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Branches of Christianity
THE   CHURCH   OF   CHRIST,   SCIENTIST

Religious Program Specialist 3 & 2, Module 01-Personnel Support
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liberty  for  all  and  advocate  the  complete  separation  of  church  and  state. Worship  is  non-liturgical  and  follows  the  Protestant  free-church  tradition. Numerically,  the  largest  Adventist  body,  both  in  the  United  States  and throughout  the  world,  is  the  Seventh-Day  Adventists.  Doctrinally,  the Seventh-Day  Adventists  are  evangelical  conservatives.  The  overall  adminis- trative   body   of   the   church   is   the   executive   committee   of   their   general conference. The  church  has  a  disaster  and  famine  relief  organization  known  as Seventh-Day  Adventist  World  Service  (SAWS).  Annually,  millions  of  people throughout  the  world  receive  assistance  from  this  group  through  its  mobile aid  units,  community  service  centers,  and  world  service  organizations. BAPTIST   CHURCHES.—Baptists   constitute   one   of   the   major Protestant groups in the United States. Baptist churches were influenced by the  teachings  of  John  Calvin.  Roger  Williams  founded  the  first  Baptist church  in  America  in  1639  in  Providence,  Rhode  Island.  Rhode  Island  was the first state in which complete tolerance in religious matters prevailed. Baptist  churches  are  one  of  the  most  democratic  religious  bodies  in America.  Baptists  have  traditionally  insisted  upon  freedom  of  thought  and expression  in  their  churches  and  upon  the  absolute  autonomy  of  the  local congregation.  Baptist  churches  are  normally  grouped  into  local,  state,  and national  bodies  for  the  purpose  of  education  and  missions. Worship tends to be non-liturgical and is similar, in many aspects, to that of  other  “Protestant”  free-church  faith  traditions.  Two  ordinances,  the Lord’s  Supper  and  Baptism  of  adult  believers  by  immersion,  are  generally observed.  They  reject  infant  baptism  as  unscriptural.  Baptists  believe  they have  no  founder  but  Christ  and  that  Baptists  have  been  preaching  and practicing  Christian  principles  from  the  days  of  John  the  Baptist. Northern  and  Southern  Baptist  churches  in  America  split  over  issues stemming  from  the  slavery  question  before  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War. While their basic beliefs are much the same, Southern Baptists generally hold to  a  more  conservative  and  more  Calvinistic  theology  than  Northern  (now called  American)  Baptists. In  addition  to  the  Southern  Baptist  Convention  and  American  Baptist churches,  other  large  Baptist  bodies  in  the  United  States  are  the  National Baptist Convention, Inc., the General Baptists, and the Conservative Baptist Association   of   America. THE   CHRISTIAN   CHURCH   (DISCIPLES   OF   CHRIST).—The Christian  church  (Disciples  of  Christ)  was  established  in  the  19th  century. Led  by  evangelists  Barton  Stone,  Thomas  and  Alexander  Campbell,  and Walter Scott, the Disciples of Christ emphasized a simple faith in Christ as the  Lord,  the  Bible  as  the  Word  of  God,  baptism  by  immersion,  and  weekly observance  of  the  Lord’s  Supper. Worship generally begins with the singing of a hymn and maybe followed by  responsive  readings,  recitation  of  the  Lord’s  Prayer,  scripture  readings, pastoral prayer, anthems, the sermon, an invitation to fellowship, gathering of tithes and offerings, communion service, benediction, and a final hymn or recessional.  On  occasion,  the  sermon  may  be  omitted,  but  communion  is seldom omitted and at times it may precede the sermon. 2-15







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