Disciples of Christ Background

The following slides provide a basic overview snapshot of the Disciples of Christ denomination which ultimately emerged from the Presbyterian denomination which puts it in the Swiss Reformation family of denominations.

Founders / Origins

Barton Stone; Thomas & Alexander Campbell; merged in 1832

Denominational Family

Swiss Reformers - due to Presbyterian roots. Officially structured as a Christian denomination in 1968

Church Polity/Governance

Congregational governance allowing for both lay & ordained ministry whether a man or woman in direct defiance to God's command for men to maintain the office of elder, pastor, overseer etc.

Sacraments

Do not adhere to the sacerdotalism of Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches. Closer to that of Presbyterians with weekly open communion, believer’s baptism, ecumenism, except that as opposed to Presbyterianism with its creeds, the Disciples of Christ have no creeds

Theological Leaning

Progressive/liberal - the Bible isn't the final say pertainint to matters of faith; inclusive - gay and trans affirming in direct contradiction to Scripture; diverse doctrinal views

Adherents of Disciples of Christ

Approximately 277,000 members across nearly 2500 congregations in the U.S. and Canada. Since the embrace of liberal theology, this has dropped dramatically from a peak of nearly 2 million members in the 50-60 years ago.

Disciples of Christ Birthed by Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement

The Disciples of Christ denomination was originally birthed out of the Stone Campbell Movement of the 19th century. After the three day Cane Ridge “revival” explosion subsided, Barton Stone would become more ecumenical and anti-denominational in his position. He would join with Alexander Campbell in what would eventually be referred to as the Restoration Movement.

This movement believed that the denominations were evil and the church ceased from the earth and it was their “calling” to “restore” the true church to earth – one that is free of any denominational “tags” or names. Ironically this movement against splintering and division would splinter and divide into many cults and a couple of denominations itself: The Mormons, The Jehovah’s Witnesses, The Seventh Day Adventists, The Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

In 1804 these men would sign what they called the “Last Will and Testament” which renounced their service to the Presbyterian denomination. Despite disbelief in the Deity of Jesus and the Person of the Holy Spirit, Stone would still accumulate a following from those rallying to his revolutionary creed of “No creed but the Bible” (which, oddly enough, is itself a creed) and “No name but the Name of Christ”.

Bethany Christian Church est. 1852 Church of Christ Stone-Campbell Movement

While Alexander would call his churches simply “The Christian Church” and its members the “Disciples of Christ”. He preferred the latter name and his group became known simply as the Disciples of Christ. Both groups sought to get back to what they called a Biblical model of liturgy.

What seemed to matter most to Stone and his companions was unity by way of ridding the church of denominations as opposed to unity around the truthful doctrine delivered by the Apostles in Scripture.

Alexander Campbell

Stone would refer to his new followers simply as “Christians” and the church as simply the “Church of Christ”. Although in 1832 they would join with the Disciples of Christ, again ironically, his group would divide over issues like a liberal approach to baptism, permitting things not expressly forbidden in the New Testament etc.

Without realizing it, Barton Stone and Alexander Campbell were the founders of two non-denominational denominations called the “Church of Christ” and the “Disciples of Christ”. Since both founders were essentially former Presbyterians, both groups technically come through the Swiss Reformed family of denominations and continue in operation today.

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) began as a hopeful movement for Christian unity on the American frontier. It was orthodox, theologically conservative and for the most part the denomination sought to be “Bible-based”. However, today it stands out for its liberal unbiblical emphasis on inclusivity (conversion to Christ unnecessary, repentance for sin unimportant), congregational autonomy, and sacramental worship—while advocating ecumenical cooperation and woke social justice. As a result of this trend away from Biblical Christianity, Disciples of Christ membership has declined sharply in recent decades along with many other denominations who have embraced the false social gospel.

Disciples of Christ: Theological Distinctives

From the 19th century until 1968, Disciples congregations were a loose network. That year they formally adopted a denominational structure; churches that preferred to remain independent — rejecting denominational forms — split off and eventually formed what are now known as the Churches of Christ and Independent Christian Churches.

Restorationist Identity

In keeping with Stone and Campbell's restorationism, the Disciples of Christ believe that the New Testament church was lost from the earth and needed to be "restored". They reject creeds and traditions not explicitly found in Scripture, Disciples of Christ emphasize restoring the New Testament church. Sadly, this conviction would not last as today the Disciples of Christ embraces many social norm doctrines not found in Scripture.

Ecumenism and Inclusivity

Disciples emphasize unity without requiring uniformity (“Unity, not uniformity”), inviting unbiblical theological perspectives within the church. They are deeply ecumenical (unity at the expense of sound doctrine) and forged full‑communion agreements—including with the United Church of Christ (UCC 1989) and the United Church of Canada (2019).

Sacramental Emphasis with Open Table

Communion holds central place in worship and is offered weekly to all participants member or not, converted to Christ or not. Baptism is a public affirmation of faith and entry into membership and is by immersion of believers only.

Congregational Polity and Priesthood of All Believers

No overarching hierarchy — each congregation governs itself. Lay and ordained ministers share in ministry, reflecting a strong priesthood of all believers.

Theological and Social Progressive Stance

In defiance of God's word, the denomination ordains women, welcomes LGBTQ+ individuals in leadership and membership, and emphasizes social justice causes - which is a false doctrine that flows from a false gospel called the "social gospel". Official positions on doctrinal matters like inerrancy, heaven, and hell are non‑authoritative—allowing a ungodly spectrum of beliefs.

The Disciples of Christ have gone the way of the mainstream denomination whereby the Bible as the Word of God is a distant afterthought to whatever the latest social norm dictates. The declining numbers clearly demonstrate a consistency with other mainline denomations which have chosen to embrace the sinful life of the LGBT movement or the deranged ideas of mutilating one’s body and one’s children in the name of re-gendering them.

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

“I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.”

17 Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” 18 “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.”

2 Corinthians 6:14-18

In the 50s and 60s the Disciples of Christ was nearly 2 million strong, today it is barely 200,000 in number, a shocking 90% decrease. This shows that if people begin to see no reason for believing God’s word or abiding by the moral law that God puts in the hearts of all mankind, then why bother getting up early on a Sunday and meeting with other people who also don’t care about such things? Liberals calling themselves “Christian” are not seeing the value of attending church at all whereas Bible-believing Disciples of Christ want no part of such sinfulness in the church and leave to worship God in spirit and in truth.

No one receives eternal life and eternal presence with God, from who all good things come (James 1:17), by belonging to the right church or denomination. Rather only those who trust in the Jesus preached by the Apostles in the Bible for their own sin. We will not trust in a Savior for sins that we either don’t believe we have or that we think aren’t deserving of hell.But the Bible says that ALL have sin and the wages of our sin is eternal separation from God (death). The Bible says that you can know that YOU have eternal life. Click the button below to see if you are genuinely saved from your sins according to the Bible: