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The History of Christian Union

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ORGANIZATION

The Christian Union began as a movement in 1864 in Columbus, Ohio through leaders who had envisioned and promoted the concept. The group met in a spiritual unity in their "desire for a more perfect fellowship in Christ and a more satisfactory enjoyment of the means of religious edification and comfort." They established principles that stood the test of time and experience.

A triennial General Council meets to further The Christian Union nationally and internationally. It is structured of representatives of each congregation with an elected Executive Board and other boards and committees.

State Councils meet annually in states having sufficient churches. Their structure is similar to the General Council. There are state councils in Arkansas, South Missouri, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio and Oklahoma. Delegates from the local churches make up the state council.

Six District Councils in Ohio meet semi-annually for fellowship and cooperative activities.

Local churches are organized congregationally. Elected elders and a called pastor lead the local church. Local church functions include Sunday School, Christian Union Endeavor, Christian Union Women's Fellowship, and Christian Union Men's Fellowship.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of The Christian Union as stated in our official manual, the Directory of The Christian Union:

  1. To promote fellowship among God's people.
  2. To put forth every effort to proclaim God's saving grace to the lost at home and in foreign fields.
  3. To declare the whole Council of God for the edification of believer.

These objectives embrace the desire to maintain and increase "faith in the revealed scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the Word of God and only sufficient rule of faith and practice." They also desire to maintain and increase a charitable and sensible balance in regard to doctrinal differences and controversies in the family of God, yet recognizing the right and significance of variations in convictions among individuals and among denominations.

PURPOSE

The stated purpose of The Christian Union is "to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ by developing churches and ministries committed to evangelism, discipleship, and fellowship at home and abroad."

DOCTRINE

Seven principles are essential to our fellowship:

  1. The Oneness of the Church of Christ. 1 Cor. 12:12; Ps. 133:1; Rom. 12:5; John 17:20, 21
  2. Christ the Only Head. Eph. 1:22; Col. 1:18
  3. The Bible the Only Rule of Faith and Practice. 2 Tim. 3:14-17; Rom. 15:4; Ps. 119:97-104.
  4. Good Fruits the Only Condition of Fellowship. Matt. 7:16; James 3:17
  5. Christian Union Without Controversy. Mark 9:38-40; 2 Tim. 2:14; Eph. 4:2, 3
  6. Each Local Church Governs Itself. Acts 14:23; 15:6
  7. Partisan Political Preaching Discountenanced. 2 Tim. 2:14-15; 4:2

The Christian Union position on the fundamental doctrines:

  1. We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
  2. We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
  3. We believe in the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the conception of His body by the Holy Spirit and His birth by the virgin Mary, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
  4. We believe that salvation is wholly of grace, but conditioned solely on repentance toward God and acceptance of Christ by faith. When the sinner has met these requirements, God justifies and regenerates him. Justification is a judicial act absolving from punishment and restoring to divine favor. Regeneration is the impartation of divine life effecting a change in the believer's nature. By the operation of the Holy Spirit through the Word, he is given a disposition to obey God. The Holy Spirit witnesses to this experience.
  5. We believe in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, that He personally dwells within and guides those who are true believers, and empowers them for service, giving to them various gifts and producing within their lives the fruits of Christian character. We believe that the Holy Spirit simultaneously baptizes all believers into Christ, at the moment they are regenerated, and also at that moment He comes to dwell within the believer. The filling of the Holy Spirit should be a continuous and repeated action. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is clearly spelled out in 1 Corinthians 12:13. Any teaching contrary to this statement is not acceptable.
  6. Sanctification is the work of grace begun by the Holy Spirit at the moment of regeneration and continues progressively until physical death. We believe it is not instantaneous or subsequent to salvation in our daily experience. We believer the old nature is not eradicated until after death, but that we must constantly guard against its influence in our lives.
  7. We believe that at the return of the Lord the bodies of the righteous dead will be raised and the living believers will be changed so that both will have literal, spiritual and immortal bodies like to Christ's own glorious body.
  8. Man, His Creation: We believe that man was created by God and not by an accidental, spontaneous, or self-propagated occurrence action, method, or process; that he was created in the image and likeness of God, possessing personality and holiness, and that he is a free moral agent possessing the power of choice, and that the purpose of his creation was to glorify God.
  9. We believe in the oneness of the church of Christ, composed of all Spirit-regenerated believers, and that these believers both living and dead, shall be caught up together at His second coming.
  10. We believe the Christian ordinances are outward rites appointed by Christ to be administered in each church, not as means to salvation, but as visible signs of the facts and realities of salvation. We believe in water baptism and that it is to be administered to believers only. We recommend immersion as the mode of baptism, but grant our pastors permission to use other modes when requested by the candidates. The Lord's Supper in an ordinance instituted for observance by His followers until He returns. It consists in partaking of the consecrated emblems of bread and wine, and symbolizes the death and suffering of Christ for the remission of our sins and our continual dependence upon Him for our sustenance. The Lord's table should be open to all that are in right relationship with God, regardless of denomination.
  11. We believe that marriage is a sacred institution ordained of God in the time of man's innocence and that it is the mutual union of one man and one woman and morally binding so long as both shall live, and that therefore it cannot be dissolved by a decree of a civil tribunal, except on evidence that one party is guilty of adultery. On positive evidence of such guilt, the innocent party is free from further matrimonial obligations and justly entitled to marry again, but the guilty party has no such right. We deny the right of marriage to both parties who have been divorced for causes other than adultery. Any person sustaining a marriage relation contrary to that above recognized as justifiable shall be ineligible to enter into the office of the ministry of The Christian Union.
  12. We believe that the Scriptural teaching concerning the financing of the Lord's work is through tithes and offerings of God's people.

