It is indeed somewhat confusing, even for those of us who have studied it a bit. The "FIRST" is really just an individual church name [and rather an egocentric one, at that] and not part of the name of the denomination. A great many churches listed in the yearbook do have that name, but it is by no means all of them. Officially it is [or was at one time] the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada, with about 30+ autonomous regions of a few to a few hundred autonomous congregations. They are somewhat organically related to the United Church of Christ - also called the Congregational Church [at one time in some parts of the country]. A number of Overseas Mission staff are shared by both denominations, and ministers have standing easily in either denomination. There was talk for some years about some sort of union, but to my mind that was made somewhat silly by both denominations moving their national headquarters within a year and ending up in diffferent states. Just friends who sometimes live together, I guess. Personally I think they have about as good a theology as any group, but even most of our members don't know much about it. Enough on Church polity. What you state is what I have seen over the years [life-long member]: Folks who are happy in the Christian Church can be happy nearly anywhere in an at least moderately open minded church, so rather than start new churches when they move they go to any mainline congregation nearby. BillR Jacksonville FL
-----Original Message----- From: "archer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Mercedes Discussion List" <mercedes@okiebenz.com> Sent: 12/17/07 9:32 AM Subject: Re: [MBZ] Father R.M.Archer 4th from left From: "Bill " <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Gerry - is that First Christian as in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) [I attend one of those], or one of the independents? BillR Jacksonville FL ............................................... The history of the First Christian Church/Disciples of Christ/Churchs of Christ is somewhat confusing: "In 1906, the groups split; Stone's followers became officially known as the Christian Church, or Disciples of Christ while Campbell's group became known as the Churches of Christ (non-instrumental). A further division occurred in 1968 with the restructuring of the Christian Church into the Christian Church/churches of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The Disciples became more centralized once again as a denomination....snip http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/restor3.html When I married a Presbyterian, I attended that church with her and lost track of what was going on in the First Christian denominations. My aunt was very active in a First Christian Church in our home town in Indiana (3000 population) and I enjoyed going to it as a kid. The people and the services were quiet and fairly unemotional compared to some of the other churchs in town. I remember one time when a lady got mad at someone or something in the Baptist Church she had been attending and joined our little First Christian Church. Everything was fine for a few Sundays until the preacher gave a pretty dramatic sermon. Right in the middle of it this lady came out with a very loud "Hallelujah!" Everybody froze, the preacher completely forgot his sermon and finally called for the hymn beginning the next part of the service. The lady came a few more times, and then I think she went back to the Baptist Church. When I went back to the old home town several years ago, the small First Christian Church had been torn down and a larger Church of Christ had been built in its place, so I don't know if that little church was part of the Christian Church/Churches of Christ or the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). I could be happy attending nearly any Christian church, I believe, except perhaps the ones where they handle snakes. Gerry _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
