Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) |
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The church's logo, depicting a chalice with the Cross of St Andrew.
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| Classification | Protestant |
| Orientation | Mix of Restorationist, Liberal, Progressive, and Pluralist |
| Polity | Congregationalist |
| General Minister and President |
Teresa Hord Owens |
| Associations |
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| Full Communion |
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| Region | United States and Canada |
| Headquarters | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| Founder |
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| Origin |
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| Separated from |
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| Congregations | 3,624 |
| Members | 277,864 (2022) |
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is a Christian church group in the United States and Canada. It is part of the Protestant branch of Christianity. This church began in the 1800s as part of the Restoration Movement. This movement wanted to unite Christians and return to the practices of the early church.
At first, the Disciples of Christ was a loose group of churches. Over time, it slowly formed a more organized structure. This happened through missionary groups and regional meetings. In 1968, the Disciples of Christ officially became a denomination. Some churches chose to leave at that time to remain independent.
People often call this church "Disciples of Christ" or simply "Disciples." It was one of the first groups to join the World Council of Churches (WCC). It also helped start the National Council of Churches. The Disciples of Christ continues to work with other Christian groups.
Local Disciples churches are self-governing. This means each church makes its own decisions. In 2022, there were about 277,864 members in 3,624 churches.
Contents
History of the Disciples of Christ
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) started from the Restoration Movement. This movement began in the early 1800s in America. It was part of a religious revival called the Second Great Awakening. Two main groups started this movement. They did not know about each other at first.
The Stone Movement
One group was led by Barton W. Stone. It began in Kentucky in 1801. This group wanted to move away from traditional church labels. They simply called themselves Christians. In 1804, Stone and others published a document called the Last Will and Testament of the Springfield Presbytery. This paper announced they were leaving their old church group. They wanted to be part of the body of Christ only. They asked for all followers of Jesus to unite. They also believed local churches should govern themselves. The Bible was their main guide for understanding God's will. By 1830, this Christian Church group had about 12,000 members.
The Campbell Movement
Another group was led by Thomas Campbell and his son, Alexander Campbell. They started their movement in Pennsylvania in 1809. Thomas Campbell wrote the Declaration and Address. In this document, he shared his beliefs about the church. He stressed Christian unity and returning to the ways of the New Testament church.
At first, they formed a Christian Association. It was not a church, but a group for people to grow in faith. In 1811, this association became a self-governing church. It was known as Brush Run Church. As they studied the New Testament, they began to practice baptism by immersion. This means a person is fully dipped in water.
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The Campbells' group joined with some Baptists for a while. However, their ideas about church reform were different from traditional Baptists. Alexander Campbell started a journal called The Christian Baptist. This journal promoted their reform ideas. In 1827, Walter Scott became an evangelist for their group. His efforts helped the movement grow quickly. By 1830, the Campbell group separated from the Baptists.
The 1832 Merger
The two groups, led by Stone and Campbell, decided to unite. This happened in Lexington, Kentucky, on December 31, 1831. "Raccoon" John Smith represented the Campbell followers. Barton W. Stone represented the Christians. They shook hands to show their unity. This date is often remembered as January 1, 1832.
After uniting, they needed a name for their new movement. They wanted a name from the Bible that was not tied to any one group. Stone wanted to keep the name "Christians." Alexander Campbell wanted "Disciples of Christ." Both names ended up being used.
Early National Conventions
In 1849, the first national meeting was held in Ohio. Alexander Campbell was worried that these meetings might lead to divisions. He did not attend. At this meeting, they formed the American Christian Missionary Society (ACMS). This group helped organize missionary work. Other missionary groups were also formed later.
However, not everyone agreed with forming these societies. Some believed that missionary societies were not mentioned in the Bible. They also thought these societies might take away power from local churches. This disagreement became a major reason for future divisions. Another issue was the use of musical instruments in worship. Some churches started using organs, which was new.
First Major Division
By 1906, the U.S. government officially listed the Churches of Christ as a separate group. They were distinct from the Disciples of Christ. This division had been growing for many years. The most noticeable difference was that Churches of Christ did not use musical instruments in worship. This debate started around 1860.
Churches of Christ believed they should only practice what was clearly found in the New Testament. They found no mention of instruments in early Christian worship. The Disciples, however, believed anything not forbidden in the New Testament was allowed. These different ways of interpreting the Bible led to the split.
