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From the Preface: "Did Churches of Christ really begin as a unity movement? Why didn't I know that?" "You mean we used to be called Disciples of Christ? I thought that was just another denomination." "Churches of Christ today believe and practice the same things we have from the beginning, don't we?" Statements like these by members of Churches of Christ reflect a serious lack of knowledge of our past and an increasing desire by many to know more of their heritage. This desire has led us to believe there is a need for a brief account of the history of Churches of Christ. This book hopes to serve newcomers and even long-time members of the church by giving them insights into our heritage. It also is an introduction to this significant group of churches for those unfamiliar with its place in American Christianity.
In Renewing Christian Unity, scholars Mark G. Toulouse, Gary Holloway, and Douglas A. Foster collaborate to provide an overview of the history of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) that will serve all readers by giving a brief, authoritative introduction to this important American denomination. Throughout its history, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has been known for its commitment to Christian unity. The context for unity in the twenty-first century, however, is considerably different than it was in the nineteenth century. Renewing Christian Unityprovides a brief history of the Disciples and their unwavering but ever-adapting commitment to the unity of the church. Their story is one of both continuity and change. Disciples remain as those who are uncomfortable with denominationalism. They still prefer simply to be known as Christians. But over the course of two centuries, the Disciples' understanding of Christian witness and of the "one church" has taken note of the changing times, and changed right along with them. This is partly because Disciples have always believed that human history is meaningful. God has entered human time to make a difference. Disciples celebrate this fact at the communion table and in the baptismal waters, through their active engagement with the world as they seek to embody both God's love and justice, and in their insistence that the church is one. Alexander Campbell once declared, "We . . . should hang our Sectarian trumpets in the hall and study ecclesiastic wars no more." Disciples have not always succeeded in meeting that expectation, but they do possess a history marked by an earnest desire to seek a renewal of Christian unity in the life of the church. In this book, readers will learn more about this significant group of churches, which has shaped the landscape of American Christianity.
A history of the churches of Christ in America with emphasis on who they are and why. Fourteen chapters with pictures of Restoration leaders from both the 19th and 20th centuries.
"Over ten years in the making, The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement offers for the first time a sweeping historical and theological treatment of this complex, vibrant global communion. Written by more than 300 contributors, this major reference work contains over 700 original articles covering all of the significant individuals, events, places, and theological tenets that have shaped the Movement. Much more than simply a historical dictionary, this volume also constitutes an interpretive work reflecting historical consensus among Stone-Campbell scholars, even as it attempts to present a fair, representative picture of the rich heritage that is the Stone-Campbell Movement."--BOOK JACKET.
This rich and challenging book explores the roots or ancestry of the Churches of Christ and others who stand as heirs to the Stone-Campbell movement of the early nineteenth century. It asks, Where did we come from? How did we get this way? Why do we read the Bible the way we do? What has been the heart of our movement? And it asks further, What can we learn from those who have viewed restoration of apostolic Christianity in ways quite different from our own? The authors begin their story in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries - the age of Renaissance and Reformation. They isolate the stream of restorationist thought that arose in that age and then follow that stream through the Puritans, the early Baptists in America, the frenzy of pure beginnings in the early decades of American nationhood, and down to the Stone-Campbell movement.
In "Signs of the Spirit" the author analyzes church renewal from a historical perspective, focusing especially on the Montanist, Pietist, Methodist, and Moravian movements. Professor Snyder then synthesizes the lessons of church renewal in history and applies them in such a way that inspires a renewal strategy for the local church today.
Barton Stone, Thomas Campbell, and Alexander Campbell organized a nineteenth-century Christian renewal movement that later coalesced into three distinct church bodies in the United States: Churches of Christ, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and Christian Churches and Churches of Christ. What is less known is that from these humble origins, the Stone-Campbell Movement has grown globally, now with churches in more than 199 countries. This book tells the story from the movement's beginnings all the way to its international expansion into Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Complete with a study guide and personal reflection questions, this book is ideal for longtime members, new members, and those unfamiliar with the Stone-Campbell heritage.
The term Believers' Church refers to those who regard the church as the fellowship of regenerate followers of Jesus Christ. Membership in these churches is founded on a voluntary confession of Jesus as Lord. Each member has access to God in worship and prayer and accepts responsibility for carrying the gospel to the world. The Word of God serves as the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. Written by capable thinkers in the Believers' Church tradition, The People of God addresses key issues in the area of ecclesiology. The contributions represent a wide variety of mature theological reflection. Exploring these ecclesiological concerns from a theological, biblical, historical, and contemporary perspective, these essays reflect the unity and diversity of the Believers' Church heritage.