1801-1832 - The Stone-Campbell Movement
The Stone-Campbell tradition represents an indigenous American religious body, descended from the Calvinist Presbyterian Church and named for the men generally recognized as its founders and vital early leaders, Barton Warren Stone (1772-1844) and Alexander Campbell (1788-1866).
This group of believers first gathered on the Appalachian frontier in the early 1800s and was very much a product of its time and place. The theology of the movement appealed to the intense individualism of Jacksonian America by placing emphasis on the ability of laypersons to read and understand scriptures for themselves without intercession by priest or other clergy.
Today, the tradition is largely represented by three religious groups: the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ, and the Churches of Christ.
The first group, led by Stone, began in 1801 during the great revival at the Cane Ridge Meeting House near Paris, Kentucky. These congregants called themselves "Christians," reflecting their simple approach to church organization.
The second group began in western Pennsylvania and Virginia (now West Virginia), and was led by Thomas Campbell and his son, Alexander. They called themselves "Disciples of Christ," reflecting their emphasis on submitting to and following Christ. Their name has remained constant through two centuries of their existence as a religious body.
Both groups held several central beliefs in common: Jesus is the Christ, the son of God; Christians should have communion each Sunday; and baptism of adult believers by immersion in water is a necessary step toward salvation.
On Saturday, December 31, 1831, the two groups united at the High Street Meeting House in Lexington, Kentucky, with a handshake between Barton W. Stone and "Raccoon" John Smith. The two representatives were appointed by those assembled to carry the news of the union to all the churches: John Rogers, for the Christians and "Raccoon" John Smith for the reformers.
Stone-Campbell churches grew quickly in number and membership during this time, often using the name Christian Church, but occasionally using Church of Christ.
Originally, Barton W. Stone and Alexander Campbell saw much in common in their desires for restoration to New Testament ways. However, for many members of the Disciples, following the example of the first century church meant strict observance of what was written in the Bible. If it wasn't there, they didn't want to add it. Those members objected to instrumental music and organized missionary activity because they couldn't find these in the Book of Acts or other New Testament writings.
Dissension went on for decades, leading to a split in 1906. The breakaway group, which reorganized as the Churches of Christ, uses a cappella, or unaccompanied singing only.
Yet another split began in 1926 and culminated in 1971 when the Disciples restructured. Those 3,000 breakaway congregations became known as Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, or Independent Christian Churches, since they reject denominationalism. That group separated because it felt the Disciples were leaning toward liberalism and modernism.
Obviously, the similarity in names has led to much confusion. Scholars generally classify the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) as liberal, Christian Churches/Churches of Christ in the middle, and Churches of Christ as conservative.
Sources: Disciples of Christ Historical Society, Disciples.org, bible.acu.edu, and therestorationmovement.com.)
This group of believers first gathered on the Appalachian frontier in the early 1800s and was very much a product of its time and place. The theology of the movement appealed to the intense individualism of Jacksonian America by placing emphasis on the ability of laypersons to read and understand scriptures for themselves without intercession by priest or other clergy.
Today, the tradition is largely represented by three religious groups: the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ, and the Churches of Christ.
The first group, led by Stone, began in 1801 during the great revival at the Cane Ridge Meeting House near Paris, Kentucky. These congregants called themselves "Christians," reflecting their simple approach to church organization.
The second group began in western Pennsylvania and Virginia (now West Virginia), and was led by Thomas Campbell and his son, Alexander. They called themselves "Disciples of Christ," reflecting their emphasis on submitting to and following Christ. Their name has remained constant through two centuries of their existence as a religious body.
Both groups held several central beliefs in common: Jesus is the Christ, the son of God; Christians should have communion each Sunday; and baptism of adult believers by immersion in water is a necessary step toward salvation.
On Saturday, December 31, 1831, the two groups united at the High Street Meeting House in Lexington, Kentucky, with a handshake between Barton W. Stone and "Raccoon" John Smith. The two representatives were appointed by those assembled to carry the news of the union to all the churches: John Rogers, for the Christians and "Raccoon" John Smith for the reformers.
Stone-Campbell churches grew quickly in number and membership during this time, often using the name Christian Church, but occasionally using Church of Christ.
Originally, Barton W. Stone and Alexander Campbell saw much in common in their desires for restoration to New Testament ways. However, for many members of the Disciples, following the example of the first century church meant strict observance of what was written in the Bible. If it wasn't there, they didn't want to add it. Those members objected to instrumental music and organized missionary activity because they couldn't find these in the Book of Acts or other New Testament writings.
Dissension went on for decades, leading to a split in 1906. The breakaway group, which reorganized as the Churches of Christ, uses a cappella, or unaccompanied singing only.
Yet another split began in 1926 and culminated in 1971 when the Disciples restructured. Those 3,000 breakaway congregations became known as Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, or Independent Christian Churches, since they reject denominationalism. That group separated because it felt the Disciples were leaning toward liberalism and modernism.
Obviously, the similarity in names has led to much confusion. Scholars generally classify the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) as liberal, Christian Churches/Churches of Christ in the middle, and Churches of Christ as conservative.
Sources: Disciples of Christ Historical Society, Disciples.org, bible.acu.edu, and therestorationmovement.com.)