Restructuring the Church
After World War II, the Disciples of Christ decided to reorganize. They wanted to better meet the needs of the time. In 1968, they adopted a new plan called The Design. This plan officially structured the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) as a denomination.
This decision made the earlier split between cooperative and independent churches official. Many independent churches then formally withdrew from the Disciples of Christ yearbook. These independent churches became known as the Christian churches and churches of Christ. This group became the third main branch of the Stone-Campbell Movement.
The Disciples Logo
In 1971, the church adopted its official logo. It shows a red chalice with a white St. Andrew's Cross. The chalice represents the Lord's Supper, which is very important to Disciples. The St. Andrew's Cross shows the church's roots in Scottish Presbyterianism. It also represents that all people can minister. This logo helps identify Disciples churches.
What Disciples Believe and Practice
The Disciples of Christ is a congregational church. This means each local church decides how it will worship, study, serve, and share its faith. Disciples believe in the "priesthood of all believers." This means all members can interpret the Bible. The only requirements are baptism and saying that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Worship and Communion
Most Disciples churches have worship services with singing hymns and reading from the Bible. They also listen to a sermon. A special part of their worship is the Lord's Supper, also called Communion. They usually celebrate Communion every week.
During Communion, people remember Jesus Christ's death and resurrection. They also remember their baptism and thank God for his love. Disciples believe that Jesus invites everyone to his table. So, Communion is open to all who believe Jesus is Lord. This is true no matter what church group they belong to.
Baptism
Most Disciples churches practice believer's baptism. This means people are baptized when they choose to follow Christ. They usually do this by immersion, where they are fully dipped in water. Disciples believe this was the way baptism was done in the New Testament. It symbolizes dying to an old life and rising to a new one with Christ. However, Disciples also accept other forms of baptism, like infant baptism.
Working with Other Churches
Disciples believe they are connected to all who seek God through Jesus Christ. They often work with other Christian churches in their local communities. They might share worship services or do community service projects together.
At a national level, the Christian Unity and Interfaith Ministries (CUIM) helps with these efforts. The Disciples helped start the National Council of Churches and the Canadian Council of Churches. They also take part in discussions with the World Council of Churches.
The Disciples have special partnerships with two other churches. They have "full communion" with the United Church of Christ since 1989. They also have this with the United Church of Canada since 2019. This means they recognize each other's sacraments and ministers. For example, Disciples ministers can serve in the United Church of Christ without extra training.
Ministers and Leaders
Disciples believe that all baptized people are called to serve others. They have different spiritual gifts. The Order of Ministry is for those with special gifts for pastoral leadership. These leaders are often called Ministers or Pastors.
Local churches sponsor members who want to become ministers. Regional church groups oversee this process. Ministers usually get a Master of Divinity degree from a seminary. They can also train through an "Apprentice" program. After training, they are ordained in a special service. This service includes church members and other ministers laying hands on the candidate.
How the Church is Organized
The Disciples of Christ has a unique structure. Its main governing document, The Design, describes three "expressions" of the church. These are the congregational, regional, and general levels. Each level is self-governing and has its own responsibilities. They work together in agreement, not by one telling the other what to do.
Local Churches
Each local Disciples church is self-governing. They choose their own ministers and leaders. They also own their own buildings and manage their own money.
In Disciples churches, all members are encouraged to serve. Churches elect and ordain lay people as Elders. Elders help the ministers with duties like visiting the sick. They also provide spiritual guidance and lead Communion during worship.
Regional Church Groups
Regional churches include all Disciples in a certain area, usually a state or group of states. As of 2023, there are 31 regions. This includes the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Canada. Each region has a Regional Minister. This person acts as the main pastor and leader for the region. Regions also have other staff members.
One main job of the regions is to care for and oversee ministers. They are responsible for ordaining and licensing ministers. They also make sure ministers continue to meet certain standards. Regional Ministers also offer support to ministers in their area.
Regions also help local churches. They help start new churches and support churches that are struggling. They also help churches find new ministers. Regions also offer events and education for members, like summer camps for kids.
General Ministries
The "General Church" level of the Disciples of Christ includes several self-governing agencies. These agencies focus on specific ways to serve the world. The church agencies report to the General Assembly. This assembly meets every two years. It is made up of representatives from local churches and ministers.
The General Minister and President (GMP) is the main pastor for the whole denomination. This person is also the chief executive officer. The GMP works to support all parts of the church. The current GMP is Teresa Hord Owens. She was the first Black woman to lead a major Christian denomination. Before her, Sharon E. Watkins was the first woman to lead a major denomination.
