I visited your Churches web-site. It appears their statements of beliefs to be very vague, and to me somewhat evasive.
They are members of the World Council Of Churches, an ecumenical Church movement. And from what I can tell, hold a very Liberal and Emergent view of Christianity.
Its one of those web-sites that says nothing specifically, and I find usually there is a good reason, when you ever dig deep enough.
Thank you for your care, I appreciate it and it was on your website that I first found the listing for the Church of Christ under 'cults and religions'.
I confess to complete ignorance of the significance of the World Council of Churches and the terminology of 'ecumenical'. I do not come from a reformed background and indeed to this day have never laid eyes on a reformed church. In my country they are scarce as hens' teeth. This is why I am a member here at RTI and read and listen to as many good reformed teachers as I can. As I have stated in a previous post, coming out of a neo-pentecostal church, the Church of Christ that I attend is far more biblical and I would need a very good reason to leave. I would need to hear heresy being preached over the pulpit which I have not heard yet. I do not wish to become a church hopper nor do I wish to remain at home out of fellowship altogether and serving no one. I do believe that God's elect are in this church and I have already met another reformed brother who worships here. The website is only meant to give an overview but as Cam has pointed out it has more on it than many other churches take the time to put. I wil pray for the Holy Spirit's guidance and the gift of discernment as I listen.
I respond to clarify what seems to me to be a misunderstanding that cannot be left unresolved. Rhonda: Presbyterian Deacon and freshmao have both given you excellent information and wise guidance based on accurate, valid and well researched information.
However, Samuel, are you not perhaps a bit mistaken? Have you not, in fact, confused the Church of Christ with the United Church of Christ (which used to be essentially the Congregational Church)? At least, made that confusion in your posting here? The Church of Christ, priding itself as as the "Restoration Church", would never join the World Council of Churches as the United Church of Christ has done. The Church of Christ could never be one espoused of "Liberal" or "Emergent" views, whereas that would be characteristic of the United Church of Christ.
Samuel, please check your sources carefully on this and repost in this matter so that Rhonda and the Forum will not be confused by your advice.
They are members of the World Council Of Churches, an ecumenical Church movement....
The Campbell/Stone Movement is "father" to various groups historically.
From what I can tell, "The Church of Christ" is not part of the WCC. However, one of the other groups, "The Christian Church" (also called "The Disciples of Christ") is, and I think, Samuel, that you are mistaken to try to lump all the groups which are historically connected to Alexander and Thomas Campbell into the same category. It would be like saying all Baptists are liberal, based upon an observation of the American Baptist Church (denomination). Stereo-types like these just don't help discussion!
Of the Disciples of Christ group however, it may be said:
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is a Mainline Protestant denomination in North America. It is often referred to as "The Christian Church," "The Disciples of Christ," or more simply as "The Disciples." It has made contributions to worldwide Christianity through the evangelistic work of its missionary societies and through its participation in the ecumenical dialogue of the 20th century. The Christian Church was a charter participant in the formation of both the World Council of Churches and the Federal Council of Churches (now the National Council of Churches), and it continues to be engaged in ecumenical conversations.
Rhonda's group IS NOT the group to which Samuel refers. Though officially recognized as distinct movements from 1906, the actual separation of the Churches of Christ from the Christian Churches had already been taking place gradually for decades. _________________ Sterling A. Harmon, Jr.
Deacon
Presbyterian Church of Coventry (PCA)
Reformed Theology Institute
Owner/Admin
"No learning is commendable which is not dipped in the love of God." --John Calvin
"A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God's truth is attacked and yet would remain silent." --John Calvin
The information about the World Council Of Churches, came from the web. I did a search on the Churches of Christ Australia, and it lumped all of them into belonging to the World Council Of Churches.
If the one Rhonda attends does not, it must be totally independent of the other Churches of Christ in Australia. And the Liberal and Emergent statement was mine, this Church being far and away more so liberal, than their counterparts here in the states.
Or maybe we could just call them progressive.
