The History of Christian Freedom
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)  

Faith on the American Frontier

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is one of the only denominations born in the US, on the wild, 19th century frontier.  In a massive outdoor festival, the Cane Ridge Revival, over 10,000 people found a new and fresh reason to pursue Christianity.  It was faith that focused on independence and freedom.

Faith that is
Free

Barton Stone, a minister and abolitionish wanted people to concentrate on the big things (Jesus as savior) and not get caught up in all the things that churches tend to get caught up in. He wanted people to have the FREEDOM to disagree on the non-essentials.  
Stone lived in Kentucky until 1834, when he and his family moved to Jacksonville, IL in part because of his opposition to slavery, which was prevalent in Kentucky.

Faith with Reason

Alexander Campbell, wanted faith that focused on using individual insight and reason, distinguishing between essential and non-essential aspects of faith in Jesus, focusing on the essentials. 

Faith with 
Unity

Both Stone & Campbell were considered the key proponents of the Restoration Movement.  The Restoration Movement was characterized by the hope for Christian unity: 
  • Christianity should not be divided, Christ intended the creation of one church.
A number of slogans have been used in the Restoration Movement, which are intended to express some of the distinctive themes of the Movement.  These include:
  • "We are Christians only, but not the only Christians."
  • "In essentials, unity; in opinions, liberty; in all things love."

Faith that
Values
Mission, Equality & Education

Eureka College was founded in 1855 by a group of Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) abolitionists who had left Kentucky because of their opposition to slavery.  When the school was founded, it was only the third school in the United States and the first school in Illinois to educate women on an equal basis with men.  It educated and prepared students for missionary work.  It is now a liberal arts college.

Abraham Lincoln spoke on campus in 1856.

President Ronald Reagan graduated from Eureka College in 1932 with a degree in economics and sociology, and the college has continued to be closely associated with his legacy.

In 2010, Eureka College was designated as a national historic district by the United States Park Service.
(Source for all reference information: Wikipedia)



The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
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