Because the founders wanted to abandon all denominational labels, they used the biblical names for the followers of Jesus that they found in the Bible. ===Stone=== In 1801, the Cane Ridge Revival in Kentucky planted the seed for a movement in Kentucky and the Ohio River Valley to disassociate from denominationalism.
In 1803 Stone and others withdrew from the Kentucky Presbytery and formed the Springfield Presbytery.
The defining event of the Stone wing of the movement was the publication of the Last Will and Testament of the Springfield Presbytery, at Cane Ridge, Kentucky, in 1804.
It is estimated that the Christian Church numbered about 12,000 by 1830. ===Campbells=== Independently of Stone, the Campbell wing of the movement was launched when Thomas Campbell published the Declaration and Address of the Christian Association of Washington, (Pennsylvania) in 1809.
On May 4, 1811, however, the Christian Association constituted itself as a congregationally governed church.
Campbell anticipated the conflict and moved his membership to a congregation of the Mahoning Baptist Association in 1824. In 1827, the Mahoning Association appointed reformer Walter Scott as an Evangelist.
Campbell anticipated the conflict and moved his membership to a congregation of the Mahoning Baptist Association in 1824. In 1827, the Mahoning Association appointed reformer Walter Scott as an Evangelist.
In 1828, Thomas Campbell visited several of the congregations formed by Scott and heard him preach.
It is estimated that the Christian Church numbered about 12,000 by 1830. ===Campbells=== Independently of Stone, the Campbell wing of the movement was launched when Thomas Campbell published the Declaration and Address of the Christian Association of Washington, (Pennsylvania) in 1809.
In 1830, the Mahoning Baptist Association disbanded.
In January 1831, he began publication of the Millennial Harbinger. ===Merging=== The two groups united at High Street Meeting House, Lexington, Kentucky, with a handshake between Barton W.
Stone and "Raccoon" John Smith, on Saturday, December 31, 1831.
While contemporaneous accounts are clear that the handshake took place on Saturday, some historians have changed the date of the merger to Sunday, January 1, 1832.
The 1832 date has become generally accepted.
These different congregations (Disciples of Christ, Church of Christ, and Independent Church) share many of the same beliefs and practices but there are, in fact, some differences. ===First national convention and missionary movement=== In 1849, the first National Convention was held at Cincinnati, Ohio.
The Declaration and Address Challen, James (editor), Biographical Sketch of Alexander Campbell, Ladies' Christian Annual, March, 1857 (Volume VI, No.
The controversy over musical instruments began in 1860, when some congregations introduced organs, traditionally associated with wealthier, denominational churches.
In a respectful way, both men routinely published the contributions of others whose positions were radically different from their own. Following Campbell's death in 1866, journals continued to keep the discussion and conversation alive.
Between 1870 and 1900, two journals emerged as the most prominent.
However, the division had been growing for years, with published reports as early as 1883.
A third journal became part of the conversation with the publication in 1884 of The Christian Oracle, later to become The Christian Century, with an interdenominational appeal.
Between 1870 and 1900, two journals emerged as the most prominent.
Prior to the 1906 separation, congregations would typically be named "Disciples of Christ," "Christian Church," and "Church of Christ." However, there are different practices by each.
Long, who then established a non-profit corporation, "The Christian Board of Publication" as the Brotherhood publishing house. ===Division=== In 1906, the U.S.
The process that led to the separation had begun prior to the American Civil War. Following the 1906 separation by the Churches of Christ, additional controversies arose.
In 1914, Garrison's Christian Publishing company was purchased by R.
Among the cooperative churches, the three Missionary Societies merged into the United Christian Missionary Society in 1920.
The Disciples of Christ in Canada Since 1930...
Toronto, Ont.: Churches of Christ (Disciples), 1949.
After a number of discussions throughout the 1950s, the 1960 International Convention of Christian Churches adopted a process to "restructure" the entire organization.
Membership peaked in 1958 at just under 2 million.
After a number of discussions throughout the 1950s, the 1960 International Convention of Christian Churches adopted a process to "restructure" the entire organization.
The Disciples has been a full participant in the Consultation on Church Union since it began in the 1960s.
