Churches of Christ
Churches of Christ | |
---|---|
Congregationalist | |
Separations | |
Congregations | 41,498 (worldwide) 11,790 (U.S.)[3] |
Members | 2,000,000 (approx.) worldwide;[4] 1,113,362 in the United States (2020)[5] |
Publications |
The Churches of Christ, also commonly known as the Church of Christ, is a loose association of autonomous Christian congregations located around the world. Typically, their distinguishing beliefs are that of the necessity of baptism for salvation and the prohibition of musical instruments in worship. Many such congregations identify themselves as being nondenominational.[12] The Churches of Christ arose in the United States from the Restoration Movement of 19th-century Christians who declared independence from denominations and traditional creeds. They sought "the unification of all Christians in a single body patterned after the original church described in the New Testament."[13]: 54
Overview
Modern Churches of Christ have their historical roots in the Restoration Movement, which was a convergence of Christians across denominational lines in search of a return to an original, "pre-denominational" form of Christianity.[14][15]: 108 Participants in this movement sought to base their doctrine and practice on the Bible alone, rather than recognizing the traditional councils and denominational hierarchies that had come to define Christianity since the first century A.D.[14][15]: 82, 104, 105 Members of the Churches of Christ believe that Jesus founded only one church, that the current divisions among Christians do not express God's will, and that the only basis for restoring Christian unity is the Bible.[14] They simply identify themselves as "Christians", without using any other forms of religious or denominational identification.[16][17][18]: 213 They aspire to be the New Testament church as established by Christ.[19][20][21]: 106
Members of the church of Christ do not conceive of themselves as a new church started near the beginning of the 19th century. Rather, the whole movement is designed to reproduce in contemporary times the church originally established on Pentecost, A.D. 33. The strength of the appeal lies in the restoration of Christ's original church.
Churches of Christ generally share the following theological beliefs and practices:[14]
- : 124
- Refusal to hold to any formal creeds or informal "doctrinal statements" or "statements of faith", stating instead a reliance on the Bible alone for doctrine and practice;[21]: 103 [22]: 238, 240 [23]: 123
- Local governance: 47–54
- Baptism by immersion of consenting believers[22]: 238 [23]: 124 in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins;[14][21]: 103 [23]: 124
- Weekly observance of the Lord's Supper[23]: 124 on Sunday[21]: 107 [22]: 238
- In British congregations, the term "breaking of bread" is commonly used.
- In American congregations, the terms "Communion" or "body and blood" are used.
- Churches of Christ typically offer open communion on the first day of each week, offering the bread and fruit of the vine to all present at each person's self-examination.
- Practice of a cappella singing is the norm in worship,[25] based on New Testament passages teaching to sing for worship, with no mention of instrumental music (and also that worship in church assemblies for centuries in the early Church practiced a cappella singing).[22]: 240 [23]: 125
In keeping with their history, the Churches of Christ claim the
Demographics
In 2022, the total membership of Churches of Christ is estimated to be between 1,700,000 and 2,000,000,
Within the U.S., membership in the Churches of Christ has declined by approximately 12% over the period from 1980 through 2007. The current retention rate of young adults graduating from high school appears to be approximately 60%. Membership is concentrated, with 70% of the U.S. membership, in thirteen states. Churches of Christ had a presence in 2,429 counties, placing them fifth behind the United Methodist Church, Catholic Church, Southern Baptist Convention and Assemblies of God – but the average number of adherents per county was approximately 677. The divorce rate was 6.9%, much lower than national averages.[35]
Name
Other terms are derived from their use in the New Testament: "church of God", "church of the Lord", "churches of Christ", "church of the first-born", "church of the living God", "the house of God", and "the people of God",
Church organization
Congregational autonomy and leadership
Church government is congregational rather than denominational. Churches of Christ purposefully have no central headquarters, councils, or other organizational structure above the local church level.[18]: 214 [21]: 103 [22]: 238 [23]: 124 [50] Rather, the independent congregations are a network with each congregation participating at its own discretion in various means of service and fellowship with other congregations (see Sponsoring church (Churches of Christ)).[14][23]: 124 [51][52] Churches of Christ are linked by their shared commitment to Biblical restoration principles.[14][21]: 106 Congregations which do not participate with other church congregations and which refuse to pool resources in order to support outside causes (such as mission work, orphanages, Bible colleges, etc.) are sometimes called "non-institutional."
Congregations are generally overseen by a plurality of
While the early Restoration Movement had a tradition of itinerant preachers rather than "located Preachers", during the 20th century a long-term, formally trained congregational minister became the norm among Churches of Christ.[53]: 532 Ministers are understood to serve under the oversight of the elders[56]: 298 and may or may not also be qualified as an elder. While the presence of a long-term professional minister has sometimes created "significant de facto ministerial authority" and led to conflict between the minister and the elders, the eldership has remained the "ultimate locus of authority in the congregation".[53]: 531 There is, however, a small segment of Churches of Christ who oppose the "located minister" concept (see below).
Churches of Christ hold to the priesthood of all believers.[58] No special titles are used for preachers or ministers that would identify them as "clergy".[21]: 106 [28]: 112–113 Many ministers have undergraduate or graduate education in religion, or specific training in preaching through a non-college school of preaching.[34]: 215 [53]: 531 [59]: 607 [60]: 672, 673 Churches of Christ emphasize that there is no distinction between "clergy" and "laity" and that every member has a gift and a role to play in accomplishing the work of the church.[61]: 38–40
Variations within Churches of Christ
While there is an identifiable mainstream within the Churches of Christ, there are also significant variations within the fellowship.[18]: 212 [34]: 213 [62]: 31, 32 [63]: 4 [64]: 1, 2 The approach taken to restoring the New Testament church has focused on "methods and procedures" such as church organization, the form of worship, and how the church should function. As a result, most divisions among Churches of Christ have been the result of "methodological" disputes. These are meaningful to members of this movement because of the seriousness with which they take the goal of "restoring the form and structure of the primitive church".[18]: 212
Three quarters of the congregations and 87% of the membership are described by The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement as "mainstream", sharing a general consensus on practice and theology.[34]: 213
Congregational a cappella music from hymnals (perhaps pitched from a pitch pipe), but directed by any capable song-leader motioning the time signature, is notably characteristic of the Churches of Christ.[22]: 240 [65]: 417 [66] Few congregations clap hands or use musical instruments during "formal" weekly convocations.
