Churches of Christ
Independent congregations from the Restoration Movement that seek to restore New Testament practice.
- U.S. size
- ≈ 1.1 million adherents (21st Century Christian directory, c. 2023 (approx))
- Founded
- Early 1800s (Stone-Campbell movement)
- Church government
- Autonomous congregations led by elders
- Ordains women as pastors
- No
- Official website
- No verified official site link yet
- Statement of faith
- Not linked yet (could not verify an official page)
What They Confess (Free)
Their own words. Free to read, no login.
No written creed: congregations teach from the New Testament.
Core Beliefs
| Topic | What they teach | Scripture they cite |
|---|---|---|
| Scripture & authority | The Bible alone, with 'no creed but Christ', seeking to restore New Testament Christianity. | 2 Tim 3:16; 1 Pet 4:11 |
| Salvation | By grace through faith, expressed in repentance, confession and baptism. | Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; Gal 3:27 |
| Baptism | Immersion of believers for the forgiveness of sins. | Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom 6:3-4 |
| Lord's Supper | A memorial observed every Sunday. | Acts 20:7; 1 Cor 11:26 |
| Worship | Simple. The Churches of Christ sing a cappella. | Eph 5:19; Col 3:16 |
| Mary & saints | Mary is honored as a believer. | 1 Tim 2:5 |
| Spiritual gifts | Generally cessationist. | 1 Cor 13:8-10 |
About these numbers: figures are approximate and come from each body's own most recent report or the National Council of Churches' Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches. Bodies count members differently (baptized, confirmed, adherents, publishers), and some historically Black denominations have not published new figures in years. See also the Pew Religious Landscape Study and the ARDA. Belief summaries are our own short descriptions. Please read each church's own confession.
Compare All 25 What Church Fits Me?
Up Next
Pick Up Where You Left Off
Official Sites
Straight from the church: national and worldwide.
Sponsor This Page
We're looking for denominational and nondenominational ministry partners committed to supporting God's universal Church, one body of believers.