Churches of Christ

E18198
Christian denomination Restorationist movement

Churches of Christ are a network of autonomous Christian congregations rooted in the American Restoration Movement, emphasizing New Testament Christianity, congregational independence, and a cappella worship.

Observed surface forms (9)

Surface form As subject As object
Christian Churches and Churches of Christ 0 7
Stone–Campbell Movement 0 4
Church of Christ 0 2
independent Christian Churches and Churches of Christ 0 2
Christian Churches and Churches of Christ theology 0 1
Churches of Christ theology 0 1
Independent Christian Churches 0 1
Independent Christian Churches and Churches of Christ 0 1
non-instrumental Churches of Christ 0 1

Statements (56)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Christian denomination →
Restorationist movement →
classification Churches of Christ self-linksurface differs →
surface form: non-instrumental Churches of Christ
coreBelief baptism by immersion →
baptism for the remission of sins →
biblical authority of the New Testament →
congregational autonomy →
congregational self-governance by elders →
non-denominational Christian identity →
plurality of elders in each congregation →
rejection of denominational creeds →
restoration of New Testament Christianity →
weekly observance of the Lord’s Supper →
countryWithLargestMembership United States of America →
surface form: United States
dateOfOrigin early 19th century →
doctrine congregations are independent and autonomous →
local elders oversee only their own congregation →
no central denominational headquarters →
rejection of denominational names →
separation of church and institutional structures →
use of the name "church of Christ" as descriptive rather than denominational →
ecclesiology congregational polity →
elders, deacons, and evangelists as primary roles →
emergedFrom Campbell Movement →
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) →
surface form: Disciples of Christ

Churches of Christ self-linksurface differs →
surface form: Stone–Campbell Movement
estimatedMembership millions of adherents worldwide →
founder Alexander Campbell →
Barton W. Stone →
Thomas Campbell →
geographicDistribution Africa →
Asia →
Europe →
Latin America →
United States of America →
surface form: United States
language English →
originatedIn United States of America →
surface form: United States
partOf Restorationism →
surface form: American Restoration Movement
positionOnCreeds no creed but the Bible →
rejection of human confessions as binding →
positionOnInstruments rejection of instrumental music in worship →
religiousTradition Christianity →
scripture Bible →
scriptureEmphasis New Testament →
separatedFrom Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) →
Churches of Christ self-linksurface differs →
surface form: Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
soteriology baptism is necessary for salvation →
faith, repentance, confession, and baptism as response to the gospel →
theologicalOrientation Restorationism →
worshipPractice Bible classes →
a cappella congregational singing →
male leadership in public worship in most congregations →
public prayer →
public preaching →
unaccompanied vocal music in worship →
weekly communion →

Referenced by (32)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Christian Church → alsoKnownAs → Churches of Christ →
this entity surface form: Independent Christian Churches
Christian Church → alsoKnownAs → Churches of Christ →
this entity surface form: Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
Churches of Christ → classification → Churches of Christ self-linksurface differs →
this entity surface form: non-instrumental Churches of Christ
subject surface form: Bethany, West Virginia
Churches of Christ → emergedFrom → Churches of Christ self-linksurface differs →
this entity surface form: Stone–Campbell Movement
this entity surface form: Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
Alexander Campbell → influenced → Churches of Christ →
Alexander Campbell → influenced → Churches of Christ →
this entity surface form: Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
Barton W. Stone → influenced → Churches of Christ →
Barton W. Stone → influenced → Churches of Christ →
this entity surface form: independent Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
Restorationism → influenced → Churches of Christ →
Restorationism → influenced → Churches of Christ →
this entity surface form: Independent Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
The Christian Baptist → influenced → Churches of Christ →
The Christian Baptist → influenced → Churches of Christ →
this entity surface form: Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
The Christian System → influenced → Churches of Christ →
this entity surface form: Churches of Christ theology
The Christian System → influenced → Churches of Christ →
this entity surface form: Christian Churches and Churches of Christ theology
The Millennial Harbinger → influenced → Churches of Christ →
The Millennial Harbinger → influenced → Churches of Christ →
this entity surface form: Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
Thomas Campbell → influenced → Churches of Christ →
Thomas Campbell → influenced → Churches of Christ →
this entity surface form: Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
Alexander Campbell → movement → Churches of Christ →
this entity surface form: Stone–Campbell Movement
Thomas Campbell → movement → Churches of Christ →
this entity surface form: Stone–Campbell Movement
Iglesia ni Cristo → nameMeaning → Churches of Christ →
this entity surface form: Church of Christ
this entity surface form: Stone–Campbell Movement
Pepperdine University → religiousAffiliation → Churches of Christ →
this entity surface form: Church of Christ
this entity surface form: independent Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
Churches of Christ → separatedFrom → Churches of Christ self-linksurface differs →
this entity surface form: Christian Churches and Churches of Christ