[Rte66]

This might help a tiny bit--at least eliminate one argument:

~~~~~
http://news.ucc.org/index.php?optio...d=501&Itemid=54

Slain Tennessee church leader was not UCC
Written by J. Bennett Guess
Saturday, 25 March 2006

A slain "Church of Christ" preacher in Selmer, Tenn., was not a minister of the "United Church of Christ." The two churches are unrelated.

Several reporters and media outlets, including CNN, have contacted the national offices of the UCC seeking comment about the death of Matthew Winkler, the pastoral leader of Selmer's Fourth Street Church of Christ. Winkler was founded dead at his home on Wednesday. His wife has reportedly confessed to the crime, according to news accounts.

The United Church of Christ and the similarly-sounding Church of Christ are often confused. However, the two church bodies share no formal ties or affiliations. Besides the commonality in name, the two churches are not structurally related, even though we do share a common confession in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The churches are known for stark differences in Christian theology, approaches to biblical interpretation and styles of church governance.

The UCC, with its national offices in Cleveland, Ohio, was formed in 1957 with the union of Congregational Christian Churches in America and the Evangelical and Reformed Church. It has about 1.3 million members in 5,725 churches.

The Church of Christ is a decentralized, generally more-conservative, evangelical Christian tradition. Its church leaders are often referred to as evangelists, not pastors. Contrary to the UCC, ministerial ordination is not practiced in the Church of Christ, and, therefore, the use of formal titles such as "The Reverend" are discouraged.

UCC members join with others in expressing our sadness for the victims of all violent crimes, including Winkler, and those affected. Our prayers are with Winkler, his family and his faith community.

[petitfour]

You would think CNN with its headquarters in Atlanta would talk to some of the Atlanta area cofCers, but they're probably not that bright.

[connectthedots]

This is the link to the "Church of Christ" to which the Winkler's belong

http://church-of-christ.org/

Nothing there that seems cultish to me.

Those thinking it is a cultish organization may be thinking of the "International Church of Christ."

[Responsibility2nd]

The United Church of Christ and the similarly-sounding Church of Christ are often confused

Confused? Yeah, I guess if you're a MSM'er who has no tolerance of religion, and no basic knowledge of faiths with widespread differences, like the COC and the UCC, then sure... you will be confused every time.

BTW: Rte66, You are doing a wonderful job posting updates and keeping the rest of us up to date on this thread.

Thank you.

[VOA]

The Church of Christ is a decentralized, generally more-conservative,
evangelical Christian tradition. Its church leaders are often referred to
as evangelists, not pastors.

And is not Pentacostal, as reported by Geraldo Rivera this evening.
"Not that there's anything wrong with that..."

(Pentacostal posters...I was only laughing at Geraldo's gaffe. It's been
interesting to watch a bunch of reporters try to get a clue about
the mainstream Churches of Christ and not confuse them with simliarly-named
groups)