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New England Commission for United Ministries in Higher Education records

 Collection
Call Number: RG 54

Scope and Contents

The records date from the Commission's planning stages in 1966 to its final meeting in November 1973. Scattered documentary items in the collection date from as early as 1950. The papers include correspondence, reports and minutes, study papers, printed material, and financial material. The first five series date from the period before the Commission's restructuring in 1971 and were received in an organized state.

The last two series represent Commission materials that were received in an unorganized state. Series VI contains all non-financial records of the Commission from the period after its restructuring. Series VII contains financial records dating from 1966 to 1973.

Dates

  • 1950-1973

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The materials are open for research.

Arrangement

  1. I. National United Ministries in Higher Education, 1970-1971
  2. II. New England Commission for United Ministries in Higher Education, Inc., 1961-1971
  3. III. New England Commission for United Ministries in Higher Education Committees, 1961-1971
  4. IV. Higher Education Centers, 1960-1971
  5. V. Regional Structures in New England, 1961-1973
  6. VI. Post-restructuring files, 1966-1973
  7. VII. Financial Material, 1966-1973

The first folder of the collection contains an explanation of the filing system implemented in the first five series. Other than precautions taken for the preservation of the material, these records have been left as they were received. Only one folder from Series I, as described by the filing system memorandum, was received by the Library. The last two series represent Commission materials that were received in an unorganized state. In Series VI, original folder headings have been retained and the materials filed in alphabetical order according to these headings. Series VII is arranged alphabetically by type of material.

Extent

11 Linear Feet (27 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Catalog Record

A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog

Persistent URL

https://hdl.handle.net/10079/fa/divinity.054

Abstract

The papers constitute the official archive of the organization from its formation in 1967 until its dissolution in 1973. They contain detailed information about the local Christian ministries programs of various colleges and universities in New England. The input of the following denominations to these programs is documented: American Baptists, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Protestant Episcopal Church, United Church of Christ, United Methodist Church, United Presbyterian Church. The New England Commission for United Ministries in Higher Education was formed in 1967 to organize ecumenical ministries in place of the duplicating and competing denominational ministries in centers of higher education throughout the New England states. It worked closely with the University Christian Movement in New England, serving as the 'church agency' that provided funds and personnel for the 'student agency' as needed. It continued in its work of coordinating programs and raising funds for them until its dissolution in 1973.

Biographical / Historical

The New England Commission for United Ministries in Higher Education, Inc., officially organized in October 1967, was created as a corporation responsible for coordinating and administrating, at the New England regional level, the ministry in higher education of the participating church bodies. Denominations participating included the American Baptists, Disciples of Christ, United Church of Christ, United Methodist Church, United Presbyterian Church, and Protestant Episcopal Church. The goals of the Commission were to organize ecumenical ministries in place of the duplicating and competing denominational ministries in centers of higher education, to update and improve local ministry organizations through consultations and local self-studies, to interpret the potential of ministry in higher education to local churches, and to recommend priorities for development. The duties of the area secretary and related staff involved coordinating the programs at a state or sub-area level, seeking and receiving funds from national and local sources, and disbursing these funds to the various denominational and united projects of the corporation. The N.E.U.M.H.E. worked closely with the University Christian Movement in New England, serving as the 'church agency' which provided funds and personnel for the 'student agency' as needed.

The Commission was restructured in 1971 due to economic necessity and changing program needs. Following this restructuring, the Commission became more decentralized and was less directly supported by national denominational bodies. The original committee structure and area secretary were replaced by a service team approach and a part-time administrative secretary.

Further decentralization and economic necessity led to the dissolution of the Commission as of January 31, 1974.

Title
Guide to the New England Commission for United Ministries in Higher Education Records
Author
Compiled by Martha Lund Smalley
Date
July 1978
Description rules
Finding Aid Prepared According To Local Divinity Library Descriptive Practices
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Part of the Yale Divinity Library Repository

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