Churches of Christ

Churches of Christ

Gospel Advocate
1006 Elm Hill Pike
Nashville, TN 37102
United States

Attesting Officer
Steve Dennie
Communications Director


Media Contact
Mr. Neil Anderson

36.1443749, -86.7369341


Churches of Christ are autonomous congregations whose members follow the Bible alone in matters of faith and practice. There are no central offices or officers. Publications and institutions related to the churches are either under local congregational control or are independent of any congregation. Churches of Christ shared a common fellowship in the 19th century with the Christian Churches/Churches of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). This fellowship ended in the decades following the American Civil War due to erosion of confidence in Scripture among many of those who formed denominational ties. This shift in belief embraced theistic evolution, doubted the complete truth of Scripture, and permitted practices foreign to the New Testament into the work and worship of the church. Chief among the changes in practice were using instrumental music in worship, permitting women to officiate in worship services, and conducting the work of the church through centralized agencies. Churches of Christ, following this division, remained strongly united in their belief in the inerrancy and sufficiency of Scripture. From this standpoint, they affirm faith in one God who subsists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; they teach that salvation is through the sacrificial death of Christ and is available to all who come to God through repentance and faith, initially expressed through confession of faith and baptism by immersion. Churches of Christ follow the New Testament pattern to direct every facet of the teaching and work of the church.


Full Communicants Average Attendance Other Members Total Inclusive Members Total Churches Membership Calculation Method
2006
1,250,000
1,639,495
13,000
2003
1,500,000
1,500,000
15,000
1999
1,500,000
1,250,000
0
1,500,000
15,000
1997
1,400,000
1,800,000
14,400
1996
1,250,000
2,250,000
14,000
1995
1,262,000
1,655,000
13,020
1994
1,260,838
1,651,103
13,013
1993
1,260,838
1,651,103
13,013
1992
1,284,056
1,684,872
13,174
1990
1,282,972
1,683,346
13,134
1989
1,278,000
1,626,000
13,375
1987
1,275,533
1,623,754
13,364
1985
1,260,000
1,604,000
13,150
1984
1,245,250
1,600,500
13,100
1983
1,244,904
1,600,000
13,056
1982
1,240,000
1,605,000
12,750
1980
0
1,600,222
12,271
1979
0
1,600,000
12,700
1978
3,000,000
3,000,000
17,550
1976
2,500,000
2,500,000
17,000
1968
0
2,400,000
18,000
1965
2,350,000
18,500
1961
2,250,000
18,500
1960
2,163,493
18,680
1959
2,007,650
17,850
Serving Churches Retired Other Service to the Church Total Clergy
2003
14,500
16,350
1999
14,500
1,500
350
16,350
1997
14,000
15,850
1996
11,000
13,000
1995
10,000
10,000
1994
10,000
10,000
1993
10,000
10,000
1978
13,000
16,200
1976
11,000
12,800
1968
0
6,200
1965
4,300
7,000
1961
6,000
10,000
1960
5,000
8,366
1959
5,000
12,500
1958
8,350
12,500
1957
9,500
8,500
1956
14,000
8,500
1955
14,000
15,500
1954
14,000
15,500
1953
12,000
15,500
1952
6,500
15,500
1951
6,500
7,000
1947
2,507
1936
2,507
1929
2,507
Total Schools Staff Pupils Total Individuals
2006
10,500
2003
12,500
1,600,000
1999
12,500
100,000
1,999
1,600,000
1997
12,000
1,400,000
1996
14,000
890,000
1995
11,750
925,000
1994
11,750
925,000
1993
11,750
925,000
1992
12,350
1,100,000
1990
12,030
8,000
1982
11,200
950,000
1979
0
0
1978
16,000
1,860,000
1965
1961
10,000
18,465
191,150
209,615
1959
10,000
18,465
191,150
209,615
1936
4,403
274,571
1926
4,403
0
0
274,571
1919
3,441
0
183,022
183,022
1917
1916
3,456
15,303
168,154
Total Benevolences Total Financials Total Giving Local Expenses Method
2003
$31,000,000
$1,445,000,000
$1,414,000,000
1997
$31,000,000
$1,445,000,000
$1,414,000,000
1996
$4,000,000
$1,554,000,000
$1,550,000,000
1950
$0
$25,000,000
$0
1919
$0
$679,091
$0
1917