About

The chalice symbolizes the central place of communion in worship for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The X-shaped cross of the disciple Andrew is a reminder of the ministry of each person and the importance of evangelism. Download The Story of The Chalice.

We are affiliated internationally with The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

We have approximately 800,000 members in the United States and Canada. We are the oldest (and one of the largest) groups founded on American soil.

Key people in our movement for wholeness include Barton Stone (1772-1884), who was educated as a schoolteacher and entered the ministry in the Presbyterian Church.  He and several others formed the Springfield Presbytery, which denounced all human creeds and appealed to the Bible as the only rule of faith and practice. They dissolved all denominational ties and entered into unity with “the body of Christ at large,” calling themselves simply “Christians.”

Thomas Campbell (1763-1854) moved to America from Scotland. He and others founded the Christian Association of Washington, Pennsylvania. This group refused to use Presbyterian creeds and adopted the famous statement, “where the scriptures speak, we speak. Where the scriptures are silent, we are silent.” Campbell was involved in the Restoration Movement, which wanted to “restore” the church to its early roots. He wrote the Declaration and Address, said to be the Magna Carta of the Disciples church. In it he declared, “The church of Christ on earth is essentially, intentionally and constitutionally one.”   

Alexander Campbell (1788-1866) son of Thomas, was raised a Presbyterian, but moved to America from Scotland in 1809 and joined his father’s work. A talented debater & writer, he drew great attention to The Restoration Movement. He founded and served as the first President of Bethany College.