Bethany Christian Church Disciples of Christ Heritage

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) was the first Protestant movement founded on American soil.  The Disciples have a long heritage of openness to other Christian traditions, actually having come into existence as sort of a 19th century protest movement against denominational exclusiveness.  The church continues to be influenced by its founding ideals of informality, openness and diversity.

The church is identified with the Protestant mainstream and is widely involved in social and other concerns. Disciples have offered vigorous support of world and national programs of education, agricultural assistance, racial reconciliation, care of the developmentally disabled and aid to victims of war and calamity.

The Disciples claim no official doctrine. Worship practices vary widely from congregation to congregation -- from the more common informal services to what some might describe as "high church" in others. Disciples congregations also run the theological spectrum from ultra-liberal to solidly conservative and everything in between.

Membership is granted after a simple statement of belief in Jesus Christ and baptism by immersion, though most congregations admit transfers baptized differently in other denominations. Even though immersion is virtually the universal Disciples practice, no church authority requires baptism by a particular form.

The Lord's Supper, generally called communion, is open to all Christians. The typical practice is weekly communion, though, once again, no church law insists upon it.

For more information, please visit www.disciples.org.