"We hear a special calling to make visible the unity of all Christians, proclaiming that in our diversity we belong to one another because we commonly belong to Christ."
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"We participate in God’s mission for the world, working with partners to heal the brokenness of creation, and to bring justice and peace to the whole human family."
It’s hard to think of a more ambiguous...
"We structure our community around the biblical idea of covenant, emphasizing not obedience to human authority but accountability to one another because of our shared obedience to Christ."
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“We gather for the Lord’s Supper as often as possible, experiencing at this table the gracious, forgiving presence of Jesus Christ.”
This may well be our most obvious, defining mark as a church. Disciples are like the Catholic, Orthodox,...
“We practice the baptism of believers, which emphasizes that God’s grace demands a response of faith and discipleship, while also recognizing the baptism performed in other churches.”
Not so long ago, baptism was a source of...
"We hold the centrality of scripture, recognizing that each person has the freedom — and the responsibility — to study God’s word within the community of the church.”
Surveys tell us that people today often join a congregation because of its youth...
Last month, we examined the Statement of Identity produced by the Disciples Vision Team: “We are Disciples of Christ, a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world.” In this article, I want us to think about the first of the Vision Team’s 12 marks of identity: “We confess that...
"We are Disciples of Christ, a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world. As part of the one body of Christ, we welcome all to the Lord’s Table as God has welcomed us."
Disciples have always had trouble saying who we are. Alexander Campbell and Barton...
“We anticipate God’s coming reign, seeking to serve the one God — Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer — whose loving dominion has no end.”
Christians live not just by memory but by anticipation. This tension — remembering what God has done for our...
“We give thanks that each congregation, where Christ is present through faith, is truly the church, affirming as well that God’s church and God’s mission stretch from our doorsteps to the ends of the earth.”
There is a paradox at the heart of the...
