Historical Sketch

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.