The Washington Association of Churches is thought to have existed in some form since 1919. The name was originally the Washington-Northern Idaho Council of Christian Education, changing in 1935 to the Washington and Northern Idaho Council of Churches. The name was shortened to Washington-Northern Idaho Council of Churches in 1959. In 1968 the state council title was changed to Washington State Council of Churches; in 1975, it was renamed the Washington Association of Churches.
The Council of Churches of Washington and Northern Idaho was created by a group of Protestant churches as their agency for cooperative planning, Christian fellowship and united action. Its membership was composed of participating denominations in Washington and Northern Idaho and accredited local councils of churches. In 1966, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle joined the Greater Seattle Council of Churches.
The Council's work was divided into three major divisions: 1) Christian Education, including children's work, youth work, campus ministry, adult work and family life, and pastoral conferences 2) Christian Missions, including evangelism, church planning and strategy, town and country, migrant work, Church world service, faith and order, and 3) Christian Social Relationships, including legislation, church and economic life, social welfare and institutional ministry, international relations, religious liberty, racial and cultural relations. In addition to the divisions, three commissions, Budget and Finance, Public Relations, and Research were constituted to implement the program of the Council. The Departments of United Church Women and United Church Men were formed to "promote and interpret" the program. Each division, commission and department was responsible to the General Board of the Council. An Executive Committee was empowered to act for the Board between its meetings. The General Secretary was the foremost staff member and provided continuity to the Council. This position was held by Gertrude Apel from 1930 until 1958. She was succeeded by Ralph Turnidge, 1959-1964, and Clement Hahn, 1964-1966.
The Washington Association of Churches (WAC) continues to serve as an association of 10 Christian denominations and 11 ecumenical organization which work together on the task of ecumenism in Washington State. Since 1975, WAC has served as a focal point for dialogue, advocacy, action and reflection, facilitating meetings between member churches and forming partnerships with a diverse range of organizations and communities.
Arranged in 3 accessions:
Organizational records documenting the ecumenical mission of the Washington Association of Churches and their efforts to establish and administer social programs. Includes correspondence, reports, bulletins, minutes, lists, legislation, subject series, committee records, financial records, conferences and conventions, clippings, programs, ephemera; 1920-1996 (bulk 1935-1996).
Access to portions of the papers restricted. Contact Special Collections for more information.
Some material stored offsite; advance notice required for use.
Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation or publication. Contact Special Collections for more details.
Sea also the Church Council of Greater Seattle records, Collection No. 1358 in the Repository.
Until 1958 the Washington-Northern Idaho Council shared offices, staff and budget with the Seattle Council of Churches. Dr. Gertrude Apel served as Executive leader of both. In December 1958 the two councils divided their assets and liabilities and established separate budgets. The records in this accession are primarily those of the Washington-Northern Idaho Council but include records of the Seattle Council as well. No attempt has been made to separate the records of the two groups.
The primary purpose of the Ministry was to provide for the spiritual needs of migrant laborers but it also undertook to meet their immediate material needs. A Council minister visited the labor camps to conduct services and bible classes and eventually a mobile chapel was purchased by the Council. The Migrant Committee maintained a summer staff which coordinated and encouraged the efforts of local communities to operate "Friendship Centers" and to supply food, clothing, bedding, adult classes, and day care for the migrant families.
The arrangement of the Committees and Groups series reflects the three major divisions of the Council's work, various committees within those divisions, commissions, departments and special committees. The Council's filing system was kept as much as possible; therefore, records of one committee are often filed with another committee when the subject matter overlaps.
The final series, Pacific Northwest Council On Theological Education, consists of records of this Portland organization. Its relationship to the Council is not clear.
Because the Washington-Northern Idaho Council of Churches shared offices, staff and budget with the Seattle Council of Churches until 1958, there may be some records of the Seattle Council in these.
Organizational records documenting the ecumenical mission of the Washington Association of Churches and their efforts to establish and administer social programs. Includes legislative files, program files, committee files, minutes, newsletters, financial records, and related materials documenting the Washington Association of Churches' involvement on the Immigration Refugee Program, Refuge Resettlement, Sanctuary Project, Native American Taskforce. Also includes records of past Denominational Executives, Reverend Loren Arnett and Reverend John Boonstra.
Records stored offsite; advance notice required for use.