Monday, June 29, 2015

CHRISTENDOM Series: Restorationist

RESTORATIONIST
(Mainline Protestant/Evangelical Protestant)


Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
Psalm 133:1

Reconstructionist Churches were started to find common ground between Christians among Protestants, but leave up details of minor issues & beliefs to each believer.

Church of the United Brethren - 1800, headquartered today in Huntington, Indiana, it began as a movement between Mennonite (Anabaptist) & German Reformed (Calvinist) ministers in 1767. It was an attempt to find common ground between Christians in the new world. They are Arminian in soteriology. {a liberal faction split off in the late 1800's, joined the Evangelical another to form the Evangelical United Brethren Church, which then joined the Methodist to become the United Methodist}. About 25,000 members.
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) - 1832, Emerged from the cane Ridge revival in Kentucky as part of the Stone-Campbell movement. One thing they wanted was to remove all denominational labels. They use a congregational form of church governance, but were influenced
by Calvinism. But although many came from a mainline background, they quickly switched to baptism by immersion. The church became official with the handshake between the leader of 2 separate movements. Some congregations use the name "Christian Church" others the "Disciples of Christ" Church. It has become a very theological liberal church over the years, including allowing for theistic evolution, women ordination and gay marriage. (But not all members agree with their liberalism). About 600,000 members.
United Christian Church - 1878, split from the United Brethren in opposition to infant baptism & the United Christian Church adopted the ordinance of foot washing. About 700 members.
Christian and Missionary Alliance - 1887, founded as an attempt to gather evangelicals & holiness movement people into a worldwide, unified Christian movement to evangelize the world for the end. About 400,000 members.



Churches of Christ - 1906, a conservative split from the Disciples of Christ Church in opposition to the use of musical instruments and the growing modernism (theological liberalism) in the parent church. About 43,000 members.
Missionary Church - 1969, headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana, it was the merger of smaller Mennonite (Anabaptist) churches & Holiness Churches rooted in Wesleyan teachings. About 200,000 members.

CHRISTENDOM Series Outline Link: