BELIEFS & COMMUNITY
Disciples of Christ: Christian unity and the Communion table
Religious Values guide · Updated
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is a denomination in the Stone-Campbell tradition with a strong emphasis on Christian unity and the Lord's Supper. It is distinct from other Churches of Christ. Its history joins a nineteenth-century movement for restoration and unity with the denomination's modern organization adopted in 1968.
Disciples of Christ is a specific denominational name. Christian Church or Church of Christ on its own may refer to a different body.
An open table at the center of worship
Communion is a central and typically weekly feature of Disciples worship. The denomination describes the table as open to followers of Jesus Christ, expressing its commitment to Christian unity. This gives the meal a defining place in congregational identity. When visiting, ask how the local service introduces Communion and how newcomers can participate respectfully.[1]
Baptism and recognition of other Christians
The movement's historic practice is believer's baptism by immersion. The Disciples also recognize Christians baptized in other traditions and explain baptism as both God's gift and a human response. This is an important distinction from assuming that immersion always comes with identical membership policies. A congregation can explain how it receives someone with a different baptismal background.[1]
A history of seeking unity
The streams associated with Barton Stone and the Campbells came together in the early nineteenth century. Later developments produced different bodies within that shared heritage. In 1968 the Disciples adopted a denominational design that shaped their present organization. Their story therefore includes both resistance to unnecessary Christian division and the practical development of institutions for common work.[2]
Common questions
Are Disciples congregations the same as a cappella Churches of Christ?
No. They share historical roots but developed into distinct communities with different institutions and practices. The full denominational name helps distinguish them, especially when researching baptism, Communion and church government.[2]
What makes a first visit informative?
Notice how the congregation connects its Communion invitation with its teaching about unity. Ask about baptism, membership and how local decisions are made. These questions show how the church applies its central commitments in practice.
Sources & further reading
The sources below explain the beliefs and practices discussed here. Where a guide describes a broad movement, a named organization illustrates its own approach.
- 1.Disciples of Christ: Communion and baptism
The denomination's sacramental teaching and explanation of the open table.
- 2.Disciples of Christ: Important historical dates
Documents the movement's nineteenth-century roots and 1968 organization.