Walker, held its first meeting on October 30 & November 1, 1962.
In 1968, the Disciples of Christ officially adopted a denominational structure at which time a group of churches left to remain nondenominational. It is often referred to as The Christian Church, The Disciples of Christ, The Disciples, or the DOC.
In 1968, the International Convention of Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ) adopted the commission's proposed "Provisional Design of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)." Soon the Provisional Design became "The Design." Under the design, all churches in the 1968 yearbook of Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ) were automatically recognized as part of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
The cross of Saint Andrew is a reminder of the ministry of each person and the importance of evangelism, and recalls the denomination's Scottish Presbyterian ancestry. After the 1968 General Assembly, the Administrative Committee charged a sub-committee with the task of proposing a symbol for the church.
Osborn. On January 20, 1970, the two men sat down for lunch.
Use of the proposed symbol became so prevalent that there was little debate when official adoption was considered at the 1971 General Assembly. Because most congregations call themselves "Christian Churches," the chalice has become a simple way to identify Disciples of Christ Churches through signage, letterhead, and other forms of publicity. ==Membership trends== The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has experienced a significant loss of membership since the middle of the 20th century.
Two investigations were undertaken in 1974 and 1977 by the denomination that did not find any wrongdoings.
Two investigations were undertaken in 1974 and 1977 by the denomination that did not find any wrongdoings.
The Alliance was founded as the Gay, Lesbian, and Affirming Disciples Alliance (GLAD) during the 1979 General Assembly. ==Structure== The structure of the Disciples is unique among Mainline Protestant churches.
It continues to support those ongoing conversations which have taken on the title Churches Uniting in Christ. The Disciples have two full communion partners: the United Church of Christ, since 1989, and the United Church of Canada, since 2019.
In 1993, membership dropped below 1 million.
CUIM describes these partnerships as the proclamation of "mutual recognition of their sacraments and ordained ministry." Ordained Disciple ministers are able to directly serve in the United Church of Christ without having to seek additional qualifications. Additionally, the Disciples combined their overseas ministries with the United Church of Christ in 1996.
Yearbook & Directory of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) - 2006, Indianapolis: The Office of The General Minister and President Williams, D.
In 2008 there were 679,563 members in 3,714 congregations in North America.
link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ): A Reformed North American Mainstream Moderate Denomination, presentation given during the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Consultation on "Becoming a Multicultural and Inclusive Church," March 27, 2008.
In 2009, the denomination reported 658,869 members in 3,691 congregations.
As of 2010, the five states with the highest adherence rates were Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Kentucky and Oklahoma.
Retrieved January 4, 2010. ==Further reading== Butchart, Reuben.
Concerns about LGBTQ people continued to be an issue at the General Assembly, but resolutions that called on more civil rights protections for LGBTQ people were passed with overwhelming majorities and resolutions to ban the "homosexual lifestyle" continued to be rejected. In 2011, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) stated that "Disciples do not have a formal policy on same-sex marriage.
In 2013, the Disciples of Christ voted in favor of a resolution affirming all members regardless of sexual orientation.
By 2015, this number had declined to a baptized membership of 497,423 in 3,267 congregations, of whom about 306,905 were active members, while approximately 177,000 attended Sunday services each week.
When she was elected in 2017, Owens was the first black woman to lead a mainline denomination as their chief executive.
link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ): A Reformed North American Mainstream Moderate Denomination, presentation given during the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Consultation on "Becoming a Multicultural and Inclusive Church," March 27, 2008.
In 2018, the denomination reported 380,248 members with 124,437 people in average worship attendance. ==History== The name "Disciples of Christ" is shared by three other groups: the Churches of Christ, the Independent Christian churches and churches of Christ, and the Christian Congregation.
It continues to support those ongoing conversations which have taken on the title Churches Uniting in Christ. The Disciples have two full communion partners: the United Church of Christ, since 1989, and the United Church of Canada, since 2019.
It works closely with Church World Service and church related organizations in countries around the world where disasters strike, providing emergency aid. The General Church has challenged the entire denomination to work for a 2020 Vision for the first two decades of the 21st Century.
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