Great Communion Observance Resources for Churches
Mark A. Taylor encourages churches to participate in the Great Communion observance on October 4, marking the 200th anniversary of Thomas Campbell’s Declaration and Address. The article reviews the event’s Restoration Movement significance and shares planning resources, college celebrations, and partnership ideas.
- Great Communion commemorates the 200th anniversary of Thomas Campbell’s Declaration and Address.
- Churches from all three streams of the Restoration Movement are invited to unite around the Lord’s Supper.
- Additional resources include historic documents, study materials, college celebrations, and global congregation partnerships.
By Mark A. Taylor
It’s not too late for your church to plan a Great Communion observance October 4. Let me review what we’ve said about this event before, and then give you some new information.
Review: Great Communion is an international celebration of the Lord’s Supper to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Thomas Campbell’s Declaration and Address, considered by many as the catalyst for our Restoration Movement. In it Campbell lifted up unity based on faith in Christ and obedience to the Scriptures. He decried divisions among believers in Christ and described the Lord’s Supper as “that great ordinance of unity and love.”
A century after he wrote, at least 25,000 members of Christian churches gathered at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, October 17, 1909, for a mass Communion service to commemorate the anniversary and to proclaim Christ.
This year, in communities around the world, members of Christian churches/churches of Christ, a cappella churches of Christ, and Disciples of Christ congregations will unite to observe the Lord’s Supper under the Great Communion banner.
You can do this too! Get started by visiting www.GreatCommunion.org and discover all the background material, planning ideas, and worship resources available there.
Great Communion Planning Resources
What’s new: More than we can print here! But, thanks to Clinton Holloway’s “How to Celebrate Great Communion” workshop at the North American Christian Convention in July, here are some additional ideas and resources:
- Find original versions and paraphrases of Declaration and Address at www.mun.ca/rels/restmov/people/tcampbell.html.
- Consider The D&A Is Part of Our DNA, a study resource published by the Churches of Christ in Australia. Get your copy from Craig Brown at eo***@******************rg.au.
- Contact a Christian college near you to learn about the Great Communion celebrations they are planning. Schools we know about so far: Milligan College, Ozark Christian College, Cincinnati Christian University, Atlanta Christian College, and Abilene Christian University.
- Expand the celebration beyond the Communion service you will plan. The World Convention is connecting congregations on opposite sides of the world who would like to partner in a Great Communion observance. For ideas and possible churches to partner with yours, write Holloway at mi********@***oo.com.
Oklahoma City churches from all three streams of the Restoration Movement are celebrating by working together to build a Habitat for Humanity house. (For more information, contact project leader Tom Russell at to*********@*ox.net.)
Great Communion will take many forms and expressions. Be sure and tell us how you will celebrate it in your community!
Author: Mark A. Taylor
Mark A. Taylor, who served as Christian Standard editor from 2003 to 2017, retired in June 2017 after almost 41 years with Standard Publishing (Christian Standard Media).
