Churches of Christ are distinct in worshipping without instrumental music and in having no denominational headquarters, with each congregation governed by its own elders.
Churches of Christ emerged from the American Restoration Movement and separated institutionally from the Disciples of Christ, a division recognized in the United States religious census of 1906. Congregations are autonomous, observe the Lord's Supper weekly, and baptize believers by immersion for the remission of sins. Fellowship among congregations is maintained through shared publications, colleges, and lectureships rather than a central organization.
Sources
Primary
- Alexander Campbell, The Christian System (1835)
Secondary
- Richard T. Hughes, Reviving the Ancient Faith: The Story of Churches of Christ in America (1996)