The Federal Council of Churches, officially the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America, was an ecumenical association of Christian denominations in the United States in the early twentieth century. It represented the Anglican, Baptist, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Methodist, Moravian, Oriental Orthodox, Polish National Catholic, Presbyterian, and Reformed traditions of Christianity. It merged with other ecumenical bodies in 1950 to form the present day National Council of Churches. History The Federal Council of Churches was founded at a convention that met at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia in May 1908. Originally the Council consisted of thirty-two denominations. By 1923, it maintained central offices at 105 East 22nd Street, New York City. It also had offices at the Woodward Building, Washington, D.C., and at 19 South La Salle Street, Chicago. Social and political advocacy The Federal Council of Churches was active in the Temperance and Prohibition of alcohol movements. Additionally, the council was an organization that believed very deeply in democracy. In its statement on the nature and tasks of Christian Cooperation, the Council declared: With the demand for industrial democracy the churches are intensely concerned, for democracy is the expression of Christianity. The Social Creeds "The Social Creed of the Churches" was a statement by members of the Federal Council of Churches in December 1908 against what it described as "industrial problems." The document spelled out a list of principles, including: Equal rights and complete justice for all men in all stations of life Protection of the worker from dangerous machinery, occupational disease, injuries, and mortality Abolition of child labor Regulation of the conditions of toil for women as shall safeguard the physical and moral health of the community A living wage as a minimum in every industry Provision for the old age of the workers and for those incapacitated by injury Abatement of poverty Over time the Council included additional principles, including addressing the injustice of the unequal distribution of wealth. Member denominations By 1923 the member denominations were as follows: African Methodist Episcopal Church African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Colored Methodist Episcopal Church in America General Convention of the Christian Church Christian Reformed Church in North America Churches of God in North America (General Eldership) Disciples of Christ Episcopal Church Evangelical Synod of North America Evangelical Association Free Baptist Church Greek Orthodox Church Friends Methodist Episcopal Church Methodist Episcopal Church, South Methodist Protestant Church Moravian Church