World Convention of Churches of Christ

The World Convention of Churches of Christ is a Christian world communion that links an international family of churches known by a range of names including Christian Churches, Churches of Christ and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The first World Convention was held in Washington, U.S. in 1930. Jesse Bader was instrumental in its formation. The convention continues to organise international gatherings every four years and facilitate communication between these events. The 17th (2008) Convention was held in Nashville, TennesseeUnited States.

The churches who participate all grew out of the 19th Century Restoration Movement with origins in both the United Kingdom (with leaders such as William Jones and James Wallis) and the United States of America (with leaders such as Barton Stone and Alexander Campbell). Congregations participating in the Convention come from more than 178 countries and represent a range of beliefs and practices. [ [http://worldconvention.org/ World Convention ] ]

In keeping with much of the movement's focus on Unity it highlights both the features it has in common with the wider Christian Church and unique gifts it has to offer the whole church.

Former General Secretaries of the World Convention of Churches of Christ Lyndsay and Lorriane Jacobs list these major distinctive characteristics: [ [http://worldconvention.org/characteristicsofourchurches.htm World Convention ] ]

# A concern for Christian Unity
# A commitment to Evangelism and Christian Mission
# An emphasis on the centrality of the New Testament
# A simple Confession of Faith
# Believer's Baptism
# Weekly Communion
# A Biblical Name
# autonomy
# Lay Leadership
# Diversity/Freedom/Liberty

The offices of the World Convention are located in Nashville, Tennessee. Australian Jeff Weston serves as Executive Director (General Secretary). In addition to planning the quadrennial gathering of the Stone-Campbell Movement, the day-to-day ministry of World Convention seeks to build fellowship, understanding, common purpose and efectiveness within the global family of churches known as Christian, Churches of Christ and Disciples of Christ. The Executive Director travels the world preaching, teaching, encouraging and mentoring Christians on behalf of World Convention. He also represents the Stone-Campbell Movement family at a number of international ecumenical/world communion meetings. The World Convention website has a number of features, including National Profiles of some of the nearly 180 countirs and nations where Stone-Campbell Movement Churches have or have had a presence. These are composed by National Profiles Editor, Clinton J. Holloway. In addition, Holloway also authored a history of the World Convention, Together in Christ, A History of the World Convention of Churches of Christ, 1930-2008.

Conventions have been held:
*1930 Washington DC, USA, Jesse Bader, President
*1935 Leicester, England, John Wycliffe Black, President
*1947 Buffalo, New York, USA, George H. Stewart, President
*1952 Melbourne, Australia, Reginald Enniss, President
*1955 Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Edgar G. Burton, President
*1960 Edinburgh, Scotland, Charles K. Green, President
*1965 San Juan, Puerto Rico, Florentino Santana, President
*1970 Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, Sir Philip Messent, President
*1974 Mexico City, Mexico, J.Daniel Joyce, President
*1980 Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, W.B. Blakemore, President (died in office, 1975), Forrest Haggard, President
*1984 Kingston, Jamaica, Richmond Nelson, President
*1988 Auckland, New Zealand, Lyndsay Jacobs, President
*1992 Long Beach, California, USA, Harold R. Watkins, President
*1996 Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Marj Black, President
*2000 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, Ron W. Brooker, President
*2004 Brighton, England, David M. Thompson, President
*2008 Nashville, Tennessee, USA, C. Robert Wetzel, President
*2012 Brazil, Bafundi (B.J.) Mpofu, President

References

Christian Churches/Churches of Christ

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)