Christian churches and churches of Christ

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 to apply 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 USA and Canada; some estimate the number to be over 6,000 since this directory is unofficial.

This article is about Christians known as the Christian Churches or Churches of Christ. For other uses, see Christian Church (disambiguation).
"Christian Churches" and "Churches of Christ"
ClassificationProtestant[1]
OrientationRestorationist
PolityCongregationalist
AssociationsWorld Convention of Churches of Christ
Founder
Origin
Separations
Members1,071,616 in the United States

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.

Congregational nomenclature

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," [4] 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

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.[5] The roots of the separation date back to a polarization that occurred during the early twentieth century as the result of three significant controversies.[5] 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).[5]

The Disciples of Christ were, in 1910, a united, growing community with common goals[6] Support by the United Christian Missionary Society of missionaries who advocated open membership became a source of contention in 1920.[5] Efforts to recall support for these missionaries failed in a 1925 convention in Oklahoma City and a 1926 convention in Memphis, Tennessee.[5] Many congregations withdrew from the missionary society as a result.[5]

A new convention, the North American Christian Convention, was organized by the more conservative congregations in 1927.[5] An existing brotherhood journal, the Christian Standard, also served as a source of cohesion for these congregations.[5] 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.[7] By this time the division between liberals and conservatives was well established.[6]

The official separation between the independent Christian Churches/Churches of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is difficult to date.[8] Suggestions range from 1926 to 1971 based on the events outlined below:

  • 1926: The first North American Christian Convention (NACC) in 1927[8] was the result of disillusionment at the DoC Memphis Convention.
  • 1944: International Convention of Disciples elects as president a proponent of open membership[9]
  • 1948: The Commission on Restudy, appointed to help avoid a split, disbands[10]
  • 1955: The Directory of the Ministry was first published listing only the "Independents" on a voluntary basis.[9]
  • 1968: Final redaction of the Disciples Year Book removing Independent churches[9]
  • 1971: Independent churches listed separately in the Yearbook of American Churches.[9]

Identity

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
Baptism by immersion

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, during his baptism.

Educational institutions

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

Colleges and seminaries Location Date Founded
India Christian Bible College Kerala, South India 1980

Canada

Colleges and seminaries Location Date Founded
Alberta Bible College Calgary, Alberta 1932
Maritime Christian College Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island 1960

Philippines

Colleges and seminaries Location Date Founded
International Christian College of Manila San Jose, Antipolo City, Rizal, Philippines 2005
Manila Bible Seminary Pablo Ocampo Street, Barangay San Bartolome, Novaliches, Quezon City, Philippines 1926

United States

Colleges and seminaries Location Date Founded
Boise Bible College Boise, Idaho 1945
Blueridge College of Evangelism Wytheville, Virginia 1971
Bushnell University

(formerly Northwest Christian University)

 Eugene, Oregon 1895
Central Christian College of the Bible Moberly, Missouri 1957
Colegio Biblico[11] Eagle Pass, Texas 1945
Crossroads College Rochester, Minnesota 1913
Dallas Christian College Dallas, Texas 1950
Emmanuel Christian Seminary Johnson City, Tennessee 1965
Johnson University Florida

(formerly Florida Christian College)

 Kissimmee, Florida 1976
Great Lakes Christian College Delta Township, Michigan 1949
Hope International University

(formerly Pacific Christian College)

 Fullerton, California 1928
Johnson University Knoxville, Tennessee 1893
Kentucky Christian University Grayson, Kentucky 1919
Lincoln Christian University Lincoln, Illinois 1944
Louisville Bible College[12] Louisville, Kentucky 1948
Manhattan Christian College Manhattan, Kansas 1927
Mid-Atlantic Christian University Elizabeth City, North Carolina 1948
Mid-South Christian College Memphis, Tennessee 1959
Milligan University Milligan College, Tennessee 1866
Northwest College of the Bible[13] Portland, Oregon 1950
Ozark Christian College Joplin, Missouri 1942
Point University East Point and West Point, Georgia 1937
Saint Louis Christian College Florissant, Missouri 1956
Summit Christian College Scottsbluff, Nebraska 1951
Summit Theological Seminary Peru, Indiana 1974
William Jessup University

(formerly San Jose Christian College)

 Rocklin, California 1939

Defunct schools

  • Puget Sound Christian College, opened in 1950 but closed in 2007.[14]
  • Cincinnati Christian University, opened in 1924 but closed in 2019.

Creeds and Slogans

A number of creeds and slogans have been used in the Restoration Movement to express some of the distinctive themes of the Movement.[15]: 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

References

Citations
  1. “Though some in the Movement have been reluctant to label themselves Protestants, the Stone-Campbell Movement is in the direct lineage of the Protestant Reformation. Especially shaped by Reformed theology through its Presbyterian roots, the Movement also shares historical and theological traits with Anglican and Anabaptist forebears." Douglas Allen Foster and Anthony L. Dunnavant, "Protestant Reformation", in The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, Churches of Christ, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2004, ISBN 0-8028-3898-7, ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8
  2. ARDA 2012.
  3. Directory of the Ministry 2019.
  4. The naming practice is taken as applied doctrine from Paul's use of city names in writing epistles to "the church which is at Corinth" or "the church at Thessalonica" etc.
  5. Dunnavant & Foster 2004, p. 185.
  6. Kragenbrink 2000.
  7. Dunnavant & Foster 2004, p. 9.
  8. Garret & Foster 2002, p. 407.
  9. Garret & Foster 2002, p. 408.
  10. Garret & Foster 2002, p. 409.
  11. Colegio Biblico
  12. Louisville Bible College
  13. Northwest College of the Bible
  14. "Puget Sound Christian College". Archived from the original on 2006-07-14. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
  15. Dunnavant & Foster 2004, p. 688.

Sources
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