Some of the General Ministries include:
- Office of the General Minister and President: This office handles communications and fundraising for church missions. It also leads efforts for racial justice.
- Christian Board of Publication-Chalice Press: This is the church's publishing house.
- Christian Church Foundation: This group helps with giving and managing church funds.
- Disciples Church Extension Fund: This fund supports church finances and new church ministries.
- Disciples Home Missions: This ministry supports local churches. It helps with education, environmental justice, and ministries for families, youth, and children.
- Division of Overseas Ministries-Global Ministries: This group works on global missions with the United Church of Christ.
- National Benevolent Association: This group helps connect health and social service ministries. They assist orphans, the elderly, and the disabled.
- Pension Fund of the Christian Church: This fund provides pensions for church employees.
One well-known program is the "Week of Compassion." This program provides disaster relief and helps with development in poorer countries. It works with other organizations around the world.
The General Church has a "2020 Vision" for the 21st Century. This vision includes:
- Working for racial justice and becoming an anti-racist church.
- Starting 1,000 new churches in the U.S. and Canada.
- Helping 1,000 existing churches renew their mission.
- Training new leaders for these churches.
Membership Changes
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has seen a decrease in members since the mid-1900s. Membership was highest in 1958, with almost 2 million members. By 1993, it dropped below 1 million. In 2017, there were about 450,425 members.
Church-Affiliated Schools
From the very beginning, Disciples have started colleges and universities. Alexander Campbell founded Bethany College. Many other schools were started later.
Disciples value intellectual and religious freedom. So, the colleges and seminaries they founded do not force students to believe a certain way.
Today, Higher Education and Leadership Ministries (HELM) connects the church with its affiliated schools.
Universities and Colleges
- Barton College – Wilson, North Carolina
- Bethany College – Bethany, West Virginia
- Chapman University – Orange, California
- Columbia College – Columbia, Missouri
- Culver-Stockton College – Canton, Missouri
- Drury University – Springfield, Missouri
- Eureka College – Eureka, Illinois
- Hiram College – Hiram, Ohio
- Jarvis Christian College – Hawkins, Texas
- University of Lynchburg – Lynchburg, Virginia
- Midway University – Midway, Kentucky
- Texas Christian University – Fort Worth, Texas
- Tougaloo College – Tougaloo, Mississippi
- Transylvania University – Lexington, Kentucky
- William Woods University – Fulton, Missouri
Seminaries and Theological Schools
The Disciples have four seminaries and divinity schools directly connected to the church:
- Brite Divinity School – Fort Worth, Texas
- Christian Theological Seminary – Indianapolis, Indiana
- Lexington Theological Seminary – Lexington, Kentucky
- Phillips Theological Seminary – Tulsa, Oklahoma
They also have three other institutions that work with other theological schools:
- Disciples Divinity House of the University of Chicago – Chicago, Illinois
- Disciples Divinity House at Vanderbilt – Nashville, Tennessee
- Disciples Seminary Foundation – Claremont, California
Working with Other Faiths
The Disciples of Christ works with many other Christian groups. They are part of organizations like Churches Uniting in Christ and the World Council of Churches. They also have special partnerships with the United Church of Christ and the United Church of Canada. This means ministers from these churches can serve in each other's congregations.
Famous Members
Many well-known people have been part of the Disciples of Christ:
- William Barber II, pastor and civil rights leader
- Andy Beshear, Governor of Kentucky
- Edgar Cayce, American mystic
- J. William Fulbright, U.S. Senator
- James A. Garfield, 20th President of the United States and Disciples minister
- Lyndon Baines Johnson, 36th President of the United States
- Frances McDormand, actress
- John Muir, founder of the environmental movement (raised in the church)
- Ronald Reagan, 40th President of the United States (baptized as a youth)
- Colonel Harlan Sanders, founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken
- Tom Selleck, actor
- John Stamos, actor
- John Wooden, famous UCLA basketball coach
See also
In Spanish: Discípulos de Cristo (Iglesia cristiana) para niños
- First Christian Church, a common name for many Disciples churches
- National City Christian Church, the Disciples' main church in Washington, D.C.
- Restoration Movement
- Churches of Christ, a group that separated in 1906
- Christian churches and churches of Christ, a group that separated in 1968
- World Convention of Churches of Christ
