Body: | Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
A Statement of Identity
"Disciples always have opposed...the use of creeds to exclude persons from
the church. It was (the) use of creeds as 'tests of fellowship' that the
Disciples' founding fathers fingered as the major cause of division among
Christians...(So) unlike most other churches, we Disciples do not have an
official doctrinal statement we can refer to when someone asks, 'What does
the Christian Church believe?'" Kenneth Teegarden
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is a community of believers who
through baptism into Jesus Christ are bound by covenant to God and to one
another. Disciples draw their inspiration from Scripture and the Holy
Spirit, celebrating around the Lord's Table the life, death and
resurrection, and continuing presence of Christ. We proclaim the good news
of salvation. We claim as our particular witness the quest for Christian
unity as a sign of God's unity for the human community. While stressing
freedom and diversity under God, we believe unity and mission are
inseparable; we witness and serve among the whole human family in the
interest of peace, justice, mercy and kindness.
Composed by General Minister and President Emeritus Kenneth Teegarden,
affirmed by the General Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
While Disciples honor no human-made creed, the preamble to a document
called The Design for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) poetically
and prayerfully expresses our shared affirmations in this way:
The Design for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
"As members of the Christian Church, we confess that Jesus is the
Christ, the Son of the living God, and proclaim him Lord and Savior of the
world.
In Christ's name and by his grace we accept our mission of witness
and service to all people.
We rejoice in God, maker of heaven and earth, and in the covenant of
love which binds us to God and to one another.
Through baptism into Christ we enter into newness of life and are
made one with the whole people of God.
In the communion of the Holy Spirit we are joined together in
discipleship and in obedience to Christ.
At the table of the Lord we celebrate with thanksgiving the saving
acts and presence of Christ.
Within the universal church we receive the gift of ministry and the
light of scripture.
In the bonds of Christian faith we yield ourselves to God that we
may serve the One whose kingdom has no end.
Blessing, glory and honor be to God forever. Amen."
Where are they today?
Originally part of the Restoration Movement (begun by Thomas and Alexander
Campbell, Barton W. Stone and others), the Disciples of Christ adopted a
denominational structure and created Christian Missionary Fellowship in the
late 1800s, thus "abandoning" the "non-denominational" principle of the
Movement.
In recent years (1970s following), the Disciples of Christ denomination has
sought to broaden its "liberality" and has endorsed the following
anti-Biblical positions:
ordained women ministers
ordained women elders
denied the requirement of immersion for salvation as essential to
salvation, as they did when they were first founded.
participated in unity discussions with the Roman Catholic church,
apparently acknowledging the latter's claims and doctrines.
A few have denied the virgin birth of Jesus
A few have participated with other liberal denominations in
undermining the accuracy and authenticity of the Bible.
A few have supported gay marriage.
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