Arusha Community Church

Who We Are What we Believe A Short History of ACC Constitution

Who we are

Arusha Community Church (ACC) is an international, interdenominational, lay-led congregation. The church is independent and autonomous, but the Diocese in Arusha region of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania (ELCT) has graciously agreed to links being established with them for legal purposes. Administered by its Church Council, the ACC has grown steadily over the years with a programme which includes Bible Studies, Sunday School, social benevolence, and other programmes for children, youth and adults.

Today, our membership covers the spectrum from Roman Catholic to Pentecostal. That which unites us is faith in Christ -- as well as worship in the English language. Services are led by members, some of whom are ordained but many not. Preachers come primarily from within the congregation, but on occasion guest preachers are invited from surrounding congregations and ministries.

Worship services are held at 10:30am every Sunday morning, as well as on other special days of the Church Year. Sunday School is during the worship service and Adult Education is often held at 9:15am. There are also other activities including

Youth activities
Men's Bible study
Women's Bible study
Confirmation Classes
Special Music Event
New Member Classes
Annual Picnic
Prayer Chain

The congregation's Project and Benevolences Committee uses a large percentage of the congregation's resources on behalf of those who are in need in the surrounding community.

What we Believe
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As with any congregation, the beliefs of individual members vary widely. ACC is generally Protestant in orientation (though with a fairly large number of Roman Catholics in attendance and in leadership positions). Its worship style tends to be non-liturgical (though often including elements such as confession of sin and absolution, confession of faith, words of institution, Lord's Prayer). Perhaps most representative of the congregation's beliefs would be the Apostles' Creed, which is used each Sunday as a confession of faith:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

A Short History of Arusha Community Church
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The congregation began many decades ago as the English language congregation of Christ Church (Anglican), Arusha. Over the years, the denominational base of this part of the congregation widened, and eventually a new interdenominational community of faith emerged. Other facilities were sought, and on February 23,1986, at 10 am, the congregation met for the first time as "Arusha Community Church" at the Greek Club (Meru Club) in the Kijenge area of Arusha. That first week, there were 36 in attendance, and by the next week the number had grown to 62. Bibles, hymn books and more chairs were purchased to accommodate the increase in attendance.

By 1992, the administration was shared among various committees, and the congregation had grown too large for the Greek Club. This was particularly true of the Sunday School. Once again it was felt that alternative premises should be found to accommodate the growing community of faith.

Two years later, no suitable premises had been found, and so a survey was held among the members to determine the way forward. The most favored choice was for the congregation to build a multipurpose facility for worship. A proposal to erect such a building was presented to the Annual General Meeting in January 1994, was accepted by a clear majority, and fund raising began.

The Diocese in the Arusha Region of the ELCT offered a plot of land, and at the Annual General Meeting of 1995 it was agreed to start formal discussions with the Diocese regarding the building of a worship facility on the offered plot. Ground was broken on January 28, 1996, and on January 18, 1998, the building in which the congregation now meets was dedicated -- with no debt on the building. TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

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