Our Shared HistoryThe Story of Our Passion-Driven Movement

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We’re part of something bigger.We’re part of a passion-driven movement.

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Our Roots Are Deep

1840 German pastors in the St. Louis area formed the Kirchenverein des Westen, the German Evangelical Church Society.

1846 Congregationalists established “the great mother of social agencies and schools,” the American Missionary Association.

The Work Begins

1858 Pastor Louis Edward Nollau started a home for German orphans in St. Louis. In 1861, he founded the Good Samaritan Hospital to serve poor people of all races without charge.

1863 The General Synod of the Reformed Church created a committee to oversee work with Civil War orphans.

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1889 In St. Louis, the Evangelical Deaconess Home and Hospital was founded and the first of several Deaconess Societies was organized.

1894 The Southern Convention of the Christian Church formed a committee to begin planning for an orphanage in Elon, N.C.

1901 The General Council of the Evangelical Synod of North America established a committee to oversee diaconal work and coordinate the deaconess movement.

The Movement Grows

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1939 The Federation of Evangelical Charities’ 23 members and the Reformed Church’s 11 health and human service ministries joined to form the Commission on Benevolent Institutions of the new Evangelical and Reformed Church.

1957 The Congregational Christian Churches and the Evangelical and Reformed Church merged to form the United Church of Christ.

Unity Strengthens Service

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1961 Benevolent institutions in all historic streams of the United Church of Christ were unified under the Council for Health and Welfare Services.

1982 Seeing a need for more direct involvement with institutions, the Council for Health and Welfare Services incorporated and changed its name to the Council for Health and Human Service Ministries (CHHSM).

CHHSM Emerges

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Today, CHHSM is a community of leaders and organizations committed to advancing the healing and service ministry of Jesus Christ.

We are made of more than 360 communities and programs that serve youth, families, older adults and people with disabilities.

CHHSM Today

Forming Leaders: Through special training programs and leadership education, we connect professional excellence with faith-based purpose.

Resourcing Ministries: Through collegial networks, consulting, and group services, we help each other with the business of ministry.

Celebrating Heritage: Through our UCC heritage, we discover ways to draw upon our faith for our work today.

Our Shared Work

Learn more about our movement at www.chhsm.org.

An Invitation