We hold a conservative and fundamental interpretation of the Christian Faith.

PRACTICE

True Christianity is a way of life – a character to be developed and a manner of conduct to be maintained. We persuade men to choose Christ and to serve Him as Savior and Lord. We endeavor to carry the Gospel to all on earth. We teach a personal relationship to Jesus Christ in which Bible study, prayer, witness and good works in Christ's name are encouraged. We believe in family devotions and corporate worship. Our worship and instruction in congregational services includes teaching and preaching the Word of God. We practice two ordinances – Baptism and The Lord's Supper. We believe in financing God's work through tithes and offerings. Voluntary member tithing and sharing is expected. The monies given to the local church are shared voluntarily with the State Council and the General Council.

PROGRAM

The Christian Union's programs:

  1. The printing and distribution of The Christian Union Witness and other Christian literature by the Publishing Board.
  2. An emphasis on leadership training and Sunday Schools by the Board of Education.
  3. The Christian Union Bible College embodies both a resident school located on a ten-acre campus in Greenfield, Ohio and extension and correspondence programs leading to two, three and four-year diplomas. The programs of study include Bible, Theology, and Pastoral along other Christian Ministries including Christian Education. For further information contact: The Christian Union Bible College, P. O. Box 27, Greenfield, Ohio 45123-0027.
  4. Local, state and national Christian Union Endeavor organizations offer fellowship and leadership training for our youth. Camping and retreat programs inspire Christian ideals.
  5. Macedonian Societies in each state assist young men and women preparing for Christian Service. Other scholarship funds supplement this assistance.
  6. Christian Union Men's Fellowship and Christian Union Women's Fellowship organizations provide outlets to lay man and women to exercise leadership, service and fellowship ministries.
  7. Church Extension boards on state and national levels foster the development of new congregations.
  8. A Ministerial Retirement program helps provide for those who serve congregations when their active pastoral ministry must come to an end.
  9. Various other programs of congregations, districts and states supplement these and add needed services in some areas.

MISSIONS

The Christian Union endeavors to make Christ known to the whole world because apart from Jesus Christ all persons are lost (Romans 3:23; 6:23; John 3:16). All persons can be saved (Romans 10:9, 10, 13). And Jesus Christ is the only Savior (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).

Under a Missions Director and a Missionary Board the missionary program reaches out through home and foreign missionaries. Candidates are sought and training, deputation and ministry are supervised. Funds are solicited for projects and ministries.

Our missionaries serve in many areas and types of ministry. We have ministries to African and Spanish peoples. We have those who serve in teaching, communication, supervision and training, church planting and other ministries. State missionary boards aid in programming, promoting of missions and oversight of home missionaries and projects within their states.

- Issued by the Board of Education and The Publishing Board of The Christian Union, revised 1991.
For further information write: The Christian Union, P.O. Box 361, Greenfield, Ohio 45123-0361

Three different pamphlets are available:
1.  A Three Minute Tour Of Christian Union
2.  The Story of Christian Union
3.  Christian Union Doctrine

$0.10 each in quantities of 15 or more (shipping included)
1 or 2 copies FREE with your SASE (stamped, self-addressed #10 envelope)

Last updated 27 Feb 01
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