Disciples of Christ (Jesus, tradition, virtual, beliefs, creation)

[jturpin4]

Are there any Disciples of Christ church members here on the boards? I went to my first Disciples of Christ church service today...

[CaptainXeroid]

Yo...I was born into a Disciples of Christ Church and after drifting away for a few years, I returned to an active role back in 1998.

What were your impressions of the service and the beliefs of the Disciples?

[jturpin4]

I really enjoyed the service. I went to the 11 am instead of the early morning service. The inside of the church was beautiful with all the stained glass windows and such. Also, it was Transfiguration Sunday, which I didn't know too much about, but the pastor explained. Also, it was my first time doing communion! I have some questions for you.. Does the Disciples of Christ have their services based on a liturgical format like Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Episcopals, and Orthodox? Do Disciples of Christ participate in Lent and Lenten services? I believe they do, but not for sure. The pastor mentioned next Wednesday they are having a service for Ash Wednesday. So I guess Disciples of Christ follow that calendar with those Holy Days such as Lent, Ash Wednesday, etc.? Thanks, look forward to your reply!

[CaptainXeroid]

Yes, we follow the litrugical calendar. Just about all congregations have an Ash Wednesday service, and many have some kind of 'Shrove Tuesday' pancake meal which harkens back to the days of very strict Lent observance when people had to use up all the eggs, milk, and flour before Ash Wednesday.

One of the things I have come to appreciate about the Disciples is our open communion table at all services. I have been in some other churches where I was told I was not welcome to partake because I had not been baptized in that church. I kept asking myself 'Would Jesus turn anyone away?'

Here's our church's website and the site for the national website. for more information. We normally attend our church's 10:50 AM service since 8:30 is too early for us. Our church isn't as ornate as some, but I think it's nice enough.

[Terrywoodenpic]

Originally Posted by CaptainXeroid

Yes, we follow the litrugical calendar. Just about all congregations have an Ash Wednesday service, and many have some kind of 'Shrove Tuesday' pancake meal which harkens back to the days of very strict Lent observance when people had to use up all the eggs, milk, and flour before Ash Wednesday.

One of the things I have come to appreciate about the Disciples is our open communion table at all services. I have been in some other churches where I was told I was not welcome to partake because I had not been baptized in that church. I kept asking myself 'Would Jesus turn anyone away?'

Here's our church's website and the site for the national website. for more information. We normally attend our church's 10:50 AM service since 8:30 is too early for us. Our church isn't as ornate as some, but I think it's nice enough.

I checked out those two sites.
You seem to have a very nice church and congregation, with plenty of activity.
On looking on the national website You seem to have virtually no representation in Europe.
I would have thought that your message would go down very well in the UK.
Your faith system seems to be on the fairly extreme liberal side of Christianity;
as (like me) it has very few binding principals. An almost simplicity of faith.

How it views such matters as Creationism and sola scriptura, it remained quiet.
Perhaps you are allowed to come to your own conclusions in these matters.

Though with such a bottom up organization, may be your Churches vary on this.

Terry____________________
Amen! Truly I say to you: Gather in my name. I am with you.

[jturpin4]

So, does Disciples of Christ participate during the Lenten season? Go through Lent, fast, etc.? Yea, I love the open communion. It was my first. Is Disciples of Christ the only "Protestant" denomination that participates in communion every week/and or have a liturgical format of service?

[sojourner]

Originally Posted by jturpin4

So, does Disciples of Christ participate during the Lenten season? Go through Lent, fast, etc.? Yea, I love the open communion. It was my first. Is Disciples of Christ the only "Protestant" denomination that participates in communion every week/and or have a liturgical format of service?

No. The Episcopal Church celebrates Communion each Sunday, and they have an open Table, too! Highly liturgical. I believe the ELCA Lutherans also celebrate Communion weekly with an open table. Also liturgical.

Many (but not all) Disciples congregations observe Lent. The denomination as a whole advocates the traditional liturgical calendar observances and celebrations, but not all local congregations choose to participate in all of them. Since the Disciples are congregationally governed, you will find a wide variety of worship practice.

[jturpin4]

In the Disciples of Christ church that I attend, in the bulletin it mentions "Diaconate". Who/What are those? Are there Elders or Deacons in the Disciples of Christ? Who are the "leaders"?

[CaptainXeroid]

Originally Posted by sojourner

...Since the Disciples are congregationally governed, you will find a wide variety of worship practice.

Yes, this is a good point.

Originally Posted by jturpin4

In the Disciples of Christ church that I attend, in the bulletin it mentions "Diaconate". Who/What are those? Are there Elders or Deacons in the Disciples of Christ? Who are the "leaders"?

The Diaconate or Deaconate is the group of people who serve as Deacons. In most churches, they serve communion, pass the offering plates, and may serves as ushers. In our church, the elders prepare communion, offer prayers at the table and for offering, and take communion to shut ins.

The pastor/minister/preacher most often leads worship and delivers a sermon. Usually, he will seek a volunteer a week ahead of time to read passages from the Bible, make Mission announcements, and offer a list of prayer concerns and joys within our church family.

As for Lent, different congregations have different observations. Some people give up a pleasure or take on a responsibility or service project in rememberance of Christ's sacrifices for us. We had a Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper and an Ash Wednesday Service, and we'll have Maundy Thursday and Good Friday Services leading up to Easter.

Originally Posted by Terrywoodenpic

You seem to have a very nice church and congregation, with plenty of activity.
On looking on the national website You seem to have virtually no representation in Europe.
I would have thought that your message would go down very well in the UK.
Your faith system seems to be on the fairly extreme liberal side of Christianity;
as (like me) it has very few binding principals. An almost simplicity of faith.

Thank you for your kind words, and I'm sorry I forgot about this thread and didn't seem them sooner. I think your observations are right on target. Here's one reason the Disciple may not have a strong presence in Europe:

ORIGINS: The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) was born on the American frontier in the early 1800s as a movement opposing the rigid denominationalism imported from Europe and seeking Christian unity on a simple New Testament basis. Its founders were Alexander Campbell in western Pennsylvania and Virginia and Barton W. Stone in Kentucky. The basic principle was a fellowship built around the Lord's Table and tolerance of widely divergent viewpoints concerning "non-essentials." Counting the Churches of Christ and the so-called independent Christian Churches which gradually separated from the Disciples, the Stone-Campbell development represents an indigenous American religious movement second only to the Mormons in size. Both Campbell and Stone had been Presbyterians.

Source.
I guess many Europeans see the Disciples as an 'American' denomination and we don't really do a 'hard sell' form of evangelism seeking converts.

Anyway, I'll bookmark this thread in case there are any other questions about the Disciples I might be able to answer.

[jturpin4]

Thanks for the help Captain! Besides doing different things, is there really any difference between a Deacon and Elder? Are they both over the church or is one higher than the other?