00:00Imagine a church that tries to live like the very first Christians.
00:04Simple, united, and focused on the essentials.
00:07That's the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ.
00:10You'll find them across the U.S. and Canada, about 600,000 strong,
00:15committed to open communion, local freedom, and a big vision, Christian unity.
00:22Here's the quick timeline.
00:23Early 1800s, on the American frontier, two reform movements rise up.
00:28One led by Barton W. Stone in Kentucky, calling believers simply, Christians.
00:34Another led by Alexander Campbell and his father, Thomas, the Restoration Movement.
00:40In 1832, these streams unite, famously sealed with a handshake.
00:46From that union grows the Disciples of Christ.
00:49So what do they believe and practice?
00:51Jesus is the Son of God.
00:53Center stage.
00:55Communion every Sunday.
00:57Open to all who follow Jesus.
01:00Believers' baptism by immersion.
01:02Your choice.
01:03Your confession.
01:05Your moment.
01:06The Bible is central, read carefully and in community.
01:10And each congregation governs itself.
01:13Real local autonomy.
01:15Here's their identity today.
01:16Diverse, welcoming, and intentionally working to be an anti-racist, pro-reconciling church.
01:23That means real commitments to inclusion and justice in pews and in public.
01:28How are they organized?
01:30Think covenantal more than command and control.
01:33Congregations relate to regional ministries and a general assembly, but no rigid hierarchy
01:39calling all the shots.
01:41They choose to walk together.
01:42By agreement, not by force.
01:45What's the Sunday experience like?
01:47Expect scripture, a sermon, prayer, music that fits the local community.
01:52And the Lord's Supper.
01:54Every week.
01:55Open to you if you follow Christ.
01:57You'll likely find a baptismal pool because immersion matters to them.
02:02And plenty of lay people leading alongside pastors.
02:05Big picture.
02:06The disciples aim to model first century simplicity in a 21st century world.
02:12Unity over uniformity.
02:14Freedom with responsibility.
02:16And a table wide enough for honest differences.
02:19If you've ever wondered what a back-to-basics church looks like, one that keeps Jesus at
02:24the center and the table open, this is it.
02:27That's the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ.
Comments