The remaining congregations may be grouped into four categories which generally differ from the mainstream consensus in specific practices, rather than in theological perspectives, and tend to have smaller congregations on average.[34]: 213
The largest of these four categories is
The remaining three groups, whose congregations are generally considerably smaller than those of the mainstream or non-institutional groups, also oppose institutional support as well as "fellowship halls" and similar structures (for the same reasons as the non-institutional groups), but differ by other beliefs and practices (the groups often overlap, but in all cases hold to more conservative views than even the non-institutional groups):[34]: 213
- One group opposes separate "Sunday School" classes for children or gender-separated (the groups thus meet only as a whole assembly in one area); this group consists of approximately 1,100 congregations. The no Sunday School group generally overlaps with the "one-cup" group and may overlap with the "mutual edification" group as defined below.
- Another group opposes the use of multiple communion cups (the term "one-cup" is often used, sometimes pejoratively as "one-cuppers", to describe this group); there are approximately 550 congregations in this group. Congregations in this group differ as to whether "the wine" should be fermented or unfermented, whether the cup can be refilled if during the service it runs dry (or even if it is accidentally spilled), and whether "the bread" can be broken ahead of time or must be broken by the individual participant during Lord's Supper time.
- The last and smallest group "emphasize[s] mutual edification by various leaders in the churches and oppose[s] one person doing most of the preaching" (the term "mutual edification" is often used to describe this group); there are approximately 130 congregations in this grouping.
Beliefs
Churches of Christ seek to practice the principle of the Bible being the only source to find doctrine (known elsewhere as sola scriptura).[23]: 123 [68] The Bible is generally regarded as inspired and inerrant.[23]: 123 Churches of Christ generally see the Bible as historically accurate and literal, unless scriptural context obviously indicates otherwise. Regarding church practices, worship, and doctrine, there is great liberty from congregation to congregation in interpreting what is biblically permissible, as congregations are not controlled by a denominational hierarchy.[69] Their approach to the Bible is driven by the "assumption that the Bible is sufficiently plain and simple to render its message obvious to any sincere believer".[18]: 212 Related to this is an assumption that the Bible provides an understandable "blueprint" or "constitution" for the church.[18]: 213
If it's not in the Bible, then these folks aren't going to do it.
— Carmen Renee Berry, The Unauthorized Guide to Choosing a Church[22]: 240
Historically, three hermeneutic approaches have been used among Churches of Christ.[27]: 387 [70]
- Analysis of commands, examples, and necessary inferences;
- Dispensational analysis distinguishing between Patriarchal, Mosaic and Christian dispensations (however, Churches of Christ are amillennial and generally hold preterist views); and
- Grammatico-historical analysis.
The relative importance given to each of these three strategies has varied over time and between different contexts.
A debate arose during the 1980s over the use of the command, example, necessary inference model for identifying the "essentials" of the
Many scholars associated with the Churches of Christ embrace the methods of modern Biblical criticism but not the associated anti-supernaturalistic views. More generally, the classical grammatico-historical method is prevalent, which provides a basis for some openness to alternative approaches to understanding the scriptures.[27]: 389
Doctrine of salvation (soteriology)
Churches of Christ are strongly anti-
Churches of Christ generally teach that the process of salvation involves the following steps:[14]
- One must be properly taught, and hear (Romans 10:14–17);
- One must );
- One must repent, which means turning from one's former lifestyle and choosing God's ways (Acts 17:30);
- One must confess belief that Jesus is the son of God (Acts 8:36–37);
- One must be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38); and
- One must live faithfully as a Christian (1 Peter 2:9).
Beginning in the 1960s, many preachers began placing more emphasis on the role of grace in salvation, instead of focusing exclusively on implementing all of the New Testament commands and examples.[63]: 152, 153 This was not an entirely new approach, as others had actively "affirmed a theology of free and unmerited grace", but it did represent a change of emphasis with grace becoming "a theme that would increasingly define this tradition".[63]: 153
Baptism
Baptism has been recognized as the important initiatory rite throughout the history of the Christian Church,[72]: 11 but Christian groups differ over the manner and time in which baptism is administered,[72]: 11 the meaning and significance of baptism,[72]: 11 its role in salvation,[72]: 12 and who is a candidate for baptism.[72]: 12
Baptism in Churches of Christ is performed only by bodily immersion,[21]: 107 [23]: 124 based on the New Testament's use of the Koine Greek verb βαπτίζω (baptizō) which is understood to mean to dip, immerse, submerge or plunge.[14][24]: 313–314 [28]: 45–46 [72]: 139 [73]: 22 Immersion is seen as more closely conforming to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus than other modes of baptism.[14][24]: 314–316 [72]: 140 Churches of Christ argue that historically immersion was the mode used in the first century, and that pouring and sprinkling emerged later.[72]: 140 Over time these secondary modes came to replace immersion, in the State Churches of Europe.[72]: 140 Only those mentally capable of belief and repentance are baptized (e.g., infant baptism is not practiced).[14][23]: 124 [24]: 318–319 [55]: 195
Churches of Christ have historically had the most conservative position on baptism among the various branches of the Restoration Movement, understanding that repentance and baptism by immersion are necessary parts of conversion.[74]: 61 The most significant disagreements concerned the extent to which a correct understanding of the role of baptism is necessary for its validity.[74]: 61 David Lipscomb argued that if a believer was baptized out of a desire to obey God, the baptism was valid, even if the individual did not fully understand the role baptism plays in salvation.[74]: 61 Austin McGary argued that to be valid, the convert must also understand that baptism is for the forgiveness of sins.[74]: 62 McGary's view became the prevailing one in the early 20th century, but the approach advocated by Lipscomb never totally disappeared.[74]: 62 More recently, the rise of the International Churches of Christ, who "reimmersed some who came into their fellowship, even those previously immersed 'for remission of sins' in a Church of Christ," has caused some to reexamine the question of rebaptism.[74]: 66
Churches of Christ consistently teach that in baptism a believer surrenders his life in faith and obedience to God, and that God "by the merits of Christ's blood, cleanses one from sin and truly changes the state of the person from an alien to a citizen of God's kingdom. Baptism is not a human work; it is the place where God does the work that only God can do."[74]: 66 The term "alien" is used in reference to sinners as in Eph 2:12. Members consider baptism a passive act of faith rather than a meritorious work; it "is a confession that a person has nothing to offer God".[75]: 112 While Churches of Christ do not describe baptism as a "sacrament", their view of it can legitimately be described as "sacramental".[73]: 186 [74]: 66 They see the power of baptism coming from God, who uses baptism as a vehicle, rather than from the water or the act itself,[73]: 186 and understand baptism to be an integral part of the conversion process, rather than as only a symbol of conversion.[73]: 184 A recent trend is to emphasize the transformational aspect of baptism: instead of describing it as nothing more than a legal requirement or sign of something that happened in the past, it is seen as "the event that places the believer 'into Christ' where God does the ongoing work of transformation".[74]: 66 There is a minority that downplays the importance of baptism in order to avoid sectarianism, but the broader trend is to "reexamine the richness of the Biblical teaching of baptism and to reinforce its central and essential place in Christianity".[74]: 66
Because of the belief that baptism is a necessary part of
A cappella singing
The Churches of Christ generally combine the lack of any historical evidence that the early church used musical instruments in its worship assemblies[13]: 47 [24]: 237–238 [65]: 415 with the New Testament's lack of scriptures authorizing the use of instruments in worship assemblies[14][24]: 244–246 to conclude that instruments should not be used today in corporate worship. Thus, they have typically practiced a cappella music in their worship assemblies.[14][22]: 240 [23]: 124
The tradition of a cappella congregational singing in the Churches of Christ is deep rooted and the rich history of the practice stimulated the creation of many
Scriptures cited to support the practice of a cappella worship include:
- Matt 26:30: "And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives."[24]: 236
- Rom 15:9: "Therefore I will praise thee among the Gentiles, and sing to thy name";[24]: 236
- Eph 5:18–19: "... be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart,"[14][24]: 236
- 1 Cor 14:15: "I will sing with the Spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also."[24]: 236
- Col 3:16: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God."[24]: 237
- Heb 2:12: "I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee."[24]: 237
- Heb 13:15: By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
The use of musical instruments in worship was a divisive topic within the
Other theological tendencies
Many leaders argue that the Churches of Christ only follow the Bible and have no "theology".[82]: 737 Christian theology as classically understood – the systematic development of the classical doctrinal topics – is relatively recent and rare among this movement.[82]: 737 Because Churches of Christ reject all formalized creeds on the basis that they add to or detract from Scripture, they generally reject most conceptual doctrinal positions out of hand.[83] Churches of Christ do tend to elaborate certain "driving motifs".[82]: 737 These are scripture (hermeneutics), the church (ecclesiology) and the "plan of salvation" (soteriology).[82]: 737 The importance of theology, understood as teaching or "doctrine", has been defended on the basis that an understanding of doctrine is necessary to respond intelligently to questions from others, to promote spiritual health, and to draw the believer closer to God.[75]: 10–11
Churches of Christ avoid the term "theology", preferring instead the term "doctrine": theology is what humans say about the Bible; doctrine is simply what the Bible says.
— Encyclopedia of Religion in the South[18]: 213
Eschatology
Regarding
Premillennialism was a focus of controversy during the first half of the 20th century.
Work of the Holy Spirit
During the late 19th century, the prevailing view in the Restoration Movement was that the
The Trinity
Thomas Campbell and Barton W. Stone both publicly believed that God is made known in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit.
Church history
The fundamental idea of "restoration" or "Christian Primitivism" is that problems or deficiencies in the
One effect of the emphasis placed on the New Testament church is a "sense of historylessness" that sees the intervening history between the 1st century and the modern church as "irrelevant or even abhorrent."[15]: 152 Authors within the brotherhood have recently argued that a greater attention to history can help guide the church through modern-day challenges.[15]: 151–157 [104]: 60–64
Contemporary social and political views
The churches of Christ maintain a significant proportion of political diversity.[105] According to the Pew Research Center in 2016, 50% of adherents of the churches of Christ identify as Republican or lean Republican, 39% identify as Democratic or lean Democratic and 11% have no preference.[106] Despite this, the Christian Chronicle says that the vast majority of adherents maintain a conservative view on modern social issues. This is evident when the Research Center questioned adherents' political ideology. In the survey, 51% identified as "conservative", 29% identified as "moderate" and just 12% identified as "liberal", with 8% not knowing.[107] In contemporary society, the vast majority of adherents of the churches of Christ view homosexuality as a sin.[108] They cite Leviticus 18:22 and Romans 1:26–27 for their position. Most don't view same-sex attraction as a sin; however, they condemn "acting on same-sex desires".[109]
History
Early Restoration Movement history
The Restoration Movement originated with the convergence of several independent efforts to go back to
The Campbell movement was characterized by a "systematic and rational reconstruction" of the early church, in contrast to the Stone movement which was characterized by radical freedom and lack of dogma.[15]: 106–108 Despite their differences, the two movements agreed on several critical issues.[15]: 108 Both saw restoring the early church as a route to Christian freedom, and both believed that unity among Christians could be achieved by using apostolic Christianity as a model.[15]: 108 The commitment of both movements to restoring the early church and to uniting Christians was enough to motivate a union between many in the two movements.[63]: 8, 9 While emphasizing that the Bible is the only source to seek doctrine, an acceptance of Christians with diverse opinions was the norm in the quest for truth. "In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, love" was an oft-quoted slogan of the period.[110] The Stone and Campbell movements merged in 1832.[36]: 28 [111]: 212 [112]: xxi [113]: xxxvii
The Restoration Movement began during, and was greatly influenced by, the
Christian Churches and Churches of Christ separation
In 1906, the U.S. Religious Census listed the Christian Churches and the Churches of Christ as separate and distinct groups for the first time.[115]: 251 This was the recognition of a division that had been growing for years under the influence of conservatives such as Daniel Sommer, with reports of the division having been published as early as 1883.[115]: 252 The most visible distinction between the two groups was the rejection of musical instruments in the Churches of Christ. The controversy over musical instruments began in 1860 with the introduction of organs in some churches. More basic were differences in the underlying approach to Biblical interpretation. For the Churches of Christ, any practices not present in accounts of New Testament worship were not permissible in the church, and they could find no New Testament documentation of the use of instrumental music in worship. For the Christian Churches, any practices not expressly forbidden could be considered.[115]: 242–247 Another specific source of controversy was the role of missionary societies, the first of which was the American Christian Missionary Society, formed in October 1849.[116][117] While there was no disagreement over the need for evangelism, many believed that missionary societies were not authorized by scripture and would compromise the autonomy of local congregations.[116] This disagreement became another important factor leading to the separation of the Churches of Christ from the Christian Church.[116] Cultural factors arising from the American Civil War also contributed to the division.[118]
Nothing in life has given me more pain in heart than the separation from those I have heretofore worked with and loved
— David Lipscomb, 1899[119]
In 1968, at the International Convention of Christian Churches (
Race relations
Early Restoration Movement leaders varied in their views of
After the
To object to any child of God participating in the service on account of his race, social or civil state, his color or
Jesus Christ and to cast him from our association. It is a fearful thing to do. I have never attended a church that negroes did not attend.— David Lipscomb, 1907[121]
During the
Efforts to address racism continued through the following decades.[120]: 622 A national meeting of prominent leaders from the Churches of Christ was held in June 1968.[120]: 622 Thirty-two participants signed a set of proposals intended to address discrimination in local congregations, church affiliated activities and the lives of individual Christians.[120]: 622 An important symbolic step was taken in 1999 when the president of Abilene Christian University "confessed the sin of racism in the school's past segregationist policies" and asked black Christians for forgiveness during a lectureship at Southwestern Christian College, a historically black school affiliated with the Churches of Christ.[120]: 622 [125]: 695
Institutional controversy
After World War II, Churches of Christ began sending ministers and humanitarian relief to war-torn Europe and Asia.
Though there was agreement that separate para-church "missionary societies" could not be established (on the belief that such work could only be performed through local congregations), a doctrinal conflict ensued about how this work was to be done. Eventually, the funding and control of outreach programs in the United States such as homes for orphans, nursing homes, mission work, setting up new congregations, Bible colleges or seminaries, and large-scale radio and television programs became part of the controversy.
Congregations which supported and participated in pooling funds for these institutional activities are said to be "
Separation of the International Churches of Christ
The International Churches of Christ had their roots in a "discipling" movement that arose among the mainline Churches of Christ during the 1970s.[127]: 418 This discipling movement developed in the campus ministry of Chuck Lucas.[127]: 418
In 1967, Chuck Lucas was minister of the 14th Street Church of Christ in
The Crossroads Movement later spread into some other Churches of Christ. One of Lucas' converts, Kip McKean, moved to the Boston area in 1979 and began working with "would-be disciples" in the Lexington Church of Christ.[127]: 418 He asked them to "redefine their commitment to Christ," and introduced the use of discipling partners. The congregation grew rapidly, and was renamed the Boston Church of Christ.[127]: 418 In the early 1980s, the focus of the movement moved to Boston, Massachusetts where Kip McKean and the Boston Church of Christ became prominently associated with the trend.[127]: 418 [128]: 133, 134 With the national leadership located in Boston, during the 1980s it commonly became known as the "Boston movement".[127]: 418 [128]: 133, 134 A formal break was made from the mainline Churches of Christ in 1993 with the organization of the International Churches of Christ.[127]: 418 This new designation formalized a division that was already in existence between those involved with the Crossroads/Boston Movement and "mainline" Churches of Christ.[48]: 442 [127]: 418, 419 Other names that have been used for this movement include the "Crossroads movement," "Multiplying Ministries," the "Discipling Movement" and the "Boston Church of Christ".[128]: 133
Kip McKean resigned as the "World Mission Evangelist" in November 2002.[127]: 419 Some ICoC leaders began "tentative efforts" at reconciliation with the Churches of Christ during the Abilene Christian University Lectureship in February 2004.[127]: 419
