The Greater Terre Haute Federation of Churches was officially organized on June 28, 1970 "to provide an agency through which the churches [could] work together in various areas of common concern." (Federation constitution, 1970) Membership is open to any congregation of the Christian faith located in the Terre Haute area.

An annual meeting of the General Assembly is held each spring. This meeting includes two delegates from each member congregation plus the Federation's Board of Directors. The Board of Directors consists of fifteen members who are elected at the General Assembly and serve a three-year term. The Board represents the Federation on a continuing basis, plans and directs activities, and controls the organization's finances.

This collection contains the Federation's records from 1970 to 1987. The minutes represent the Board of Directors' meetings as well as the annual meetings of the General Assembly. Also, filed with the minutes are financial statements, some annual reports, and miscellaneous correspondence. The general newsletter of the Federation is in the collection along with the "Samaritan Passion" newsletter. The latter publication reported on the various works and activities of the Samaritan Project.

The collection is organized according to type of record, and then within that order, chronologically.