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What Do Disciples Believe?
Disciples do not have a creed. Perhaps the
best way to answering this question is to present the Disciple Affirmation:
As members of the Christian Church, We
confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and proclaim
Him Lord and Savior of the world.
In Christ's name and by His grace we accept our mission of witness and
service to all people.
We rejoice in God, Maker of Heaven and Earth, and in the covenant of love
which binds us to God and one another.
Through baptism into Christ we enter into the newness of life and are made
one with the whole people of God.
In the communion of the Holy Spirit we are joined together in discipleship
and in obedience to Christ.
At the table of the Lord we celebrate with thanksgiving the savings acts and
presence of Christ.
Within the universal church we receive the gift of ministry and the light of
Scripture.
In the bonds of Christian faith we yield ourselves to God that we may serve
the One whose reign has no end.
Blessing, glory, and honor be to God forever. Amen
-Preamble to the Design for
the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Who Are The Disciples Of Christ?
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) had its beginnings in the early
nineteenth century on the American frontier. Presbyterian ministers Barton
Stone, Thomas Campbell, and his son, Alexander, troubled by the many
divisions among Christians, sought to unify them by means of the principles
and practices of the early, apostolic Church, revealed in the New Testament.
The Campbell/Stone movement emphasized freedom and diversity. Rejecting
creeds as test for membership, they asked only that persons make a public
confession that "Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God" and accept
Him as "Lord and Savior." This is still the practice of the church today.
Following the New Testament example, Disciples celebrate Holy Communion (the
Lord's Supper) each week. Any Christian, of whatever denomination, is
welcomed to the Lord's Table. Although Disciples practice baptism of
believers by immersion, but they accept other modes of baptism when
individuals transfer from other Christian bodies.
One of the more distinctive qualities of Disciples' Life fellowship is the
role of women play in the leadership of the church. Both men and women are
invited and encouraged to hold any office of the church, including Pastor,
Elder, and Deacon. Currently, the Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins serves as the
General Minister and President of the denomination. Disciples encourage a
spirit of openness and inclusiveness, the evidence of which can be seen in
the lively discussions in Sunday School classes and diversity of opinions
among the membership.
At First Christian Church, everyone is free to explore his or her own
relationship with God and express personal faith in an atmosphere of love
and respect.
How First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) at
Marietta Began
In November 1948, Clara Mae and Thomas M. Hill placed an ad in the Marietta
Daily Journal for persons interested in organizing a Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ) in Marietta. Those who responded began to meet in a
small church building that had been moved from Kirkwood, Georgia, to the
present site, 569 Frasier Street, Marietta, Georgia. Twenty-six people
joined with the opening of the charter, April 3, 1949, and by its close on
January 15, 1950, and additional twenty-four had become members. Rev. Jack
Daniell was the founding minister. The present sanctuary replaced the small
building in 1962, and the Lee Fellowship Hall, with additional classroom and
office space was added later. In 2003, the Church renovated its worship
space and provided a large gathering area. Today, First Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ) has a membership of nearly 300, and is one of the
leading churches in downtown Marietta.
First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Marietta is affiliated with
the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a mainstream Christian
denomination with national offices in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ), today with almost one million members,
originated in what was then western Pennsylvania, Virginia, and central
Kentucky in the early 1800s. At present it is organized into thirty-six
geographical "regions," of which the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
in Georgia Region headquartered in Macon, is one.
Church Organization
First Christian Church of Marietta is autonomous. We call our own ministers,
own our facilities, and administer our own programs. All decisions regarding
the church's mission are made through the local General Church Board and the
congregation. We are congregational in polity.
Although congregational, we are in a covenant
relationship with all Disciple churches, and the Regional and General or
National offices of our denomination. We voluntarily contribute to and
cooperate with the ministries of the Regional and General church whose
primary mission is to support the local congregation and provide
opportunities for them to engage in worldwide ministries more efficiently.
Our Regional church, known as
The Christian Church in Georgia,
has its offices in Macon, Georgia. Our General church known as
The Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada, has
its office in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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