- Churches of Christ in Christian Union
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Churches of Christ in Christian Union (CCCU) Classification Protestant Orientation Restorationist, Holiness, Evangelical Origin 1909 Separated from Christian Union Church Separations (separated 1909) The Churches of Christ in Christian Union (CCCU) is a Christian denomination with origins in the Wesleyan/Arminian doctrine (i.e. The Methodist Episcopal Church). The hot political climate at the beginning of the War Between the States brought Methodists into conflict. In Ohio the church in general supported the war but there was a small group who were in direct conflict to the effort. These people eventually pulled out of the Methodist Episcopal Church and formed The Christian Union. (They believed in the Union and were against slavery but were against war, which they found to be contrary to the Gospel). There was a doctrinal conflict and in 1909 five ministers and some sixty laypeople left the Christian Union to form The Christian Union Church|Christian Union denomination]]. Since 1945 the CCCU has expanded to 15 U.S. states and several other nations. Revival campaigns, missionary conventions, and camp meetings are a vital part of the local, district, and general church. The form of worship of the CCCU Churches is simple and free with minimal emphasis on ritual or form.
Contents
CCCU basic doctrine
Bible teachings
God speaks to mankind through the Bible. The Spirit of God guided the Bible writers so that they wrote without error. The Bible contains all we need to know about God, about ourselves, and about life here and hereafter. It contains the good news and the bad news. (2 Timothy 3:15-17, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Peter 1:21)
Sin takes two forms: willful disobedience to God’s known law (Rom. 5:19, Heb. 10:28-35); human nature is corrupted by evil. So all, Christ excepted, are sinful by nature and sinners by practice (Romans 3;23), and therefore are in need of redemption since "the wages of sin is death." (Romans 6:23)
Salvation has been made possible by Christ's atoning death on the cross. Christ's death and resurrection have won salvation in four senses: the regeneration in which all are forgiven of all sins and baptized by the Spirit into the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:12,13); entire sanctification in which we are baptized with the Holy Spirit and cleansed from the carnal mind, (Acts 2:38); growth in grace after sanctification in which we walk in new light as it is given and are made more and more like Jesus (1 John 3:17,18); immortality of body and soul (John 3:15-18).
Christ is one with the Father and with the Holy Spirit, but for our redemption He became Man (John Ch. 1). He was conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:35-37). He was without sin. (Hebrews 7:26, 1 Peter 2:22) He died to save us, but arose from the dead and is now ascended to heaven where He is at the right hand of God, interceding for us. (Acts 1:9, Acts 1:11, Acts 2:33, Philippians 2:9-11, Hebrews 1:3)
We look for His return in power and majesty to set up a millennial kingdom on earth. (Zechariah 14:5, Matthew 24:27, Matthew 24:30, Revelation 1:7, Revelation 19:11-14, Revelation 20:1-6) At the last He will judge the world in righteousness. (Matthew 25:46, Mark 9:43-48, Revelation 19:20, Revelation 20:11-15, Revelation 21:8)
The Holy Spirit is one with God the Father and God the Son, and He is a Person and is God’s Agent in convicting and convincing sinners of sin. The Holy Spirit, or the Comforter, regenerates repentant believing sinners, and sanctifies consecrated Christians. The Holy Spirit magnifies Jesus Christ in the lives of believers and energizes them to live victoriously. (Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 43:10,11, Matthew 28:19, Luke 3:22)
Ordinances
The CCCU believes that Christ and His apostles ordained two "ordinances" to be practiced by His Church: water baptism and the Lord's supper, without specifying any particular style of baptism or of partaking of the supper. These ordinances are outward symbols, teaching of the inner life, the faith, and the hope of believers.
The Lord’s Day
The CCCU believes in keeping the first day of the week as the Lord's Day, or Sabbath, because Christ arose from the dead on the first day of the week The early church kept this day in commemoration of God's finished plan of redemption. Adherents believe they should keep Sunday as a day of rest and worship.
The hereafter
Adherents believe the Bible teaches that believers shall spend eternity with Christ in a holy heaven with holy and happy surroundings. It also teaches that the wicked shall be judged and sentenced to an eternity in perdition.
The Church
The Church is more than a denomination and more than all the denominations. It is composed of true believers in Jesus Christ. Christ is the Head and the Husband of the Church. Believers should meet together in local assemblies for the worship of God and for Christian fellowship. The Church has been commissioned by Christ to take the gospel to every creature: it is therefore missionary.
Organization
The mission of the Churches of Christ in Christian Union is to preach and teach the gospel of Christ for the purpose of:
- World evangelization
- Discipling believers
- Promoting scriptural holiness
- Establishing churches and ministries which reflect the spirit and practice of the New Testament Church
The Global Ministry Center is located in Circleville, Ohio. Each of the various departments and ministries have administrative offices at Circleville. Each district office is responsible for working with local pastors and church leadership. Annual district camp meetings and business councils provide vital networking for individual local churches.
The leader of the local church is the pastor, but the responsibility of administration is shared with the local board. Cooperation with the district and general organization of the church is essential. The CCCU teaches that its members should be good Christian examples, honest in business and in all other human relationships. Its purpose is to maintain a spiritual church where people of all walks of life may find an experience with God which produces eternal hope and fellowship with other Christians.
Expansion through the homeland ministries is the key to meaningful church growth. Evangelism and church planting are high priorities for church extension. The CCCU cooperates with other, likeminded denominations. As an example, it sends an observer to the general conferences of its "sister denomination," the Evangelical Methodist Church.
The church is active in spreading the good news around the world through our partnership with World Gospel Mission. Our missionaries are currently serving on the fields of Bolivia, the Caribbean, Honduras, Kenya and Papua New Guinea as well as ministering to the American Indians. The CCCU works in very close partnership with World Gospel Mission.[1]
Since 1948, the Ohio Christian University (formerly Circleville Bible College) has provided hundreds of leaders in Christian service worldwide as pastors, evangelists, missionaries, teachers, youth directors and ministers of music circle.
Several other departments have vital ministries throughout the denominational church family. The General Evangelism Committee gives direction and challenge for reaching lost people with the gospel. The General Stewardship Department provides leadership for responsible giving and future denominational endowment. The Christian Education Department oversees the work of the Sunday Schools and other educational services. The Evangelical Christian Youth Department provides leadership and programming for youth ministries. The Evangelical Christian Ladies Department promotes the specialized ministries and services for women in our churches. The Gifts Of Praise bookroom provides a wide variety of materials for the ministry needs of our people. The Evangelical Advocate is the official publication of the CCCU. The Mount of Praise Camp Meeting in Circleville serves as the general level annual camp meeting for all our congregations.
Notes
External links
Categories:- Non-denominational Christianity
- Churches of Christ
- Religious organizations established in 1909
- Stone-Campbell movement denominations
- Christian denominations, unions, and movements established in the 20th century
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