Restoration Movement History

Restoration Movement History explores the people, ideas, and events that shaped the Stone-Campbell/Restoration Movement and its ongoing influence on the church today. Discover articles on key moments, core convictions, significant leaders, documents, and the movement’s theological and cultural development. You’ll find historical context, biographies, and thoughtful reflections that help readers understand where the movement came from and how its story continues to inform ministry and discipleship. This hub is for anyone who wants a deeper grasp of Restoration Movement roots and legacy.

June 28, 2009

Christian Standard

That Old-Time Religion

  By David A. Fiensy I grew up in southern Illinois where the appeal to the old-time religion was almost a weekly observance. It seems like we were always trying to get back to the “old Bible days” when they had church on Sunday nights, sang hymns composed by Fanny Crosby, and held revivals in tents. If some infraction occurred in the community (such as a public official being arrested in an illegal activity), we blamed it on modernism. What we needed, we protested, was to get back to that old-time religion. And, of course, we thought every Christian should

May 24, 2009

Christian Standard

Restoring, Rethinking, Remembering

By Dale Brown In an Indiana factory town in the 1950s, my family labored as a backbone piece of the Madison Avenue church of Christ. (They insisted on the small “c” for “church” as they were not a denomination””not by a long shot.) Evangelicals commonly talk about where and when they “met the Lord,” and I suppose a “meeting” of that sort happened to me in that Madison Avenue venue””not a commercial center by any stretch””but a fake tan brick building on the wrong side of the tracks where most of the important stuff of my young life came together.

May 24, 2009

Christian Standard

The 2006 Unity Efforts”“Three Years Later

  By David Faust Three years ago I had the privilege of serving as president of the 2006 North American Christian Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. Our convention theme, “Together in Christ,” highlighted Jesus” prayer for unity in John 17.  We preached the great unity texts found in Ephesians 4. We sang””with and without instrumental accompaniment””and worshiped the Lord together. We noted the historic significance of the year 2006, 100 years after the U.S. Census Bureau first listed the a cappella churches of Christ as a separate body distinct from the Christian churches. We acknowledged that in a lost and dying

May 10, 2009

Christian Standard

We Had a Revolution!

By Becky Ahlberg “How did you get all these people to do this?” That was the question of the morning.  We had 165 workers set up all over the school”s campus doing everything from fiber arts and woodworking to a variety of sports, rocket launching, and gardening. It was a veritable beehive of activity with wide-eyed children going from activity to activity wondering what could be next. How did we get all those people? We invited them to a revolution. That”s what we called it”””Revolution!”””a new way to connect with kids. It was a Sunday morning. We met early for

May 3, 2009

Christian Standard

More Than 120 Years . . . and Counting

  By Greg Swinney About This Article Long-term ministries tell a story. Nearly two-dozen campus ministers with the Christian churches/churches of Christ have served in campus ministry for more than 20 years (many in the same location where they started). It”s not because they couldn”t find jobs elsewhere . . . it”s because they have a deep-seated passion, a burning in their hearts for the students who walk the concrete sidewalks of the academic jungle we call the state university. This article draws upon more than 120 years of combined experience of four of these campus ministers. Roger Songer, campus

March 1, 2009

Christian Standard

Not the Only Christians

  by Robert O. Fife This article is no longer available online, but all of the articles about baptism that appeared in the March 1 and 8, 2009, issues of CHRISTIAN STANDARD–plus this bonus article–are available for purchase as a single, redisigned, easy-to-read and easy-to-use downloadable resource/pdf (a fuller explanation is below).   Baptism: 7 Practical Perspectives  Item 02973  “¢Â  $2.99   What does the Bible teach about baptism? What does baptism symbolize and what does it accomplish? Why is there so much disagreement? Seven writers offer their insights on this controversial but fundamental topic in this 14-page resource that””with the exception

