Why the witness of the Disciples of Christ matters so much today

Rev. Susan Watkins, our General Minister and President, says “this is our time to shine.” Here’s why…

In a nation as divided as this election cycle has revealed us to be, our witness as a denomination has become more important than ever. The way the Disciples of Christ do church is somewhat unusual. We are united not by an ecclesiastical hierarchy or by highly restrictive doctrinal statements. We are united by our approach to faith, Scripture, and the sacraments. According to our principles of identity, Disciples proclaim Jesus as “Lord and Savior of the world, requiring nothing more – and nothing less – as a basis of our life together.”

We bring a similarly broad view to the Bible itself. “We hold the centrality of scripture, recognizing that each person has the freedom – and the responsibility – to study God’s Word within the community of the church.” Our church will not tell you what to believe, and we will expect you to wrestle with Scripture with us. The Holy Spirit will guide us as we learn from you, and you learn from us.

Because we believe that the Holy Spirit is at work in both our individual lives and the life of the church as a whole, “we practice the baptism of believers, which emphasizes that God’s grace demands a response of faith and discipleship, while also recognizing the baptism performed in other churches.” Likewise, “we gather for the Lord’s Supper, as often as possible, experiencing at this table the gracious, forgiving presence of Jesus Christ.” Although Jesus calls us as individuals, that invitation makes us part of something bigger than ourselves. We are no longer on our own. We become part of the body of Christ.

While this is true for all Christians, when our denomination is at its best the Disciples of Christ have a way to be together that still allows space for differences of interpretation, doctrine, and ministry. We can agree to disagree and yet still be united in the Lordship of Jesus.

Unity in diversity. Hard to do, but worth doing

Imagine how much stronger our country would be if everyone could figure out how to the things that we aspire to. Imagine if everyone approached citizenship as both a personal commitment and something that connected us to others. How much healthier would our politics be if everyone understood that it is possible to have deeply felt convictions while still seeking to learn from others?

The witness of our denomination has never been more important. Unity in diversity is not easy. We will make mistakes along the way. In the midst of increasing polarization, the world needs to hear us proclaim, “we are Disciples of Christ, a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world. As part of the one body of Christ, we welcome all to the Lord’s Table as God has welcomed us.”