Who We Are
Our Beliefs
We affirm that Jesus Christ is the son of the Living God, and offers saving grace to all. We believe that all people are God's children.
We live out this affirmation through:
- Open Communion. We celebrate the Lord's Supper in weekly worship and it is open to all who believe in Jesus Christ.
- Freedom of Belief. Disciples are called together around one essential of faith: belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Persons are free to follow their consciences guided by the Bible, the Holy Spirit, study and prayer, and are expected to extend that freedom to other.
- Baptism by immersion. In baptism the old self-centered life is set aside, and a new life of trust in God is made possible. Although Disciples practice baptism by immersion, other baptism traditions are honored.
- Belief in the unity of the church. All Christians are called to be one in Christ and to seek opportunities for common witness and service.
- The ministry of all believers. Both ministers and lay persons lead in worship, service and spiritual growth.
Our Denomination
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) was founded in the early 1800's in the United States. Seeking to move beyond denominational disagreements, the founders envisioned only one Christian Church, modeled on the New Testament.
The church grew rapidly across the American frontier, in part because it shared many values of the early settlers.
Today our nearly 4000 congregations still share some of those characteristics.
- Each congregation is a self-governing unity and calls its own pastor.
- Worship services may be formal or informal, and include lay men and woman as leaders.
- Open discussion of issues is encouraged. A variety of opinions is welcome.
- Our congregations include a broad ethnic and racial membership.
The Chalice
The chalice symbolizes the central place of communion in worship for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The X-shaped cross of the disciple Andrew is a reminder of the ministry of each person and the importance of evangelism.
