Church of Christ

The Churches of Christ are a body of autonomous Protestant congregations that have their roots in the American Restoration Movement of Nineteenth Century. The Churches of Christ have as distinctive traits their refusal to hold to any creeds other than the Bible itself, their practice of baptism for the remission of sins, the weekly observance of communion, and their belief in a capella congregational singing in worship. Other churches that have their roots in the Restoration Movement include the Independent Christian Churches/Churches of Christ (Instrumental) and the Disciples of Christ.

Churches of Christ in the past would be characterized as a sect (holding that they are not another denomination) but many congregations today would consider themselves to be "only Christians but not the only Christians."

Table of contents

1 Church Organization 2 Specific teachings and prohibitions 3 Other Restoration Movement Bodies 4 External links

Church Organization

There is no headquarters for the Church of Christ and each congregation has its own structure consisting of Elders, Deacons, and a Preacher/Evangelist. Typically the churches participate in a loose informal network of other local Churches of Christ.

Elders are spiritually mature Christian men who work in some specialized capacity of a spiritual nature. They perform baptisms, establish moral guidelines, approve and establish bible study curriculum, select Sunday School teachers, and select the Preacher/Evangelist if the position becomes vacant. They also select the Deacons.

Deacons are recognized special servants of the church and most often take care of specialized needs of the congregation. Typically the physical building in which services are held will have a Deacon overseeing it.

The Preacher/Evangelist/Minister prepares and delivers sermons, performs weddings, and preaches or evangelizes the gospel. This position is typically paid. (Traditionally Churches of Christ do not use the title "pastor" to refer to their pulpit minister.)

Many urban congregations also employ other paid ministers besides the pulpit minister including ministers for youth, college students and women.

Specific teachings and prohibitions

The Church of Christ believes that the organization and structure of the church was laid down by Jesus Christ himself through his apostles in the form of the Bible. Since this Church has no headquarters and each church is independent, the teachings may vary but there is a remarkable degree of uniformity among Churches of Christ in each region. The common variances are over the institution of Bible classes, the method that the Lord's supper is served (whether the fruit of the vine is served in one cup or many), the role of women in public worship and whether ministers should be paid professionals or serve on a volunteer basis.

They specifically believe or prohibit;

• The Bible was written through divine intervention by God himself
• No religious icons
• No Instrumental Music in services
• Children below the age of accountability are considered in a "safe" position in the eyes of God and would not be condemned to hell if they died before the age of accountability.
• The requirements for salvation are commonly presented in 5 steps being: Hear (the word of God), Believe (in the word), Repent (of your sins), Confess (that Jesus Christ is Lord) and be baptized (by immersion).
• No celebration of religious holidays, such as Christmas, as religious holidays
• Men, males over the age of 12, are not to be taught by Women
• Damnation is eternity without god. Some believe in a literal hell while others believe it is metaphore of an eternity outside of the light of god.
• Most Churches of Christ forbid women from participation in leading public worship or in serving as Elders, Deacons and Preachers.
• Worship can take place at any gathering of church members. Baptism can take place in any suitable body of water.
• Anyone Baptised member can serve Communion anywhere members are gathered on Sunday.
• Divorce, except for reasons of infidelity, is not seen as divorce in the eyes of god and remarriage in these cases is adultery.
• Abortion is considered to be a sin.
• Many members of the Churches of Christ practice "closed fellowship" (fellowshiping only fellow members of the Churches of Christ), while others would extend the ties of fellowship to Evangelical Protestant denominations.

External links

• http://www.church-of-christ.org/
• http://www.heartlight.org
• http://www.cocn.org/
• http://www.reveal.org/
• From the Churches of Christ to the Boston Movement
• http://www.icoc.org/icocmain/index_new.htm