Restoration Movement timeline
Churches of Christ outside the United States
Most members of the Churches of Christ live outside the United States. Although there is no reliable counting system, it is anecdotally believed there may be more than 1,000,000 members of the Churches of Christ in Africa, approximately 1,000,000 in India, and 50,000 in Central and South America. Total worldwide membership is over 3,000,000, with approximately 1,000,000 in the U.S.[34]: 212
Africa
Although there is no reliable counting system, it is anecdotally believed to be 1,000,000 or more members of the Churches of Christ in Africa.[34]: 212 The total number of congregations is approximately 14,000.[129]: 7 The most significant concentrations are in Nigeria, Malawi, Ghana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, South Africa, South Sudan and Kenya.[129]: 7
Asia
Estimates are that there are 2,000 or more Restoration Movement congregations in India,[130]: 37, 38 with a membership of approximately 1,000,000.[34]: 212 More than 100 congregations exist in the Philippines.[130]: 38 Growth in other Asian countries has been smaller but is still significant.[130]: 38
Australia
Historically, Restoration Movement groups from Great Britain were more influential than those from the United States in the early development of the movement in Australia. Churches of Christ grew up independently in several locations.[131]: 47 While early Churches of Christ in Australia saw creeds as divisive, towards the end of the 19th century they began viewing "summary statements of belief" as useful in tutoring second generation members and converts from other religious groups.[131]: 50 The period from 1875 through 1910 also saw debates over the use of musical instruments in worship, Christian Endeavor Societies and Sunday Schools. Ultimately, all three found general acceptance in the movement.[131]: 51 Currently, the Restoration Movement is not as divided in Australia as it is in the United States.[131]: 53 There have been strong ties with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), but many conservative ministers and congregations associate with the Christian churches and churches of Christ instead.[131]: 53 Others have sought support from non-instrumental Churches of Christ, particularly those who felt that "conference" congregations had "departed from the restoration ideal".[131]: 53
Canada
A relatively small proportion of total membership comes from
Great Britain
In the early 1800s,
The use of instrumental music in worship was not a source of division among the Churches of Christ in Great Britain before World War I. More significant was the issue of
Membership declined rapidly during and after the First World War.[134]: 372 [135]: 312 The Association of Churches of Christ in Britain disbanded in 1980.[134]: 372 [135]: 312 Most Association congregations (approximately 40) united with the United Reformed Church in 1981.[134]: 372 [135]: 312 In the same year, twenty-four other congregations formed a Fellowship of Churches of Christ.[134]: 372 The Fellowship developed ties with the Christian churches and churches of Christ during the 1980s.[134]: 372 [135]: 312
The Fellowship of Churches of Christ and some Australian and New Zealand Churches advocate a "missional" emphasis with an ideal of "Five Fold Leadership". Many people in more traditional Churches of Christ see these groups as having more in common with Pentecostal churches. The main publishing organs of traditional Churches of Christ in Britain are The Christian Worker magazine and the Scripture Standard magazine. A history of the Association of Churches of Christ, Let Sects and Parties Fall, was written by David M Thompson.[136] Further information can be found in the Historical Survey of Churches of Christ in the British Isles, edited by Joe Nisbet.[137]
South America
In Brazil there are above 600 congregations and 100,000 members from the Restoration Movement. Most of them were established by Lloyd David Sanders.[138]
See also
- Christian churches and churches of Christ
- Christianity in the United States
- Christian primitivism
- Churches of Christ (non-institutional)
- Congregationalist polity
- Gospel Broadcasting Network (GBN)– a television network affiliated with the Churches of Christ
- House to House Heart to Heart – a printed outreach affiliated with the Churches of Christ
- List of universities and colleges affiliated with the Churches of Christ
- Regulative principle of worship
- Sponsoring church (Churches of Christ)
- World Convention of Churches of Christ
- World Mission Workshop – an annual gathering of students of missions, missionaries, and professors of missions associated with Churches of Christ
Categories
References
Citations
- ^ "Churches of Christ (1906 - Present) - Religious Group". www.thearda.com. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
- ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8.
- ^ "Church numbers listed by country". ChurchZip. Archived from the original on August 13, 2011. Retrieved December 5, 2014. This is a country-by-country tabulation, based on the enumeration of specific individual church locations and leaders. While it is known to under-represent certain developing countries, it is the largest such enumeration, and improves significantly on earlier broad-based estimates having no supporting detail.
- ^ "How Many churches of Christ Are There?". The churches of Christ. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
- ^ Royster, Carl H. (June 2020). "Churches of Christ in the United States" (PDF). 21st Century Christian. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 29, 2020. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
- ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". Christian Courier. Archived from the original on May 6, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
- ^ "About World Video Bible School". WBVS. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
- ^ "About The Christian Chronicle". The Christian Chronicle. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ "What We Believe". Apologetics Press. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
- ^ Miller, Dave (December 31, 2002). "Who Are These People". Apologetics Press. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
- ^ "Reaching the Lost" (PDF). House to House. Jacksonville church of Christ. July 2019. p. 2. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
under the oversight of the elders
- ISBN 978-0-275-97074-1.
- ^ ISBN 0-89098-021-7.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Baxter, Batsell Barrett. "Who are the churches of Christ and what do they believe in?". Archived from the original on June 16, 2006. Also available via these links to church-of-christ.org Archived 2014-02-09 at the Wayback Machine, cris.com/~mmcoc (archived June 22, 2006) and scriptureessay.com (archived July 13, 2006).
- ^ ISBN 0-89112-006-8.
- ASIN B001EM1NHM.
The church of Jesus Christ is non-denominational. It is neither Catholic, Jewish nor Protestant. It was not founded in 'protest' of any institution, and it is not the product of the 'Restoration' or 'Reformation.' It is the product of the seed of the kingdom (Luke 8:11ff) grown in the hearts of men.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8028-4086-8, this is "arguably the most widely distributed tract ever published by the churches of Christ or anyone associated with that tradition."
- ^ ISBN 978-0-86554-758-2.
- ISBN 978-1-878990-26-6.
- ^ "Traditional Churches of Christ have pursued the restorationist vision with extraordinary zeal. Indeed, the cornerstones of many Church of Christ buildings read 'Founded, A.D. 33.' " Jill, et al. (2005), "Encyclopedia of Religion", p. 212.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-896836-28-7, Chapter 6 – Churches of Christ.
- ^ ISBN 0-7369-1289-4.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r V. E. Howard, What Is the Church of Christ? 4th Edition (Revised) Central Printers & Publishers, West Monroe, Louisiana, 1971.
- ^ Goldberg, Jonah. Eschatological Weeds. The Remnant. Retrieved June 6, 2020 – via Apple Podcasts.
- ^ Col. 2:14.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, entry on Hermeneutics.
- ^ ISBN 0-89225-464-5.
- ISBN 0-89098-374-7.
