Before the Disciples’ restructure in the late 1960s to early 1970s, those with mission concerns had organized themselves into particular societies, including the Foreign Christian Missionary Society, the American Christian Missionary Society, and the Christian Woman’s Board of Mission. Over the years, these bodies had evolved beyond voluntary associations of people to become organizations with paid staff. In 1920, these three bodies, FCMS, ACMS, and CWBM, became the United Christian Missionary Society. So, our history comes from early connections of people who gathered themselves together, pooled their resources, found ways to raise money in order to create mission-both in North American and around the world.
At the time of the Disciples restructure, the United Christian Missionary Society was divided into Disciples Home Missions for work at home and the Division of Overseas Ministries for work abroad.
(Adapted from The President’s Report to Disciples Home Missions Board of Directors, November 20, 1999)