“We Call Ourselves Disciples of Christ”
- Matthew 20:1-16
September 18, 2005
Dr. Michael C. Yarbrough

          Two hundred and one years ago (1804), something happened in this new, 28-year old nation.  A group of Presbyterian ministers withdrew their association from an organization called the Springfield Presbytery in northern Kentucky.  They dropped the name “Presbyterian” from their churches proclaiming, “We will, that this body die, be dissolved, and sink into union with the body of Christ at large; for there is but one Body, and one Spirit, even as we are called in one hope of our calling” (The Last Will and Testament of the Springfield Presbytery).

          Those six ministers, led by Barton W. Stone, were of the opinion that denominations, often founded on arguments over church doctrine and creeds, were not Christ’s intention for the Church.  Instead, Christian unity should be the Church’s beacon to guide us in the Christian spiritual journey.  In other words, we are not the only Christians, but we are Christians only.

          Furthermore, that since Christ called all of us to discipleship and gifted ministry, there is, in the Church, a priesthood of all believers, and there should a blurring of the distinction between clergy and laity.  We are all equal in the kingdom of God – right?  Charter members and newcomers – clergy and laity – we are all workers in God’s kingdom and are beloved equally by God – right?

          In 1811, a pair of ministers, immigrants from Ireland, a father and son named Thomas and Alexander Campbell, were expelled from the Scottish Presbyterian Church.  Their trouble began when they questioned their western Pennsylvanian church’s tradition at the communion table.  Each adult went before the church’s synod (or ruling board), and was questioned about their Christian beliefs and behavior.  If they passed the testing, they were given a token to bring to worship on Sunday.  The token entitled them to come forward to receive communion.  No token, no communion.

          The Campbells did not ask for or require tokens at their churches’ table.  They believed that the communion table belongs to Christ.  No one has the right to deny the Lord’s Supper to other Christians.  Calling themselves “Disciples of Christ,” they proclaimed that the Church of Jesus Christ was one and open to all.

          Some twenty-one years later, in 1832, Stone’s “Christians” and the Campbells’ “Disciples of Christ” loosely joined together in Christian unity.  The name of this association became “The Christian Church” to remind us that we are Christians only, and then, in parentheses, “Disciples of Christ,” to remind us that we are not the only Christians.

          To become a member of this congregation is to enter into covenant as a member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).  In our 173 years of worship together as this identifiable group among the larger body of Christ, we have sorted through our beliefs and practices, and have identified some of the characteristics that define us.  Because Bread of Life Christian Church is a congregation within this denomination, these characteristics define us as well.

          To be a member of the Christ Church (Disciples of Christ) means that: the Lord’s Supper is central to our weekly worship.  We recognize it as one of the Christian practices that Jesus, himself, established.  The reenactment of Jesus’ last meal with his disciples, is a sensual reminder of God’s powerful love that gave despicable suffering on a cross a meaning that triumphs over this world’s evil.  It is Christ’s table, and open to all believers in Christ, no matter your denomination affiliation or church home.

          To be a member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) means that: we practice believer’s baptism by immersion.  Baptism is an ancient practice that Jesus experienced, and he told his disciples to baptize others who would want to follow him.  Nothing in scripture describes Jesus’ own baptism as immersion, but we immerse because it graphically demonstrates that, in Christ, our old life has died and is buried in a watery tomb, and then, we are lifted up out of the baptismal waters into a new way of life with Jesus.

          To be a member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) means that: we practice open membership.  Because we are not the only Christians, we recognize that some of our brothers and sisters in Christ come from church traditions that practice baptism and church membership that is different from our own.  Therefore, we do not insist that our chosen baptismal practice is the only one that is valid.

          To be a member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) means that: we maintain an attitude of acceptance and we reject creeds as tests of faith.  We celebrate our diversity and do not insist that we have the only valid interpretation of the Bible or the Christian life.

          To be a member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) means that: the Bible is our guide to the Christian life.  We believe that the Bible is God’s inspired word, and that it is best heard and understood within the community of faith with the diverse insights that serious study provides.

          To be a member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) means that: our congregation shall be voluntarily but covenantally connected to the denomination and a regional association of Disciples congregations.  Our local congregation has total autonomy over our mission and witness, how we govern ourselves, who our ministerial staff are, our budget, land and building ownership.  Even so, in covenant, we share our resources freely and cooperatively with a connected church in a spirit of church unity and shared mission.

          To be a member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) means that: congregational leadership is open to women as well as men.  In other words, we recognize a person’s spiritual gifts, education, and experience as the desired characteristics of church leadership rather than gender.

          To be a member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) means that: we emphasize lay leadership.  In our congregations, any believer in Christ can serve in any leadership capacity or church activity except those regulated by state law (like marriages).  The laity serves at the Lord’s Table, can baptize new Christians, and bring God’s word to us in the pulpit.

          To be a member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) means that: we have standards for our clergy.  As a denomination, we set educational and behavioral standards for both our licensed and ordained clergy, and they are held accountable through our regional and denominational leadership.

          To be a member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) means that: we are an ecumenical church.  Just as it was for Barton W. Stone, a greater unity in the larger body of Christ is foundational to our church witness and mission.

          Jesus often described the kingdom of God in his parables.  The parable in today’s lectionary has many layers of meaning, but the one that I want to call to your attention this morning is what this parable says to us about the nature of Christ’s Church.

          In the parable, God, the vineyard owner, calls each worker directly and intentionally.  There is a promise made.  It is a covenant made with each one who is called.  As God calls person after person, throughout the day, the number of workers grows.  They are there because of their covenant with God, but they work side by side.  At the end of the day, each covenant was confirmed.  No distinction is made between clergy or laity.  All are equal in God’s eyes.  All are welcome to the table.  No creeds divide.  There is no distinction in the treatment of any who have been brought together by God’s covenant.  It’s the way of Christ’s Church.  That is the blueprint for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

          Between now and October 23, you are invited to sign a document that identifies you as a charter member of this new congregation called Bread of Life Christian Church.  If you sign the charter, you are entering a covenant with a Protestant Christian denomination called the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).  I hope you will.

          Let us pray.

          Gracious God, Loving God, you’ve given us a vision of Christian unity and welcoming inclusiveness through the teachings of Christ.  We are not there yet, but we are trying.  May this vision of the true and perfect Church move closer to reality as we listen to the leading of your Holy Spirit, and follow the example of your Son.  For it is in his name that we pray it.

Amen.