- ^ "Churches of Christ - 10 Things to Know about their History and Beliefs". November 1, 2018. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Church numbers listed by country". ChurchZip. Archived from the original on August 13, 2011. Retrieved July 27, 2022. This is a country-by-country tabulation, based on the enumeration of specific individual church locations and leaders. While it is known to under-represent certain developing countries, it is the largest such enumeration, and improves significantly on earlier broad-based estimates having no supporting detail.
- ^ a b Barry A. Kosmin and Ariela Keysar, American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS 2008) Archived April 7, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, Trinity College, March 2009.
- ^ "The Religious Composition of the United States," U.S. Religious Landscape Survey: Chapter 1, Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, Pew Research Center, February 2008.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8.
- ^ a b Flavil Yeakley, Good News and Bad News: A Realistic Assessment of Churches of Christ in the United States: 2008; an mp3 of the author presenting some of the results at the 2009 East Tennessee School of Preaching and Ministry lectureship on March 4, 2009, is available here[permanent dead link] and a PowerPoint presentation from the 2008 CMU conference using some of the survey results posted on the Campus Ministry United website is available here.
- ^ ISBN 0-89137-513-9(cloth)
- ^ a b c d J. W. Shepherd, The Church, the Falling Away, and the Restoration, Gospel Advocate Company, Nashville, Tennessee, 1929 (reprinted in 1973)
- ^ "Campbellism and the Church of Christ" Archived 2015-01-09 at the Wayback Machine Morey 2014.
- ^ The Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary describes the term as "sometimes offensive." Merriam-Webster, I. (2003). Merriam-Webster's collegiate dictionary. (Eleventh ed.). Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc. Entry on "Campbellite."
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8,
- Declaration and Address, 1809, available on-line here
- ^ O. E. Shields, "The Church of Christ," The Word and Work, VOL. XXXIX, No. 9, September 1945.
- ^ M. C. Kurfees, "Bible Things by Bible Names – The General and Local Senses of the Term 'Church'", Gospel Advocate (October 14, 1920):1104–1105, as reprinted in Appendix II: Restoration Documents of I Just Want to Be a Christian, Rubel Shelly (1984)
- ^ J. C. McQuiddy, "The New Testament Church", Gospel Advocate (November 11, 1920):1097–1098, as reprinted in Appendix II: Restoration Documents of I Just Want to Be a Christian, Rubel Shelly (1984)
- ^ a b c M. C. Kurfees, "Bible Things by Bible Names – Different Designations of the Church Further Considered", Gospel Advocate (September 30, 1920):958–959, as reprinted in Appendix II: Restoration Documents of I Just Want to Be a Christian, Rubel Shelly (1984)
- ^ Within the Restoration Movement, congregations that do not use musical instruments in worship use the name "Church of Christ" almost exclusively; congregations that do use musical instruments most often use the term "Christian Church." Monroe E. Hawley, Redigging the Wells: Seeking Undenominational Christianity, 1976, page 89.
- ^ As, e.g., for listings in the yellow pages.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-89900-909-4, 573 pages
- Freed-Hardeman University website Archived 2008-10-09 at the Wayback Machine ("Freed-Hardeman University is a private institution, associated with churches of Christ, dedicated to moral and spiritual values, academic excellence, and service in a friendly, supportive environment... The university is governed by a self-perpetuating board of trustees who are members of churches of Christ and who hold the institution in trust for its founders, alumni, and supporters." – accessed October 26, 2008); Batsell Barrett Baxter, Who are the churches of Christ and what do they believe in? (Available on-line here Archived 2008-06-19 at the Wayback Machine, here, here Archived 2014-02-09 at the Wayback Machine, here Archived 2008-05-09 at the Wayback Machine and here Archived 2010-11-30 at the Wayback Machine); Batsell Barrett Baxter and Carroll Ellis, Neither Catholic, Protestant nor Jew, tract, Church of Christ (1960); Monroe E. Hawley, Redigging the Wells: Seeking Undenominational Christianity, Quality Publications, Abilene, Texas, 1976; Rubel Shelly, I Just Want to Be a Christian, 20th Century Christian, Nashville, Tennessee 1984; and V. E. Howard, What Is the Church of Christ? 4th Edition (Revised), 1971; Website of the Frisco church of Christ ("Welcome to the Home page for the Frisco church of Christ in Frisco, Texas." – accessed October 27, 2008); website of the church of Christ Internet Ministries ("The purpose of this Web Site is to unite the churches of Christ in one accord." – accessed October 27, 2008) "The Church of Christ at Woodson Chapel : Welcome!". Archived from the originalon May 2, 2008. Retrieved May 21, 2009.
- ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages
- ^ "Churches of Christ adhere to a strict congregationalism that cooperates in various projects overseen by one congregation or organized as parachurch enterprises, but many congregations hold themselves apart from such cooperative projects." Douglas Allen Foster and Anthony L. Dunnavant, The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, Churches of Christ, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2004, page 206, entry on Church, Doctrine of the
- ISBN 978-0-89900-909-4, 573 pages
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages, entry on Ministry
- ^ Everett Ferguson, "Authority and Tenure of Elders", Archived 2008-05-16 at the Wayback Machine Restoration Quarterly, Vol. 18 No. 3 (1975): 142–150
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8028-4189-6, 443 pages
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages, entry on Elders, Eldership
- ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages, entry on Ministry
- ^ Roberts, Price (1979). Studies for New Converts. Cincinnati: The Standard Publishing Company. pp. 53–56.
- ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages, entry on Preaching
- ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages, entry on Schools of Preaching
- ISBN 0-8344-0129-0
- ISBN 978-1-60791-539-3
- ^ ISBN 978-0-313-23312-8, 345 pages
- ^ ISBN 0-7618-4080-X, 9780761840800
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages, entry on Instrumental Music
- ^ Ross, Bobby Jr (January 2007). "Nation's largest Church of Christ adding instrumental service". christianchronicle.org. The Christian Chronicle. Archived from the original on May 16, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2008.
