What Is the Disciples of Christ?

The Disciples of Christ is a mainline Protestant denomination in North America, also known as the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). It began in the early 1800s as a movement to unify Christians across denominational lines, and it still emphasizes congregational governance, weekly Communion, and an open table. If you are trying to understand the tradition, visiting a local congregation such as Broad Street Christian Church in New Bern, North Carolina, is one of the clearest ways to see these commitments in practice.

Origins and history

The Disciples of Christ emerged from two related renewal movements on the American frontier in the early 19th century. One was led by Barton Stone in Kentucky; the other by Thomas and Alexander Campbell in Pennsylvania and what is now West Virginia. Both groups sought to restore what they saw as the simple, New Testament pattern of the church and to set aside the creeds and divisions that separated denominations.

These streams merged in the 1830s, forming a movement often called the "Restoration Movement" or the "Stone-Campbell Movement." Over time, the movement divided into three main branches: the Churches of Christ, the Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The Disciples of Christ is the branch that organized formally as a denomination in the 20th century, while still describing itself as a "movement for wholeness" rather than a rigid sect.

Broad Street Christian Church in New Bern traces its own founding as a Disciples congregation to the mid-1800s, which places it within this broader historical stream.

Core beliefs and emphases

The Disciples of Christ do not require members to affirm a detailed creed. Instead, the tradition has historically summarized its stance with a few simple convictions:

• Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The central confession is that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. This is the starting point rather than a full doctrinal system.
• The Bible as authoritative. Scripture is read and studied as the guide for faith and life, but the tradition generally avoids imposing a single required interpretation on every passage.
• No creed but Christ. Because the movement began as an effort to overcome divisions, it has resisted making post-biblical creeds a test of fellowship.
• Open Communion. The Lord's Supper is understood as Christ's table, not the church's, so all who believe in Jesus are welcome to receive it. Broad Street Christian Church states plainly: "All are welcome to receive communion weekly."
• Unity of the church. Disciples have historically worked for Christian unity and ecumenical cooperation, seeing denominational division as a problem to be healed rather than a permanent state.

Governance and congregational life

The Disciples of Christ is a congregational tradition. That means the local congregation holds authority over its own life, property, and decisions. Broad Street Christian Church describes itself as "a congregational church located in the downtown historic district of New Bern."

This does not mean congregations are isolated. They relate to regional and general expressions of the church for mission, ministry, and mutual support. But the local congregation is not governed by a bishop or a distant hierarchy in the way some other traditions are.

In practice, this congregational structure shapes how a church calls its pastor, manages its building, and decides on ministries. Broad Street's current staff, for example, includes Rev. Zeb Hough as pastor, Mabel Beyers as music director, and Georgia Harris as administrative assistant — a typical small-to-mid-sized congregational staffing pattern.

Typical practices

Several practices are especially characteristic of Disciples congregations:

• Weekly Communion. The Lord's Supper is celebrated every Sunday, not just monthly or quarterly. Broad Street notes it has been "celebrating the Weekly Communion Service since our founding as a Disciples church in the mid-1800s."
• Blended or traditional worship. Music and liturgy vary by congregation. Broad Street describes its style as "traditional/blended," with chancel bells, organ, piano, and occasionally acoustic guitar.
• Open membership and welcome. Disciples congregations generally emphasize that all are welcome to worship and participate. Broad Street's homepage leads with "All are welcome!"
• Baptism. Disciples practice believer's baptism by immersion as the norm, while typically recognizing baptisms from other Christian traditions.
• Accessibility and inclusion. Many congregations make a point of physical accessibility. Broad Street notes its lower level and sanctuary are handicap-accessible and that it has an elevator.

How it differs from other Christian traditions

These are generalizations; individual congregations within any tradition may differ.

Common misunderstandings

• "Disciples of Christ is a cult." No. It is a mainstream Protestant denomination with historic roots in the Stone-Campbell Movement and membership in broader ecumenical bodies.
• "It is the same as the Churches of Christ." They share history but are distinct. The Churches of Christ generally do not use instrumental music in worship and are more congregational in structure without denominational organization. Disciples congregations typically use instruments — Broad Street, for example, is explicitly "an instrumental church."
• "Open Communion means anything goes." Open Communion means the table belongs to Christ and all believers are welcome. It does not mean the congregation has no beliefs or practices.
• "Congregational means no connection to anyone else." Congregations relate to regional and general ministries for mission and support, even though local authority is primary.

Seeing it in practice

If you want to understand the Disciples of Christ beyond the description, the most direct step is to attend a service. Broad Street Christian Church holds Sunday Worship at 11 am and live streams its weekly service via its Facebook page (BSCCNewBern) and YouTube. Visitors can see the weekly Communion, the blended worship style, and the congregational character firsthand. The church also lists ministries, events, a newcomers section, and information on becoming a member, weddings, and contact — useful entry points if you are considering a visit or want to learn more about how a Disciples congregation actually operates.