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Christian churches and churches of Christ

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The group of churches known as the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ is a fellowship of congregations within the Restoration Movement (also known as the Stone-Campbell Movement and the Reformation of the 19th Century) that have no formal denominational affiliation with other congregations, but still share many characteristics of belief and worship.^[2] Churches in this tradition are strongly congregationalist and have no formal denominational ties, and thus there is no proper name that is agreed upon and applied to the movement as a whole. Most (but not all) congregations in this tradition include the words "Christian Church" or "Church of Christ" in their congregational name. Due to the lack of formal organization between congregations, there is a lack of official statistical data, but the 2016 Directory of the Ministry^[3] documents some 5000 congregations in the US and Canada; some estimate the number to be over 6,000 since this directory is unofficial.^[who?] By 1988, the movement had 1,071,616 members in the United States.^[4]

These congregations share historical roots with other, similarly named congregations within the Restoration Movement, including congregations organized within formal fellowships, such as the "Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)" or the "Churches of Christ". The congregations discussed in this article, however, have chosen to remain fully autonomous. Further distinguishing these congregations is their use of instrumental music within their worship, unlike the "Churches of Christ" who do not use instrumental music. The instrumental congregations discussed here and the a cappella "Churches of Christ" are otherwise very similar but have little contact with each other in most communities, although there is some cooperation among some larger churches and also in some educational institutions.^{[clarification needed]}

Congregational nomenclature[edit]

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The churches are independent congregations and typically go by the name "Christian Church", but often use the name "Church of Christ" as well. Though isolated exceptions may occur, it is generally agreed within the movement that no personal or family names should be attached to a congregation which Christ purchased and established with his own blood, though geographical labels are acceptable. Thus, it is common for a congregation to be known as "[City Name] Christian Church," ^[5] but in some areas they may be known as "[The/First] Christian Church [of/at] [City, Community, or Other Location Name]." In recent history, individual congregations have made the decision to change their formal name to break with traditional nomenclature and to adopt more generic names like "Christ's Church [of/at] [City Name]", "[City Name] Community Christian Church", or "[City Name] Community Fellowship". The tendency in Restoration churches to choose names such as "Christian Church" and "Church of Christ" can cause difficulties in identifying the affiliation (if any) of an individual church based solely on its name. Furthermore, it is not uncommon for churches outside of the Restoration Movement to use similar names (see Church of Christ (disambiguation)).

Separation from the Disciples of Christ[edit]

The separation of the independent Christian churches and churches of Christ from the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) (DoC) occurred over an extended period of time.^[6] The roots of the separation date back to a polarization that occurred during the early twentieth century as the result of three significant controversies.^[6] These controversies surrounded theological modernism, the impact of the ecumenical movement, and open membership (recognizing as full members individuals who had not been baptized by immersion).^[6]

The Disciples of Christ were, in 1910, a united, growing community with common goals.^[7] Support by the United Christian Missionary Society of missionaries who advocated open membership became a source of contention in 1920.^[6] Efforts to recall support for these missionaries failed in a 1925 convention in Oklahoma City and a 1926 convention in Memphis, Tennessee.^[6] Many congregations withdrew from the missionary society as a result.^[6]

A new convention, the North American Christian Convention, was organized by the more conservative congregations in 1927.^[6] An existing brotherhood journal, the Christian Standard, also served as a source of cohesion for these congregations.^[6] From the 1960s on, newer unaffiliated missionary organizations like the Christian Missionary Fellowship (today, Christian Missionary Fellowship International) were working more on a national scale to rally Christian Church/Church of Christ congregations in international missions.^[8] By this time the division between liberals and conservatives was well established.^[7]

The official separation between the independent Christian Churches/Churches of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is difficult to date.^[9] Suggestions range from 1926 to 1971 based on the events outlined below:

• 1926: The first North American Christian Convention (NACC) in 1927^[9] was the result of disillusionment at the DoC Memphis Convention.
• 1944: International Convention of Disciples elects as president a proponent of open membership.^[10]
• 1948: The Commission on Restudy, appointed to help avoid a split, disbands.^[11]
• 1955: The Directory of the Ministry was first published listing only the "Independents" on a voluntary basis.^[10]
• 1968: Final redaction of the Disciples Year Book removing Independent churches^[10]
• 1971: Independent churches listed separately in the Yearbook of American Churches.^[10]

Identity[edit]

Because the Christian churches and churches of Christ are independent congregations there is no set creed, but The Directory of the Ministry^[2] contains the following general description:

Members of Christian Churches and churches of Christ believe in the deity and Lordship of Jesus Christ, the inspiration of the Bible, and the autonomy of local congregations. Following the basic principles of the 'Restoration Movement', they accept and teach believers' baptism by immersion into Christ for the forgiveness of sins; they assemble for worship on the first day of the week, also following Biblical example or inference regarding observance of the Lord's Supper part of worship. Worship also includes congregational a cappella singing of hymns, prayer, free-will monetary contribution (from the local congregation's members) as well as preaching of the Gospel, frequently in concert with other applicable Bible-based topics. They seek the unity of all believers on the basis of faith in and obedience to Christ as the divine Son of God and the acceptance of the Bible particularly the New Testament as their all-sufficient rule of faith and practice.

Baptism[edit]

Of the principles cited above, one characteristic marks most Christian Churches and Churches of Christ as distinctly different from other modern Evangelical Christian groups. That is the teaching that a person receives the remission of sins at the point of his or her baptism.

Educational institutions[edit]

The Christian Churches/churches of Christ support a variety of Bible colleges and seminaries. Because there is no official "denominational" structure in the movement, the local colleges often serve as information centers and allow the local churches to maintain connections with each other.

India

Canada

Philippines

United States

Defunct schools

• Puget Sound Christian College, opened in 1950 but closed in 2007.^[15]
• Cincinnati Christian University, opened in 1924 but closed in 2019.
• In October 2023, Lincoln Christian University announced that it will be closing on May 31, 2024.^[16]

Creeds and slogans[edit]

A number of creeds and slogans have been used in the Restoration Movement to express some of the distinctive themes of the Movement.^[17]: 688 These include:

• "Where the Scriptures speak, we speak; where the Scriptures are silent, we are silent."
• "The church of Jesus Christ on earth is essentially, intentionally, and constitutionally one."
• "We are Christians only, but not the only Christians."
• "In essentials, unity; in opinions, liberty; in all things love."
• "No creed but Christ, no book but the Bible, no law but love, no name but the divine."
• "Call Bible things by Bible names."

See also[edit]

• Christianity
• Christian Church
• Restoration Movement
• Churches of Christ
• Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
• Christian primitivism
• Sponsoring church (Churches of Christ)
• Churches of Christ (non-institutional)

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

Sources[edit]

• "Denominational Profile: Christian Churches and Churches of Christ". The Association of Religious Data Archives. 2012. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
• "Directory of the Ministry". 2019. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
• Dunnavant, Douglas Allen; Foster, Anthony L. (2004). The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, Churches of Christ. Wm. B. Eerdmans. ISBN 0-8028-3898-7.
• Kragenbrink, Kevin R (2000). "The Modernist/Fundamentalist Controversy and the Emergence of the Independent Christian Churches/Churches of Christ". Restoration Quarterly. 42 (1). ACU: 1–17.
• Garret, Leroy; Foster, Anthony L. (2002). The Stone-Campbell Movement: The Story of the American Restoration Movement. College Press. ISBN 978-0-89900909-4.