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Christianity AtlasChurch & Denomination Guide
Group guide

Churches of Christ

Also known as: Church of Christ congregations

A loose fellowship of autonomous congregations from the Stone–Campbell Restoration Movement, commonly known for believer’s baptism for the remission of sins, weekly Communion, and a cappella worship.

Denominational familyInside historic Nicene ChristianityShared historic core, with several important differences

60-second overview

A loose fellowship of autonomous congregations from the Stone–Campbell Restoration Movement, commonly known for believer’s baptism for the remission of sins, weekly Communion, and a cappella worship.

History and identity

Churches of Christ generally reject denominational headquarters and binding extra-biblical creeds. Many teach that penitent faith, confession, and baptism belong together in conversion, rather than treating baptism as a later symbol. Congregations vary on grace, instruments, institutions, women’s roles, and relations with other Christians.

Core teachings and practices

  • Autonomous congregations with no central denominational body.
  • Believer’s baptism closely connected with forgiveness and conversion.
  • Weekly Lord’s Supper.
  • A cappella worship is common, though not universal in every related congregation.

Variation across churches

High variation within the group

What it shares with the Reformed Baptist Base Beliefs

This group is within historic Nicene Christianity, with broad agreement on the Triune God and Jesus Christ’s full deity and humanity. Other important differences may still remain.

Important differences from the Reformed Baptist Base Beliefs

The guide’s base beliefs may share Scripture, believer’s baptism, local autonomy, and simple church practice. It is likely to object when baptism is treated as a necessary instrumental condition of justification or when the movement is presented as the uniquely restored true church. Local variation is substantial.

How it relates to historic Nicene Christianity

Inside historic Nicene Christianity

This group is within historic Nicene Christianity.

Boundary guide
Important distinctions
  • Churches of Christ and Independent Christian Churches/Churches of Christ are related Restoration Movement streams, not alternate names for the same group.
  • Do not confuse with Iglesia ni Cristo or unrelated churches using “Church of Christ.”
Related groups
Stone–Campbell Restoration MovementStone–Campbell Restoration MovementIndependent Christian Churches/Churches of ChristChristian Church (Disciples of Christ)Iglesia ni Cristo

Sources

The group’s own sources come first, followed by outside context and the guide’s comparison.

  1. Disciples of Christ Historical Society — Churches of Christ history
    VerifiedReputable secondary source
  2. Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement / curated sources — Churches of Christ beliefs and practices
    VerifiedReputable secondary source
  3. Representative Church of Christ congregation — Who Are the Churches of Christ?
    VerifiedSelf-description
  4. Encyclopaedia / specialist reference — Churches of Christ
    VerifiedReputable secondary source