- ^ Ross, Bobby Jr. "Who are we?". Features. The Christian Chronicle. Archived from the original on December 19, 2011. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
- Brazos Press, 2003
- ISBN 978-0-89098-131-3
- ^ a b c d e f g Thomas H. Olbricht, "Hermeneutics in the Churches of Christ," Archived 2008-09-22 at the Wayback Machine Restoration Quarterly, Vol. 37/No. 1 (1995)
- ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages, page 219
- ^ ISBN 978-0-310-26267-1, 222 pages
- ^ ISBN 978-0-89900-858-5, 224 pages
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages, entry on Baptism
- ^ ISBN 978-0-89900-813-4, 368 pages
- ^ a b Douglas A. Foster, "Churches of Christ and Baptism: An Historical and Theological Overview," Archived May 20, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Restoration Quarterly, Volume 43/Number 2 (2001)
- ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages, entry on Regeneration
- ^ a b Wakefield, John C. (January 31, 2014). "Stone-Campbell tradition, the". The Grove Dictionary of American Music, 2nd edition. Grove Music Online.
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(help) - ^ Ross, Bobby Jr (January 2007). "Nation's largest Church of Christ adding instrumental service". christianchronicle.org. The Christian Chronicle. Archived from the original on May 16, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2008.
- ^ De Gennaro, Nancy (April 16, 2015). "Local Church of Christ adds Instruments to Worship". Daily News Journal. Murfreesboro. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
- ^ Hall, Heidi (March 6, 2015). "Church of Christ opens door to musical instruments". USA Today. The Tennessean. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
About 20 of 12,000 Church of Christ congregations nationwide offer instrumental music
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages, entry on Theology
- ISBN 0-7369-1289-4, page 123.
- ^ Dispensational premillennialism is characterized by an emphasis on the rapture, the restoration of Israel, Armageddon and related ideas.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages, entry on Boll, Robert Henry
- ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages, entry on Eschatology
- ISBN 1-878990-26-8.
- ISBN 978-0-89098-172-6, 682 pages
- ^ a b c d Douglas A. Foster, "Waves of the Spirit Against a Rational Rock: The Impact of the Pentecostal, Charismatic and Third Wave Movements on American Churches of Christ," Archived 2011-09-27 at the Wayback Machine Restoration Quarterly, 45:1, 2003
- ISBN 978-0-89098-446-8, 128 pages
- ^ Olbricht, Thomas H (January 1, 2004). "Barton W. Stone and Walter Scott on the Holy Spirit and Ministry". Leaven. 12 (3): 1–6 – via Google Scholar.
- ISBN 978-0-89112-681-2.
- ^ W. Stone, Barton (February 24, 1827). "HISTORY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN THE WEST" (PDF). The Christian Messenger. 1 (74): 9 – via Google Scholar.
- ISBN 0-8028-3898-7, 9780802838988, 854 pages, entry on Restoration, Historical Models of
- ^ a b c Roy B. Ward, "The Restoration Principle": A Critical Analysis," Archived 2013-12-11 at the Wayback Machine Restoration Quarterly, Vol. 8, No. 4, 1965
- ^ a b c d Leroy Garrett (editor), "Restoration or Reformation?," Restoration Review, Volume 22, Number 4, April 1980
- ^ ISBN 0-8028-3898-7, 9780802838988, 854 pages, entry on "Restoration," Meanings of Within the Movement
- ^ Leroy Garrett (editor), "Why Church of Christ Exclusivism Must Go," Restoration Review, Volume 26, Number 8, October 1984
- ^ Leroy Garrett (editor), "What We've Been Saying (2)," Restoration Review, Volume 34, Number 9, November 1992
- ^ For example:
- History, Church of Christ of Genesee County website, (accessed 12/04/2013);
- A Missing Chapter in Church History Archived 2014-12-05 at the Wayback Machine, West End Church of Christ website Archived 2014-12-05 at the Wayback Machine (accessed 12/04/2013);
- What is the church of Christ? Archived December 10, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, Woodbridge Church of Christ website Archived December 10, 2013, at the Wayback Machine (accessed 12/04/2013);
- John Telgren, Some More About Us Archived 2015-04-03 at the Wayback Machine, Leavenworth Church of Christ website Archived 2015-04-03 at the Wayback Machine (accessed 12/04/2013);
- A History of the Church of Christ!, Glendale church of Christ website (accessed 12/04/2013).
- ^ Mack Lyon, Churches of Christ: Who Are They?, Publishing Designs, Inc., Huntsville, Alabama, 2006
- ASIN B0006WF106.
- ISBN 978-0-9564937-1-2.
- ISBN 0-89112-036-X
- ^ "U.S. religious groups and their political leanings". Pew Research Center. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
- ^ bobbyross (February 25, 2016). "Elephant in the pews: Is the GOP the party of Churches of Christ?". The Christian Chronicle. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
- ^ "Political ideology among members of the Churches of Christ - Religion in America: U.S. Religious Data, Demographics and Statistics". Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
- ^ "Homosexuality and Transgenderism: The Science Supports the Bible". apologeticspress.org. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
- ^ "Straight Talk About Homosexuality". Christian Courier. Archived from the original on March 20, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
- ^ Hans Rollmann, "In Essentials Unity: The Pre-history of a Restoration Movement Slogan," Restoration Quarterly, Volume 39/Number 3 (1997)
- ^ Garrison, Winfred Earnest and DeGroot, Alfred T. (1948). The Disciples of Christ, A History, St Louis, Missouri: The Bethany Press
- ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages, Introductory section entitled Stone-Campbell History Over Three Centuries: A Survey and Analysis
- ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages, Introductory Chronology
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages, entry on Great Awakenings
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8272-1703-4
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages, entry on Missionary Societies, Controversy Over, pp. 534-537
- ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages, entry on American Christian Missionary Society, pages 24-26
- ^ Reid, D. G., Linder, R. D., Shelley, B. L., & Stout, H. S. (1990). Dictionary of Christianity in America. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press. Entry on Churches of Christ (Non-Instrumental)
- ISBN 978-0-89900-909-4, 573 pages
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages, entry on Race Relations
- ^ David Lipscomb, Gospel Advocate, 49 (1 August 1907): 488–489.
