The Disciples of Christ, formed in the 1800s, would eventually become known as the Christian Church as a liberal faction developed to spread its ideas to Christians. The denomination would divide over the years because of disagreements, but it also welcomed new believers into the evolving group.
These six events show how the Disciples of Christ continued to change and expand its Christian ideals:
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1. The new church first began in 1832 following a meeting between Presbyterian ministers Barton W. Stone, Thomas Campbell and Alexander Campbell. They all shared similar beliefs. African Americans were among the earliest converts along with European Americans while the movement developed in Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
The Colored Christian Church became part of the new denomination in Midway, Kentucky, in 1834.
2. During the Civil War the merged groups worked tirelessly in the central and western states of the U.S. They incorporated missionary work to unite various Christian groups throughout the nation.
3.
The Disciples' Christian Woman's Board of Missions attracted Chinese involvement by opening a mission in Portland, Oregon in the late 19th century. The success of that operation led them to open another Chinese mission in San Francisco in 1924. Unfortunately, both missions closed because of anti-Asian sentiment resulting in the Chinese Exclusion Acts and the Immigration Act around the same time.
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4. The Disciples faced more opposition within their ranks with a conservative faction that insisted on adhering to strict instruction from the Bible. For example, this faction was opposed to outside missionary work and even to instrumental music being played in the church. Instead, they preferred to sing hymns with only their voices. That group broke away and became known as the
Church of Christ.
5. The Disciples continued on and even made great progress in uniting Christians throughout the country and the world. They established the Council on Christian Unity in 1910. This group went on to organize national and world councils of churches in its quest for unity.
6. The denomination became known as the Christian Church in the 1920s. Disciples continued their worldwide work through the 20th century with such groups as the Division of Overseas Ministries and the Wider Church Ministries. The Common Global Ministries Board was formed in 1995.
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