Work, Files, 1962

4

Department of Children's Work, Files, 1964

5

Department of Children's Work, Files, 1965-1966

6

Department of Children's Work, Files, 1966-1967

7

Department of Children's Work, Conference on Church's Ministry with Children, 1965

8

Department of Children's Work, Conference on Church's Ministry with Children, 1965-1966

9

Department of Children's Work, Evaluation Forms, 1967

10

Department of Children's Work, Activities Packet, 1972, n.d.

11

Department of Youth Ministry, Ecumenical Youth Encounter, 1964, 1959-1966

12

Department of Youth Ministry, Ecumenical Youth Encounter, 1966,

13

Department of Youth Ministry, National Christian Teaching Mission, 1952, 1956, n.d.

14

Department of Youth Ministry, Ecumenical Youth Notes, 1963-1970

15

Department of Youth Ministry, Committee on Youth Work Minutes, 1964

 

BOX 8: Department of Youth Ministry, 1965-1969; Department of Adult Work, 1945-1965

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Department of Youth Ministry 1965-1966, 1969

2

Department of Adult Work, files, 1960-1961

3

Department of Adult Work, files, 1962

4

Department of Adult Work, files, 1963-1965

5

Department of Adult Work, Veedersburg Project, 1962-1963

6

Department of Adult Work, Directors of Religious Education, 1945-1948

7

Department of Adult Work, Denominational Executives and Council Staff Meeting, 1952

8

Department of Adult Work, Denominational Executives and Council Staff Meeting, 1952 

 

BOX 9: Indiana Council of Churches (name and constitution changed in 1943)

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Annual Assembly Meeting, minutes, 1943-1949

2

Annual Assembly Meeting, minutes, 1950-1955

3

Annual Assembly Meeting, minutes, 1956-1960

4

Annual Assembly Meeting, minutes, 1961-1965

5

Annual Assembly Meeting, minutes, 1966-1970

6

Annual Assembly Meeting, minutes, 1971-1975

7

Annual Assembly Meeting, minutes, 1976-1980

8

Annual Assembly Meeting, biennial assembly, 1984

9

Board of Directors, minutes, 1943-1945

10

Board of Directors, minutes, 1946-1947

11

Board of Directors, minutes, 1948-1950

12

Board of Directors, minutes, 1951-1953

13

Board of Directors, minutes, 1954-1956

14

Board of Directors, minutes, 1957-1959

15

Board of Directors, minutes, 1960-1962

16

Board of Directors, minutes, 1963-1965

17

Board of Directors, minutes, 1966-1968

18

Board of Directors, minutes, 1969-1971

19

Board of Directors, minutes, 1972-1974

20

Board of Directors, minutes, 1975-1977

21

Board of Directors, minutes, 1978-1980

 

BOX 10: Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, 1943-1980; General Secretary's Files, 1940-1980

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Executive Committee Meeting, minutes, 1943-1946

2

Executive Committee Meeting, minutes, 1947

3

Executive Committee Meeting, minutes, 1953-1958

4

Executive Committee Meeting, minutes, 1959-1962

5

Executive Committee Meeting, minutes, 1971-1976

6

Executive Committee Meeting, minutes, 1977-1980

7

Board & Executive Committee Meetings, 1980-1984

8

General Secretary's files, lists of committee memberships, officers, etc., 1940-1942

9

General Secretary's files, lists of committee memberships, officers, etc., 1943-1946, n.d.

10

General Secretary's files, reports 1943, 1944, 1948

11

General Secretary's files, pamphlets and programs, 1943-1955, n.d.

12

General Secretary's files, correspondence, 1942-1943

13

General Secretary's files, correspondence, 1945-1946

14

General Secretary's files, correspondence, 1947

15

General Secretary's files, correspondence, 1948

16

General Secretary's files, correspondence, 1949-1951

17

General Secretary's files, correspondence, 1980

 

BOX 11: General Secretary's Files, 1943-1980; Treasurer's Reports & Financial Statements, 1942-1980

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

General Secretary's files, report to the Executive Committee, 1946

2

General Secretary's files, report to the Board of Directors, 1943-1944

3

General Secretary's files, report to the Annual Assembly, 1944-1949

4

Executive Secretary's Report to the Annual Assembly, 1955-1978

5

Executive Secretary's Report to the Board of Directors, 1959-1969

6

Executive Secretary's Report to the Board of Directors, 1970-1980

7

General Secretary's files, monetary pledges, 1943

8

Treasurer's reports & financial statements, 1942-1949

9

Treasurer's reports & financial statements, 1953-1964

10

Treasurer's reports & financial statements, 1965-1969

11

Treasurer's reports & financial statements, 1970-1974

12

Treasurer's reports & financial statements, 1975-1980

13

Proposed and Reviewed Budgets, 1942-1949

14

Proposed and Reviewed Budgets, 1954-1964

15

Proposed and Reviewed Budgets, 1965-1969

16

Proposed and Reviewed Budgets, 1970-1974

17

Proposed and Reviewed Budgets, 1975-1980

18

Denominational Contribution Dispersions, 1942-1949

19

Denominational Contribution Dispersions, 1953-1967

20

Denominational Contribution Dispersions, 1968-1980

21

CROP, 1953-1977

 

BOX 12: Committee Work, 1942-1980

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Department of United Church Women, 1943-1954

2

Department of United Church Men, 1953, 1954, 1961

3

Evangelism, Camp and Defense and Comity Committees, 1943, 1944, 1949

4

Needs and Activities, Social Action Committees, 1943-1944

5

Department of International Affairs, Campus Ministry, 1975, 1976, n.d.

6

Division of Christian Life and Work, 1955-1966

7

Department of Institutional Ministry, 1960-1980

8

Chaplaincy and Study Committees, 1956-1959, 1968, n.d.

9

Town and Country and Literacy Committees, 1943-1944, 1952, 1971-1976

10

Nominating Committee 1944-1979

11

Division of Missions and Service--Chain of Missions, 1958, 1961-1962, 1968

12

Personnel Committee Reports 1960-1980

13

Division of Migrant Ministry, 1953-1977

14

Division of Christian Education, 1942-1967

15

"Christian Ministry in Leisure Settings," 1969-1974

16

Constitution and Organization, 1960-1963, n.d.

17

News Releases, 1959, 1960, 1967

18

Group Resolutions, 1958-1978

19

Ministerial Housing Resolutions, 1964-1979

20

Political and Economic Statements, 1943-1978

21

Outlook on the Draft and the Vietnam War, 1951, 1967-1975

22

State and National Legislative Platforms, n.d.

23

Indiana House Legislation 1946-1976, n.d.

 

BOX 13: Committee Work, 1943-1982; Indiana Church Woman, June, 1941-January, 1955

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Proposals, 1943-1977, n.d.

2

Related Reports, 1943-1976, n.d.

3

Shades Conference Center, 1965-1966

4

Indiana Interreligious Commission, 1974

5

Reports from the Denominational Caucuses, 1970, 1976, n.d.

6

Resumes of Prospective Appointees, 1943-1978, n.d.

7

Pamphlets 1942-1943, 1947, 1952

8

Pamphlets 1960-1962, 1967-1968, 1982

9

Indiana Interchurch Center, 1962-1963, 1971

10

Indo-China Refugee Settlement 1975, n.d.

11

Ecumenical Imperatives, 1958-1965, 1970-1978

12

Indiana Church Woman, June, 1941-March, 1944

13

Indiana Church Woman, June, 1944-Dec., 1945

14

Indiana Church Woman, March, 1946-Nov., 1949

15

Indiana Church Woman, Jan., 1950-Nov., 1952

16

Indiana Church Woman, Jan., 1953-Jan., 1955

 

BOX 14: Committee Work, 1964-1975

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Department of Institutional Ministries, "A Message to the Churches and a Statement of Police and Practice," 1975

2

Literature on projects and advice for the Aging, 1964, 1965, n.d.

3

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion"--an Anglican interpretation, n.d.

4

Program for a Centennial Celebration by the Second Presbyterian Church, 1972

5

Reconnaissance Study--Bloomington, IN, 1965

6

Migrant Ministry pamphlet, n.d.

7

Report to the Study Committee--Third Christian Church, 1966

8

Reconnaissance Study--South Bend IN and Vicinity, 1967

9

Reconnaissance Study--Muncie IN, n.d.

10

Reconnaissance Study--Mishawaka--Elkhart IN, n.d.

11

Reconnaissance Study--Marion IN, 1967

12

Reconnaissance Study--Lafayette IN, 1965

13

The Graceland Story--Graceland Southern Baptist Church New Albany, IN, 1970

14

Reconnaissance Study--Fort Wayne Region, 1965

15

Reconnaissance Study--Bartholomew County, 1967

16

Congregation Self-Study Record, Rush County IN, 1967

17

Profile--Spencer County IN, 1966

 

BOX 15: Committee Work, 1965-1968; Photographs, 1915, ca. 1950s

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Tension: Security or Mission?--Spencer County IN, 1966

2

Religion in St. Joseph Co., IN, 1968

3

The South Vermillion Story (planning process), n.d.; Ministry in the Stable Community (Wabash County IN), 1965

4

Central Christian Church, 1966

5

Westside Christian Church, 1966

6

Glan Park Christian Church, Gary IN, 1966

7

Rocklane Christian Church, Rocklane IN, 1967

8

Northview Christian Church--A Study of Church and Community, 1967

9

The Calumet Challenge for the Church, Volume 1--Text, 1968

10

The Calumet Challenge for the Church, Volume 2--Maps, 1968

11

Directory of Churches in Indianapolis, 1967

12

(VC) Photographs of organizational activities, 1915, ca.1950s

 


CATALOGING INFORMATION

For additional information on this collection, including a list of subject headings that may lead you to related materials:

  1. Go to the Indiana Historical Society's online catalog
  2. Click on the "Local Catalog" icon.
  3. Search for the collection by its call number, using the letter or letters designation and four digits (e.g., M 0715, SC 2234).
  4. When you find the collection, go to the "Holdings" screen for a list of headings that can be searched for related materials.

END