I am not trying to be confusing, I just reported on the facts as I found them. If there is any error, it is in the reports my information came from. The observations on the liberality, of course are my own. You can take that with a grain of salt. _________________ Samuel Owen.
http://www.our.homewithgod.com/biblepaths/
Thank you all for your valuable input into the discussion. I have been doing a little following up on The World Council of Churches and it appears that the Churches of Christ in Australia are members as are many reformed churches. What I read about the World Council of Churches I found to be disturbing in light of the their connection with Rome and the rhetoric of some of their leaders. But does this make the Churches of Christ not a true church of Christ?
By reformed standards they may be seen as 'progressive' because they are not a litugical church but in our country where the majority protestant denomination is the Australian Christian Churches (renamed Assemblies of God) the Church of Christ is considered to be conservative because they are cessationist, hold to elder government and do not allow women to be pastors, all of which the Uniting Church (formerly Methodist) and Anglicans do. I appreciate your advice on this topic.
Thank you all for your valuable input into the discussion. I have been doing a little following up on The World Council of Churches and it appears that the Churches of Christ in Australia are members as are many reformed churches. What I read about the World Council of Churches I found to be disturbing in light of the their connection with Rome and the rhetoric of some of their leaders. But does this make the Churches of Christ not a true church of Christ?
Rhonda:
Are you sure about that? There is also a "World Convention of Churches of Christ" which is NOT the same group as the World Council of Churches.
Quote:
The offices of the World Convention are located in Nashville, Tennessee. Australian Jeff Weston serves as Executive Director (General Secretary). In addition to planning the quadrennial gathering of the Stone-Campbell Movement, the day-to-day ministry of World Convention seeks to build fellowship, understanding, common purpose and efectiveness within the global family of churches known as Christian, Churches of Christ and Disciples of Christ. The Executive Director travels the world preaching, teaching, encouraging and mentoring Christians on behalf of World Convention. He also represents the Stone-Campbell Movement family at a number of international ecumenical/world communion meetings. The World Convention website has a number of features, including National Profiles of some of the nearly 180 countirs and nations where Stone-Campbell Movement Churches have or have had a presence. These are composed by National Profiles Editor, Clinton J. Holloway. In addition, Holloway also authored a history of the World Convention, Together in Christ, A History of the World Convention of Churches of Christ, 1930-2008.
-- Sterling
______________________________________________
Edit:
Okay, here is a list of the Church of Christ Australia affiliations.
Affiliations:
National Council of Churches in Australia
Melbourne College of Divinity
Sydney College of Divinity
World Convention of Churches of Christ
I see that the National Council of Churches in Australia
Quote:
is an ecumenical organisation bringing together a number of Australia's Christian Churches in dialogue and practical cooperation.
It works in collaboration with state ecumenical councils around Australia. It is an associate council of the World Council of Churches, a member of the Christian Conference of Asia and a partner of other national ecumenical bodies throughout the world. Christian World Service, the international humanitarian and development agency of the NCCA, works with communities in 22 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific...
Rhonda wrote:
But does this make the Churches of Christ not a true church of Christ?
No. I haven't found anything which indicates that the Campbellites have had to compromise their doctrinal possitions in order to join this humanitarian effort.
But, of course, this is only my opinion, whatever it might be worth.
I think, as long your church is not teaching baptismal regeneration as an official position, identifies itself as a "Church of Christ" (and not "The Christian Church" or "Disciples of Christ"), and preaches the gospel of salvation by grace through faith, you're probably okay where you are. _________________ Sterling A. Harmon, Jr.
Deacon
Presbyterian Church of Coventry (PCA)
Reformed Theology Institute
Owner/Admin
"No learning is commendable which is not dipped in the love of God." --John Calvin
"A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God's truth is attacked and yet would remain silent." --John Calvin
I think, as long your church is not teaching baptismal regeneration as an official position, identifies itself as a "Church of Christ" (and not "The Christian Church" or "Disciples of Christ"), and preaches the gospel of salvation by grace through faith, you're probably okay where you are.
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