Our Faith Family: The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
The Chalice
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), founded on American soil in the early 1800s, is uniquely equipped to live up to its identity that it is a "movement for wholeness in a fragmented world." The denomination continues to be influenced by its founding ideals of our unity in Christ with openness and diversity in practice and belief.
The Vision of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is To be a faithful, growing church, that demonstrates true community, deep Christian spirituality and a passion for justice. - Micah 6:8
The Mission of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is To be and to share the Good News of Jesus Christ, witnessing, loving and serving from our doorsteps "to the ends of the earth." - Acts 1:8
The Confession of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ):
As members of the Christian Church,
We confess that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of the living God,
and proclaim him Lord and Savior of the world. - The Preamble to The Design of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
The church is identified with the Protestant “mainstream” and is widely involved in social and other concerns. Disciples have vigorously supported world and national programs of education, agricultural assistance, racial reconciliation, care of the developmentally disabled, and aid to victims of war and calamity.
The denomination now counts about 700,000 members in the United States and Canada in about 3,700 congregations. Numerically, the strength of the Disciples of Christ runs in a broad arc that sweeps from Ohio and Kentucky through the Midwest and down into Oklahoma and Texas.
The Vision of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is To be a faithful, growing church, that demonstrates true community, deep Christian spirituality and a passion for justice. - Micah 6:8
The Mission of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is To be and to share the Good News of Jesus Christ, witnessing, loving and serving from our doorsteps "to the ends of the earth." - Acts 1:8
The Confession of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ):
As members of the Christian Church,
We confess that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of the living God,
and proclaim him Lord and Savior of the world. - The Preamble to The Design of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
The church is identified with the Protestant “mainstream” and is widely involved in social and other concerns. Disciples have vigorously supported world and national programs of education, agricultural assistance, racial reconciliation, care of the developmentally disabled, and aid to victims of war and calamity.
The denomination now counts about 700,000 members in the United States and Canada in about 3,700 congregations. Numerically, the strength of the Disciples of Christ runs in a broad arc that sweeps from Ohio and Kentucky through the Midwest and down into Oklahoma and Texas.
We are a "People of Grace and Welcome"
In July of 2013, the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) voted to affirm the resolution stating,
"The General Assembly calls upon the Church to recognize itself as striving to become a people of grace and welcome to all God's children though differing in sexual orientation or gender identity, affirming that neither are grounds for exclusion from fellowship or service within the church, and calling upon all expressions of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) as a people of grace and welcome, to acknowledge their support for the welcome of and hospitality to all."
What does this mean?
That we at Good Shepherd Christian Church welcome ALL people to worship, share communion, be baptized, and serve God with us. We celebrate that each one of us is a beloved child of God -- and that includes YOU!
"The General Assembly calls upon the Church to recognize itself as striving to become a people of grace and welcome to all God's children though differing in sexual orientation or gender identity, affirming that neither are grounds for exclusion from fellowship or service within the church, and calling upon all expressions of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) as a people of grace and welcome, to acknowledge their support for the welcome of and hospitality to all."
What does this mean?
That we at Good Shepherd Christian Church welcome ALL people to worship, share communion, be baptized, and serve God with us. We celebrate that each one of us is a beloved child of God -- and that includes YOU!
