Posted on 10/25/2018 7:56:20 AM PDT by C19fan
The identity statement of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) states it is “a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world. As part of the one body of Christ we welcome all to the Lord’s Table as God has welcomed us.”
But congregational reporting numbers made available in the annual Disciples of Christ yearbook show that the denomination continues to welcome fewer people to that table – so few that its ability to minister as a nationwide Christian denomination is imperiled in the immediate future.
Church membership shrank to 411,140 in 2017 (down from 497,423, or 17 percent, from 2014), while average worship attendance dropped to 139,936 (down from 177,141, or 21 percent, from 2014). While these figures in themselves are striking, two objective numbers that often serve as future indicators – baptism and transfers in – are even more dramatic. New additions by baptism are at 4,344 (down from 5,808, or 25 percent, from 2014) while additions by transfer are 7,441 (down from 15,111, or 51 percent in 2014), not nearly enough to keep up with deaths and transfers out.
(Excerpt) Read more at juicyecumenism.com ...
Tom Selleck is a Disciple of Christ.
I thought one could not partake of “the Table” (Communion) with the DoC unless you were a member......???????
If true, that does not unite, but divides........
I left the disciples of Christ on 2010. At that time communion was open to anyone present, whether a member or not. The belief was it was between you and God as to where her or not you would partake.
Thanks for the correction - maybe I’m thinking of the Church of Christ?
Communion is the Church of Christ is open to anyone. We don’t check ID cards, as it were. Member or not.
Partaking of the Lords Supper in an unworthy manner is soley an issue between that person and God.
“We serve anyone”
s/ deacon in the CofC
Thank you for the clarification. Glad to hear that.
Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth is affiliated with Disciples of Christ.
“TCU was founded by East Texas brothers Addison and Randolph Clark, together with the support of their father Joseph A. Clark. The Clarks were scholar-preacher/teachers associated with the Restoration Movement. These early leaders of the Restoration Movement were the spiritual ancestors of the modern Disciples of Christ, as well as major proponents of education.”
I grew up in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Pacific Northwest region.
My family left (or were kicked out) in 1974, when senior members of our local church said, “We are tired of hearing about Jesus. We want to get back to God!” They were a majority on the board, so after they fired the pastor we shook the dust off our feet and left for greener pastures.
My cousin was attending a Disciples seminary at the time, intending to become a pastor, following in his fathers footsteps. He left the school about the same time we left our church of fifteen years, complaining about the liberals and unbelievers on the seminary’s faculty.
The “Church(es) of Christ” and the “Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)” are two separate denominations, however both are descended from the Barton Stone & William Campbell restoration movement in the early 1800s.
A center point in the origin of the Disciples of Christ was over one having to be an official church member of a denomination or congregation rather than being a baptized Christian to partake in communion.
Here is the history of the DoC from its website: https://disciples.org/our-identity/history-of-the-disciples/
See also the Wikipedia entry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Church_(Disciples_of_Christ)
Thanks for the ping and the DoC links.
The decline is sad news for DoC members.
So many denominations, and so much confusion...
Does anybody read the Holy Bible anymore? And adhere to it for once?
Yup, right here.
LOL - not you!
Just the typical peanut gallery folks who read one or two passages and treat it like a cherry-picking buffet.
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