I grew up in both the non-institutional and “mainline” churches of Christ. My grandfather was an elder in the mainline fellowship of the church. Having grown up in both fellowships, I understand the differences the two have had, and I have a healthy respect for each. While I do not consider myself a “non-institutionalist,” I still sometimes attend services at an “anti-group” congregation and I greatly appreciate the fact that I typically don’t have to worry about members with an agenda to change the church in one way or another. At the same time, I also appreciate the feel and fellowship of the more liberal “mainline” churches.
I attended a mainline congregation at one time that was taken over by proponents of the new hermeneutic movement. I left that church, as did many of the people that I knew. It pained me greatly that people would come into a family of believers that I was a part of and force their views and doctrines upon us.
It is with great sadness that I look at the Lord’s church and see the great number of divisions that have occurred. While attending the non-institutional churches, it was amazing to me that the members there had no inkling of the fact that there were many churches of Christ in the area that worship the same way, have the same beliefs, and hold to the same doctrines. I was attending a Christian College affiliated with the church in the area at the time, and the members didn’t know it existed. Why? Because they do not fellowship with the mainline churches. The minister was the only member, other than myself, who knew of this “outside” world.
I want this website to be a resource to members of all the fellowships of the churches of Christ. I pray that this website will reach members of the mainline churches, as well as members of the non-institutional churches, the “no class” churches, the “one cup” churches, the charismatic churches of Christ, and others. I hope that the content of its pages can be useful to anyone in the Lord’s church who wishes to live a life according to Christ.
