Key Documents

A Basic Lesson on the Bible and God (by Isaac Errett)

Today we feature another item from a series that appeared throughout 1909, a year Christian Standard was celebrating “One Hundred Years—A Century of Progress in America’s Greatest Christian Union Movement.” The magazine devoted an issue each month that year to articles explaining our movement, its history, and our beliefs. The item we shared Jan. 10 was J. W. McGarvey’s personal reminiscences of Thomas Campbell (printed in the Jan. 9, 1909, issue). This month we focus on a portion of correspondence written by Christian Standard founding editor Isaac Errett. In January 1909, the magazine published—republished, actually—part one of “Historico-Doctrinal Sketch of

December 27, 2018

What’s New? [‘Standing . . . at the Edge of 1969’]

– Dec. 28, 1968 – Please forgive me for rerunning yet another classic editorial. This, by my count, is the third week in a row. And yet, after scouring a half-dozen end-of-the-year issues searching for something to share, I think this editorial from the final issue of 1968—one of the most turbulent years in our nation’s history—will stimulate the most thoughts. Editor Edwin V. Hayden wrote this one. _ _ _ What’s New Standing as we do at the edge of 1969, with the moving hand of time prepared to push us into it whether we like it or no,

December 20, 2018

‘Glory to God’ Must Come First

– Dec. 22, 1945 – As promised last week, here’s another Christmas editorial—this one from Dec. 22, 1945, just a few months after the end of World War II. The tone of this editorial by Burris Butler is revealing. There is relief that the war is over, but a high degree of unsettledness that is predictive of the decades to come. _ _ _ ‘GLORY TO GOD’ MUST COME FIRST We all need to pause a little while to listen with the shepherds of long ago to the song of the angels which rang out across the Judean hills and

December 6, 2018

Our Plea Restated

– Dec. 12, 1903 – In “‘Our Position’ Revisited,” from the June 2018 issue, Jerry Harris summarized Isaac Errett’s “Our Position” editorial from 1872. Harris then wrote: I have always heard the term “Restoration plea,” but outside of this work by Isaac Errett, I couldn’t find any good explanation of its meaning besides the quoting of our mottoes or references to the writings of some of the great pioneers of our movement. As Alexander Campbell’s protégé and the original publisher and editor of Christian Standard, I think it’s important to study Errett’s writings on “Our Position.” That’s one reason

November 22, 2018

A Thanksgiving Editorial from 1881

– November 26, 1881 – Thanksgiving 1881 came at a strange time in the life of Christian Standard. It was only two months after the death of President James A. Garfield, who was shot twice by Charles A. Guiteau in Washington, D.C., on July 2, 1881. Garfield remained alive, but largely in misery, until his death Sept. 19. (The account of Garfield’s medical treatment, and how it likely contributed to his death, is quite fascinating.) Garfield, of course, was one of the initial investors in Christian Standard magazine. The first editor of this magazine, Isaac Errett, surely knew Garfield and

September 6, 2018

‘Nothing to Offer Except the Book’

CS Archive from September 8, 1923 _ _ _ The lead article in the Sept. 8, 1923, Christian Standard—an issue from 95 years ago—was “The Mission of the Church,” and it carried the subhead, “The Annual ‘President’s Address’ Delivered before the International Convention of Disciples of Christ at Colorado Springs, Col., Sept. 4, 1923.” The article/speech was written and presented by Thomas W. Grafton, minister of Third Church, Indianapolis, Ind., who served as president of that convention. I can’t begin to recap Grafton’s presentation—which ran almost three pages—or to pinpoint nuanced wording that may (or may not) have troubled some

June 1, 2018

Jerry Harris

‘Our Position’ Revisited

By Jerry Harris When Isaac Errett wrote “Our Position,” a need existed within the Restoration Movement to define in succinct terms the soaring rhetoric of Barton W. Stone’s The Last Will and Testament of the Springfield Presbytery, Thomas Campbell’s The Declaration and Address, and Alexander Campbell’s “Sermon on the Law,” which had so eloquently defined the position of a movement intent on the restoration of first-century Christianity. Errett argued that while creeds are sectarian and create division, and therefore are sinful, we are free to identify those areas where we find ourselves in agreement with the larger evangelical framework, those areas

September 30, 2009

Interview with Terry Erwin

By Brad Dupray One hundred years ago, 25,000 Christians from around the United States gathered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for a convention celebrating the 100th anniversary of Thomas Campbell”s Declaration and Address, a formative document in Restoration Movement history. In this bicentennial year, as Christians gather around the world to celebrate a “Great Communion” today, another gathering will take place in Pittsburgh. Terry Erwin, minister with Norwin Christian Church, has worked with his associate, Ed Gratton, to plan festivities honoring the memory of Thomas Campbell, but most importantly, to serve as a remembrance of the Lord Jesus Christ as those gathered

January 3, 2008

Victor Knowles

“˜Union in Truth”: Still Our Motto!

On the 200th anniversary of Thomas Campbell’s Declaration and Address, Victor Knowles reflects on “union in truth,” the Restoration Movement’s growth, and the movement’s divided streams—urging believers toward unity grounded in Holy Scripture.

May 13, 2007

Pat Magness

Celebrating a Celebration

Why celebrate 2009? Pat Magness reflects on the bicentennial of Thomas Campbell’s Declaration and Address and the centennial of the 1909 Pittsburgh gathering—then points to a Lord’s Supper–centered vision for renewed unity.

June 25, 2006

Thomas Langford

We Strayed from Original Principles

Tom Langford revisits Thomas Campbell’s Declaration and Address to show how insisting on human inferences as fellowship tests fueled division. He offers a hopeful Lubbock example of unity pursued without sacrificing convictions.

June 25, 2006

Douglas A. Foster

1906: The True Story

A closer look at the people and correspondence behind the 1906 Census of Religious Bodies—and how its published data became a lasting symbol of the Churches of Christ and Disciples of Christ division.

November 30, 2005

LeRoy Lawson

What Kind of Church Is This?

In a world full of denominations, this article explains the Restoration Movement’s unity vision—“Christians only”—and traces key roots, leaders, and documents that shaped Christian churches and churches of Christ.

October 30, 2005

Clint Gill

The Church Is Intentionally One (Part 2 or 3)

Thomas Campbell’s Declaration and Address calls Christians to unity rooted in God’s reconciling work in Christ. Drawing from Paul’s teaching, Clint Gill urges the church to reject human divisions and live as “one new humanity.”

October 23, 2005

Clint Gill