FOUR CHURCHES, 17.8 MILLION BELIEVERS

These are the four Protestant denominations that the executive head of the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., the Rev. Dr. Eugene Blake, proposes to unite into one church:

Methodists number 9.2 million, divided into six districts, governed by bishops who are elected by jurisdictional conferences. Founded in the 18th century in reaction to the Church of England, Methodism stresses personal religious experience and love of God rather than doctrine, though Methodists believe in the Trinity, recite the Apostles' Creed, and observe the sacraments of baptism and communion. But they regard communion as only commemorative of the Last Supper.

Episcopalians number 3.2 million children and adults* under a Presiding Bishop. The legislative body of the church is the triennial general convention, with two houses: deputies (both clerical and lay) and bishops. Individuals have considerable freedom as to belief, but Episcopalians (the U.S. version of Anglicans) believe they have the apostolic succession in their bishops, acquired before the Church of England split from the Roman Catholic Church. Chief sacraments are baptism and communion, in which Christ is considered a real presence. In contrast to the other denominations, Episcopalians consider confirmation, penance, ordination, unction and matrimony as sacramental.

Presbyterians number 3.2 million, governed by elected representatives organized in sessions, presbyteries, synods and an annual General Assembly, headed by a Moderator and Stated Clerk (chief executive officer). The Presbyterian Church was built upon Calvinism, founded by John Calvin in the 16th century soon after Luther's break with Rome. Presbyterians rely for faith and conduct on the Bible, believe in the Trinity, stressing the supreme sovereignty of God. Some doctrines such as predestination, once identified with Presbyterians, have largely fallen into discard. They practice the sacraments of baptism and communion, in which Christ is held to be present in spirit.

United Church of Christ numbers 2.2 million, with each church almost completely autonomous. Formed in 1957 by a merger of the Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches, the new denomination allows considerable latitude of belief; by no means all now believe in the Trinity. Congregationalism was the English Separatist movement whose members founded the Plymouth Colony in 1620. As opposed to the concept of the church's having been established by God, Congregationalism is in the tradition of the "gathered" church, in which the individuals of the congregation form the church by coming together. The United Church recognizes the sacraments of baptism and communion, in which Christ is present in spirit.

* The Episcopal Church includes all who have been baptized--children as well as adults--in its membership figures. The others generally include only confirmed members.

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