- ^ Brown, Michael D (June 6, 2012). "Despite school sentiment, Harding's leader said no to integration". Arkansas Times. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
- ^ a b "The manner in which the brethren in some quarters are going in for the negro meetings leads one to wonder whether they are trying to make white folks out of the negroes or negroes out of the white folks. The trend of the general mix-up seems to be toward the latter. Reliable reports have come to me of white women, members of the church, becoming so animated over a certain colored preacher as to go up to him after a sermon and shake hands with him holding his hand in both of theirs. That kind of thing will turn the head of most white preachers, and sometimes affect their conduct, and anybody ought to know that it will make fools out of the negroes. For any woman in the church to so far forget her dignity, and lower herself so, just because a negro has learned enough about the gospel to preach it to his race, is pitiable indeed. Her husband should take her in charge unless he has gone crazy, too. In that case somebody ought to take both of them in charge." Foy E. Wallace, Vol. 3, No. 8 March 1941, "Negro Meetings for White People," in the Bible Banner.
- ^ Don Haymes (June 9, 1961). "Abilene Christian College Desegregates its Graduate School". The Christian Chronicle. 18: 1, 6.
- ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages, entry on Southwestern Christian College
- ^ Randy Harshbarger, "A history of the institutional controversy among Texas Churches of Christ: 1945 to the present," M.A. thesis, Stephen F. Austin State University, 2007, 149 pages; AAT 1452110
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages, entry on International Churches of Christ
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7914-2397-4. Retrieved August 7, 2007.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages, entry on Africa, Missions in
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages, entry on Asia, Missions in
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages, entry on Australia, The Movement in
- ^ Wayne Turner, "The Strangers Among Us," Archived March 1, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Gospel Herald, February 2007
- ^ "Church of Christ Directory," Archived 2013-09-27 at the Wayback Machine Gospel Herald website (accessed December 6, 2013)
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages, entry on Great Britain and Ireland, Churches of Christ in
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages, entry on Europe, Missions in
- ISBN 978-0-85050-012-7, 160 pages
- ^ Joe Nisbet, gen. ed. Historical Survey of Churches of Christ in the British Isles. Aberdeen, Scotland, 1995. 580 pages
- ^ "As Igrejas de Cristo / Cristās e o Movimento de Restauroção" [The Churches of Christ / Christians and the Restoration Movement]. www.movimentoderestauracao.com (in Portuguese). Movimento de Restauração. Archived from the original on April 29, 2018. Retrieved June 17, 2019. (English and various other translations available)
Sources
- Allen, Crawford Leonard (1988). Discovering Our Roots: The Ancestry of Churches of Christ. Abilene, Texas: ISBN 0-89112-008-4.
- Brownlow, Leroy (1973). Why I Am a Member of the Church of Christ. Fort Worth, Texas: L. Brownlow Publishing Co. p. 192. OCLC 213866131.
- Cartwright, Colbert S. (1987). People of the Chalice. St, Louis, Missouri: Chalice Press. ISBN 978-0-8272-2938-9.
- Ferguson, Everett (1996). The Church of Christ: A Biblical Ecclesiology for Today. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. p. 443. ISBN 978-0-8028-4189-6.
- Foster, Douglas Allen; Dunnavant, Anthony L. (2004). The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, Churches of Christ. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. p. 854. ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8.
- Garrett, Leroy (1983). The Stone-Campbell Movement. Joplin: College Press. ISBN 0-89900-059-2.
- Garrett, Leroy (2002). The Stone-Campbell Movement: The Story of the American Restoration Movement. College Press. p. 573. ISBN 978-0-89900-909-4.
- Hawley, Monroe E. (1976). Redigging the Wells: Seeking Undenominational Christianity. Abilene, Texas: Quality Publications. ISBN 978-0-89137-513-5.
- Holloway, Gary; Foster, Douglas A. (2001). Renewing God's People. Abilene, TX: ISBN 978-0-89112-010-0.
- Hughes, Richard T. (1996). Reviving the Ancient Faith: The Story of Churches of Christ in America. ISBN 978-0-8028-4086-8.
- Hughes, Richard; Hatch, Nathan O.; ISBN 978-0-89112-009-4.
- McMillon, Lynn A. (1983). Restoration Roots. Dallas: Gospel Teachers Publications, Inc. p. 97. OCLC 10950221.
- Murch, James DeForest (1962). Christians Only, A history of the Restoration Movement. Cincinnati: The Standard Publishing Company. OCLC 3047672.
- Shelly, Rubel (1984). I Just Want to Be a Christian. Nashville, Tennessee: 20th Century Christian. ISBN 978-0-89098-021-7.
External links
- Church of Christ Internet Ministries
- Brotherhood News – Online news source of the Churches of Christ
- The Christian Chronicle – A newspaper of the Churches of Christ.
- Christian Courier Archived July 17, 2016, at the Wayback Machine – A religious journal associated with the Churches of Christ.
- HisLoveforme.com – A Church of Christ Ministry Website, providing Sound Doctrine Teaching Content from Sound Churches of Christ.
- Fellowship of Churches of Christ in Great Britain & Ireland
- Restoration Movement Texts at the Wayback Machine (archived June 15, 2012)
- The Restoration Movement Pages (historical texts, images, biographies and other resources), Abilene Christian University, archived from the original on November 23, 2013
- SOAS Special Collections Archived October 22, 2021, at the Wayback Machine – archive papers of the Missionary Committee of Churches of Christ Great Britain and Ireland