February 1, 2009

Christian Standard

Restoration Revolution

By David Empson What could happen if all of us worked together in a special emphasis to reach the lost? That”s the challenge of a number of people who have been working together on this dream for several months. Their vision: to set aside the years 2011 to 2020 for a new move of God in our churches, college ministries, and mission agencies. Dave Linn, who will serve as president of the 2010 National Missionary Convention in Lexington, Kentucky, proposed this idea to the NMC Continuation Committee during the most recent convention in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Inspired by Acts 13:2, Linn

November 30, 2008

Christian Standard

The Emerging Church and the Stone-Campbell Movement: Some Striking Similarities (Part 2)

By William R. Baker In part one, three surprising similarities between the Stone-Campbell and emerging church movements were observed, discussed under these headings: “Beyond Denominationalism,” “Vintage Christianity,” and “Biblical Christianity””Acts.” This week, four more similarities will be investigated. Local Church Emerging churches emphasize developing ministry and principles based on the community where they are located. This goes with their “missional” emphasis. They are “externally focused” on incarnating the gospel to the people in their community in creative and fresh ways.1 But in doing so, they also embrace an approach that mobilizes and equips every member of the believing body to

November 23, 2008

Christian Standard

The Emerging Church and the Stone-Campbell Movement: Some Striking Similarities (Part 1)

By William R. Baker See the Sidebar: “The Emerging Church: A Brief History and Helpful Resources”     "Emerging churches are communities that practice the way of Jesus within postmodern cultures," say Eddie Gibbs and Ryan Bolger.1 We might wonder, From what are these churches emerging? Simply stated, they are emerging from a modern world to a postmodern world.2    Yet, thinkers about the emerging church also want to place this mantra of “emerging” on the church generally in the past, present, and future.3 Thus, in the New Testament writings of Paul, we see the Greco-Roman church “emerge” from the

October 5, 2008

Christian Standard

Great Communion”“a Great Opportunity

By Douglas A. Foster Two hundred years ago next year, Thomas Campbell wrote in a foundational document of the Stone-Campbell Movement, the Declaration and Address, “that the church of Christ upon earth is essentially, intentionally, and constitutionally one. . . .” “Division among Christians is a horrid evil, fraught with many evils,” he added, and said that Christians “are . . . bound to love each other as brethren, even as Christ has loved them.” In that document, Campbell called the Lord”s Supper “that great ordinance of unity and love.” One hundred years ago next year, a great Centennial Convention

October 5, 2008

Christian Standard

How You Can Celebrate the Great Communion

  This article–which is a sidebar to “Great Communion–a Great Opportunity” by Douglas A. Foster””is adapted from www.greatcommunion.org.      Since the celebration of the bicentennial centers around community-based Communion services, leaders should take steps in their own cities and towns to “make it happen.” First, talk with other leaders in your own congregation. Explain to them what the bicentennial is all about. Make sure to send them to www.greatcommunion.org to see for themselves. Second, once your own church is excited about the possibilities, begin contacting other Stone-Campbell churches in your community. A sample letter is provided on the Web site.

July 13, 2008

Christian Standard

INTRO: Does the Restoration Movement Matter?

By Staff Who cares about the Restoration Movement? We”ve been asking that question with different groups in different ways, and this week we”ll share what we”ve been hearing. For starters, follow the links below to see how certain individuals answered. (Note from webmaster: We will try to relink these after the archiving process is completed.) We wrote one set of questions and sent them to six leaders in our fellowship. (One of them passed the list on to her son for an additional perspective.) They sent us their answers without consulting with each other, and we”re sharing most of what

July 13, 2008

Christian Standard

Restoration Movement Q&A 1

Answers from Gene Carter, Becky Ahlberg, and Eric Ahlberg Does the Restoration Movement Matter? Answers from Gene Carter, Becky Ahlberg, and Eric Ahlberg Gene Carter is retired in Playa del Rey, California, after 55 years of ministry, 25 in the Midwest and 30 in Southern California. Becky Ahlberg is worship and neighborhood engagement minister at Anaheim (California) First Christian Church and a CHRISTIAN STANDARD contributing editor. Eric Ahlberg is a member of Anaheim First Christian and a forensic structural engineer at Exponent Corporation in Irvine, California. Do you feel as strongly about being a part of the Restoration Movement today

