The Churches of Christ: Student Edition

Denominations in America #10

by Richard T. Hughes

This volume tells the story of the Churches of Christ, one of three major denominations that emerged in the United States from a religious movement led by Alexander Campbell and Barton W. Stone in the early 19th century. Beginning as an effort to provide a basis on which all Christians in America could unite, the leaders of the movement relied on the faith and practice of the primitive church. Ironically, this unity movement eventually divided precisely along the lines of its original agenda, as the Churches of Christ rallied around the restorationist banner while the Disciples of Christ gathered around the ecumenical cause. Yet, having begun as a countercultural sect, the Churches of Christ emerged in the 20th century as a culture-affirming denomination. This brief history, together with biographical sketches of major leaders, provides a complete overview of the denomination in America.

The book begins with a concise yet detailed history of the denomination's beginnings in the early 19th century. Tracing the influence of such leaders as Stone and Campbell, the authors chronicle the triumphs and conflicts of the denomination through the 19th century and its reemergence and renewal in the 20th century. The biographical dictionary of leaders in the Churches of Christ rounds out the second half of the book, and a chronology of important events in the history of the denomination offers a quick reference guide. A detailed bibliographic essay concludes the book and points readers to further readings about the Churches of Christ.

200 pages, Paperback

First published September 5, 2000

Reviews

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Churches of Christ: Student Edition" is a somewhat distilled version of Hughes' excellent "Reviving the Ancient Faith: The Story of Churches of Christ in America." From now on, this book will be my "go-to" treatment for anyone who asks me for a history of the Churches of Christ in the United States. Hughes does a fantastic job of letting important voices from this tradition speak. I was familiar with most of this information, but was surprised by the amount of detail he was able to cover in a short amount of space. In my opinion, this book should be read by all members of the Churches of Christ and those who are interested in the history, hermeneutical approaches, and theological directions of Churches of Christ. Particularly helpful are the fifth through seventh chapters, which help to explain the current tension between the progressive/conservative or sectarian/ecumenical members of the tradition. Those who want the more expanded treatment (with lots of great photos) should consult his longer book, mentioned above.