Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Logo: The chalice with the Cross of St
Andrew
Classification
Protestant
Orientation
Mainline
Polity
Congregational
Associations
Churches Uniting in Christ,
Christian Churches Together,
National Council of
Churches, World Council of
Churches, World Convention
of Churches of Christ
Geographical
Area
The United States and
Canada with partner
churches worldwide
Founder
Barton W. Stone, Thomas and
Alexander Campbell, Walter
Scott
Origin
The American Frontier:
Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and
Virginia (now West Virginia)
Congregations 3,754
Members
691,160
The Christian Church
(Disciples of
Christ) is a Mainline Protestant denomina-
tion in North America. It is often referred to
as The Christian Church, Disciples of
Christ, or more simply as The Disciples. It
has made significant contributions to world-
wide Christianity through the evangelistic
work of its missionary societies and through
its participation in the ecumenical dialogue
of the 20th century. The Christian Church
was a charter participant in the formation of
both the World Council of Churches and the
Federal Council of Churches (now the Na-
tional Council of Churches), and it continues
to be engaged in ecumenical conversations.
The Disciples’ local churches are congreg-
ationally governed. Currently
there are
691,160 members in 3,754 congregations in
North America.[1]
History
The Beginnings
The early history of The Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ) is shared by two other
groups, The Churches of Christ and the inde-
pendent Christian Churches/Churches of
Christ. They all emerged from the same
roots.
[2] The Stone-Campbell movement
began as two separate threads, each without
knowledge of the other, during the Second
Great Awakening in the early 19th century.
The first, led by Barton W. Stone began at
Cane Ridge, Bourbon County, Kentucky. The
group called themselves simply Christians.
The second, began in western Pennsylvania
and Virginia (now West Virginia), led by Tho-
mas Campbell