July 13, 2008

Christian Standard

Restoration Movement Q&A 2

Answers from Robert Lowery Does the Restoration Movement Matter? Answers from Robert Lowery. Robert Lowery is professor of New Testament and dean at Lincoln (Illinois) Christian Seminary. Do you feel as strongly about being a part of the Restoration Movement today as you did fifteen years ago?  What, if anything, has changed? I remain committed to the principles of the Restoration Movement, yet I am not impressed with our efforts to articulate clearly and implement boldly those principles today. I have heard some say: “We have arrived! We do exactly what the earliest Christians did, no more and no less,

July 13, 2008

Christian Standard

Restoration Movement Q&A 3

Answers from Brian Lowery Does the Restoration Movement Matter? Answers from Brian Lowery. Brian Lowery works with Christianity Today International, where he serves as managing editor for Preaching Today. Do you feel as strongly about being a part of the Restoration Movement today as you did fifteen years ago?  What, if anything, has changed? Fifteen years ago I was 15 years old. I can really only recall feeling strongly about pizza, getting my driver’s license, and whether or not “that one girl in math class” liked me. The Restoration Movement wasn’t exactly on my radar yet. However, I can say that

July 13, 2008

Christian Standard

Restoration Movement Q&A 4

Answers from Pat Magness Does the Restoration Movement Matter? Answers from Pat Magness. Pat Magness is professor of humanities and English at Milligan College in Tennessee and a member of the Publishing Committee at Standard Publishing. Do you feel as strongly about being a part of the Restoration Movement today as you did fifteen years ago?  What, if anything, has changed? Yes, I remain strongly committed to the Restoration Movement and even more deeply involved in a variety of ministries. In addition to the connections in my local congregation, I feel increasingly connected to the Restoration Movement through my work on

July 13, 2008

Christian Standard

Restoration Movement Q&A 5

Answers from Ethan Magness Does the Restoration Movement Matter? Answers from EthanMagness. Ethan Magness is spiritual formation pastor at Mountain Christian Church, Joppa, Maryland. Do you feel as strongly about being a part of the Restoration Movement today as you did fifteen years ago?  What, if anything, has changed? My interest in and commitment to the Restoration movement has steadily grown.  Fifteen years ago I definitely took the Restoration movement for granted.  Having been raised inside the movement, I saw its flaws more clearly than its strengths.  I have come to be more and more committed that the Restoration movement is

July 13, 2008

Christian Standard

Survey Says: We Want to Stay Connected!

By Mark A. Taylor How do leaders in Christian churches and churches of Christ feel about staying connected with others like themselves? After hearing from more than 1,200 of them in a survey conducted this spring, we feel confident of one conclusion: Leaders in our fellowship highly value their connections with each other. Seeking Connection Almost half (545 respondents, or 44 percent of the total) said it is “Very Important” to be connected with other leaders in Christian churches/churches of Christ. Another 21 percent (253 respondents) said it is “Critical.” That totals almost two-thirds of respondents, while only 11 percent

July 13, 2008

Christian Standard

What Will Keep Us Together?

By John Derry Christian churches have long resisted being identified or referred to as a denomination, preferring instead to be called a brotherhood or fellowship. In many cases we emphasize our local autonomy by adding the word independent when describing who we are. Our perspective is such that we object to any form of bureaucracy or hierarchical structure that would impose limitations on how we choose to function. The Bible is all we need to inform our doctrinal positions, church governance, and mission. Denominational churches may find security in having a regional or national office establish operational policies and assist

July 6, 2008

Christian Standard

A New Movement and the Choices We Must Make

By Greg Taylor There”s a new Restoration Movement on fire and spreading in the United States and the world. For those of us who have passionately believed in Restoration principles of wearing Christ”s name alone, who see Scripture as our only rule of faith and practice, and who are imperfectly living out a dream of being the church Jesus wanted, we have a decision to make. We can continue with the little pickup stickball game outside the World Series stadium, or we can realize the larger Christian world is singing our song and playing our game in the arena. A

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