Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada

130 E. Washington St.
P.O. Box 1986
Indianapolis, IN 46206-1986
United States

Attesting Officer
John H. Rush
Correspondent


Media Contact
Communication Ministries, Executive Director, Wanda Bryant Wills

39.7672466, -86.1553186


Born on the American frontier in the early 1800s as a movement seeking the unity of all Christians, this body drew its major inspiration from Thomas and Alexander Campbell in western Pennsylvania and Barton W. Stone in Kentucky. Developing separately, the "Disciples," led by Alexander Campbell, and the "Christians," led by Stone, came together in 1832 in Lexington, Ky.
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is marked by openness, diversity, a reasoned faith, and a commitment to the priesthood of all believers. The Disciples claim no official doctrine or dogma, and have rejected the use of creeds as "tests of fellowship." Membership is granted after a simple confession of belief in Jesus Christ and baptism by immersion--although most congregations accept transfers baptized by other forms in other denominations. The Lord's Supper--generally called Communion--is open to all Christians, and is practiced weekly, although no church law insists upon it.
Thoroughly ecumenical, the Disciples helped organize the National and World Councils of Churches. The church is a member of the Churches Uniting in Christ. The Disciples and the United Church of Christ have declared themselves to be in "full communion" through the General Assembly and General Synod of the two churches. Official theological conversations have been going on since 1967 directly with the Roman Catholic Church.
Disciples have vigorously supported world and national programs of education, agricultural assistance, medical care, urban reconciliation, and aid to victims of war and calamity. Operating ecumenically, Disciples' personnel or funds work in more than 100 countries outside North America.
Three expressions of the church (congregational, regional and general) operate within strong but voluntary covenantal ties to one another. Entities in each expression manage their own finances, own their own property, call their own staff, and conduct their own programs. A General Assembly meets every two years and has voting representation from each congregation.


Full Communicants Average Attendance Other Members Total Inclusive Members Total Churches Membership Calculation Method
1981
772,446
1,173,135
4,296
1980
788,394
1,177,984
4,295
1979
773,765
1,231,061
4,324
1978
791,633
1,231,817
4,347
1977
817,288
1,256,849
4,377
1976
845,058
1,278,734
4,426
1975
859,844
1,302,164
4,514
1974
854,844
1,312,326
4,524
1973
868,895
1,330,747
4,544
1972
881,467
1,352,211
4,569
1971
884,929
1,386,374
4,868
1970
911,964
1,424,479
5,114
1969
936,931
1,444,465
5,228
1968
994,683
1,592,609
5,862
1967
1,875,400
1,875,400
7,965
1966
1,894,927
1,894,927
8,066
1965
1,918,471
8,081
1964
1,920,760
8,067
1963
1,834,206
8,027
1962
1,779,046
7,973
1961
1,797,466
7,968
1960
1,801,821
8,001
1959
1,801,414
8,060
1958
1,943,599
7,945
1957
1,943,599
8,001
Serving Churches Retired Other Service to the Church Total Clergy
1981
4,033
6,608
1980
4,000
6,626
1979
3,988
6,607
1978
4,016
6,635
1977
3,933
6,596
1976
4,100
6,793
1975
3,963
6,554
1974
3,958
6,567
1973
4,081
6,702
1972
4,105
6,749
1971
4,184
6,886
1970
4,590
6,970
1969
4,736
7,306
1968
4,804
7,428
1967
3,612
7,590
1966
3,157
7,540
1965
7,335
7,669
1964
7,335
7,576
1963
7,335
7,609
1962
3,187
7,000
1961
5,255
7,582
1960
4,244
7,582
1959
7,744
7,744
1958
4,804
8,617
1957
4,265
7,929
Total Schools Staff Pupils Total Individuals
1981
4,296
350,935
1980
4,295
355,295
1979
4,324
356,102
1978
4,347
368,624
1977
4,377
357,914
1976
4,426
410,921
1975
4,514
429,630
1974
4,524
438,203
1973
4,544
450,863
1972
4,569
580,503
1971
4,868
623,012
1970
5,114
671,404
1969
5,228
677,460
1968
5,862
798,054
1967
7,965
1,041,378
1966
8,066
1,095,641
1965
8,067
66,557
1,040,440
1,106,997
1964
5,046
66,557
875,271
941,828
1963
4,460
66,557
845,287
911,844
1962
7,978
66,557
1,022,695
1,089,252
1961
7,937
66,557
1,058,846
1,125,403
1960
7,911
66,557
1,042,278
1,108,835
1959
8,064
66,557
1,122,665
1,189,222
1958
7,539
66,557
1,209,674
1,276,231
1957
8,009
66,551
1,214,055
1,280,606
Total Benevolences Total Financials Total Giving Local Expenses Method
1981
$31,067,142
$242,895,893
$211,828,751
1980
$30,991,519
$220,167,918
$189,176,399
1979
$27,335,440
$199,606,418
$172,270,978
1978
$25,790,367
$192,039,822
$166,249,455
1977
$25,698,856
$174,579,196
$148,880,340
1976
$23,812,274
$158,820,543
$135,008,269
1975
$22,126,459
$148,680,390
$126,553,931
1974
$20,818,434
$140,252,869
$119,434,435
1973
$19,800,843
$132,327,381
$112,526,538
1972
$18,323,685
$124,087,196
$105,763,511
1971
$17,770,799
$111,862,661
$94,091,862
1970
$17,386,032
$116,057,724
$98,671,692
1969
$18,946,815
$110,116,657
$91,169,842
1968
$21,703,947
$127,507,169
$105,803,222
1964
$96,607,038
1962
$89,730,589
1961
$86,834,944
1960
$84,375,152
1959
$79,127,458
1958
$73,737,955
1957
$71,397,159
1956
$10,236,405
$65,925,164
$55,688,759
1955
$10,236,405
$65,925,164
$55,688,759
1954
$9,439,401
$54,556,662
$45,117,261
1953
$8,969,691
$60,716,073
$51,746,382