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Christianity AtlasChurch & Denomination Guide
Group guide

Stone–Campbell Restoration Movement

Also known as: Restoration Movement, Stone-Campbell Movement

A nineteenth-century American movement seeking Christian unity by restoring New Testament belief and practice rather than multiplying creeds and denominational identities.

MovementInside historic Nicene ChristianityShared historic core, with several important differences

60-second overview

A nineteenth-century American movement seeking Christian unity by restoring New Testament belief and practice rather than multiplying creeds and denominational identities.

History and identity

The Stone–Campbell movement eventually produced distinct bodies: Churches of Christ, Independent Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). These bodies now differ in worship, organization, theology, and openness. They require separate cards.

Core teachings and practices

  • Appeal to restore New Testament Christianity.
  • Suspicion of binding human creeds.
  • Believer’s baptism by immersion and frequent Communion are common.
  • Modern branches are not interchangeable.

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 biblical authority, believer’s baptism, and local autonomy, but often differ on baptism’s relation to forgiveness, use of confessions, and some restorationist claims.

How it relates to historic Nicene Christianity

Inside historic Nicene Christianity

This group is within historic Nicene Christianity.

Boundary guide
Important distinctions
Related groups
ProtestantismChurches of ChristIndependent 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. Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) — Our History
    VerifiedOfficial history
  2. Disciples of Christ Historical Society — Stone-Campbell Movement history resources
    VerifiedReputable secondary source
  3. Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) — Identity Statement and Principles
    VerifiedOfficial doctrine
  4. Representative Church of Christ congregation — Who Are the Churches of Christ?
    VerifiedSelf-description
  5. Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) — Our Confession
    VerifiedHistoric confession
  6. Christian Standard — The “Independent” Christian Church
    VerifiedSelf-description
  7. Faith Communities Today / Cooperative Congregational Studies Partnership — The Independent Christian Church, Churches of Christ (instrumental)
    VerifiedReputable secondary source