About Christian Union and the history of its general council
On the third day of February 1864, a convention of Christian people from various denominations was held in the city of Columbus, Ohio. The purpose of this convention was to determine what steps should be taken to provide for people who had become dissatisfied with the sectarian and divisive teachings of the ecclesiastical organizations of the day.
The result was the conviction that it had become necessary for those who desired a pure gospel and a true Christian life to unite together for the purpose of a common worship and the following statement was adopted:
Having a desire for more perfect fellowship in Christ and a more satisfactory enjoyment of the means of religious edification and comfort, we do solemnly form ourselves into a religious society under the style of “THE CHRISTIAN UNION” in which we avow our true and hearty faith in the received scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the word of God and only sufficient rule of faith and practice, and pledge ourselves through Christ who strengthens us, to keep and observe whatsoever He has commanded us.
Our official name is The General Council of Christian Union but we are mostly known as, simply, Christian Union. We are a denomination in terms of structure but function more like a fellowship. There are a few less than 100 churches in seven states and each of those states has a local Council which is accountable to the General Council. In Ohio there are also District Councils which are accountable to the State Council.