First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is a native American church, with origins on the American frontier in the early 1800’s. Today there are over 4,000 congregations and one million members in the United States and Canada.

Since its beginning the Christian Church has worked to increase respect, understanding and unity among all believers of Christ. We have no official creed, but rather recognize the right to exercise freedom of opinion for those who look to the Bible as their guide for Christian living and faith. “No creed but Christ” and “Not the only Christian, but Christians only” are two statements that typify the freedom and diversity that Disciples value.

We believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Through him we know what God is like. In him we share in the life of the Spirit and are motivated to a life of self-giving service.

We believe in the right and responsibility of each congregation to determine its own program of Christian witness. Our churches are congregationally governed. We also enter covenant with other congregations and recognize our commitment to the regional and general church of our denomination. Of our own free will we give to support our common institutions in the country and all over the world. We freely enter into cooperative ventures with other denominations.

We believe in the importance of the laity and elect men, women and youth to positions of leadership in the church.

We believe in the centrality of the Lord’s Supper in our worship each Lord’s Day. This service emphasized the presence of the living Christ and is open to all who believe in him.

We believe in baptism by immersion for those who confess their faith in Christ, but we recognize the validity of baptism of others who may have used other forms and receive people from other denominations without re-baptism.

We believe in the implications of our faith in daily living and feel that all Christians must work out their own high standards in the light of their faith.