Course Syllabus - JG-01 - History, Polity and Ethos of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

by Jerry Gladson

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About the Course

This course explores the history and polity of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) from its origins in the early 1800s to the present. Emphasis focuses on the pioneer founders of the denomination, Thomas and Alexander Campbell, Barton Stone, and Walter Scott, and their influence on the movement that emerged out of their efforts. The growth of the denomination will be viewed in the context of national and international history as it grew to take its place among the established, mainstream churches of modern times. Attention will also be given to the Restructure of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) that has shaped its modern identity, polity, ethos, and mission. 

The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) as a movement, a denomination, and a community of faith. It will explore some of the sweep of Church history and context in which the Disciples of Christ came into being. Key figures, issues, documents, and events will be cited. In addition, students will be exposed to current aspects of the denomination, including the ways in which Disciples work through the polity of this unique denomination and how Disciples live faithfully in ecumenical and interfaith dialogue and partnership.

The course is divided into eleven sessions that must be taken in succession. Each session has assignments, some of which reflect directly on class participation. In addition, there are three sessions which require a paper to be prepared and submitted for grading (5, 10 and 11, with 11 being the FINAL paper. Students will be graded as follows (class participation is included in the evaluation of a student’s performance): A = 90 – 100%; B = 80 – 89%; I = incomplete (which reflects performance below the minimum of 80% completion of assignments). Students may opt for a grade of Pass if the 80% is achieved; in the event of an incomplete, it is the responsibility of the student to ascertain, with the instructor, if supplemental written assignments will be received and evaluated, and if so, what the process will be for achieving a passing grade for the course.

Please note: this is a semester-long course, a student should allow at least seventy-five (75) days for completion of the course. If you believe that you cannot complete the course by the end of the semester, it is strongly recommended that you NOT ENROLL until the next semester. Finally, it is imperative -- regardless of when you enter the course -- that you post to the course discussions as noted in EACH session, and that you participate in any LIVE conferences which are noted in the course calendar.

Dr. Gladson would like to adhere closely to the course schedule of weekly assignments. Work received late may subject to a penalty. Students who register in the Late Registration period will be given two weeks to catch up with the class. We will hold to the final deadline for the course; otherwise, the student will have to re-enroll and repeat the course.

Lesson 1: Roots of the Disciples (Stone-Campbell) Movement

For any religious community, beginnings are important. It is in the beginnings of a movement we are able to detect the themes and significant issues that give content to their identity. Knowing one's beginnings helps define who one is. This is as true of a church as it is an individual.

In this lesson we will consider several religious movements of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries that constituted the immediate context of the work of Barton Stone. As you read the assignments and view the video lecture, ponder what historical events, theological and philosophical trends led up to the formation of the Disciples of Christ?

To Complete this lesson:

• Read: D. Duane Cummins, The Disciples, A Struggle for Reformation, Chap. 1, "Roots," (pp. 1-22); articles from the Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: "O'Kelly, James" (574); "Republican Methodists" (633-34); "Jones, Abner" (432-33); "Smith, Elias" (688-89); "Christian Connection" (190-91).
• Watch the one video lecture.
• Write your comments on the items under the Discussion Forum for this lesson.

Lesson 2: Barton W. Stone

Barton Warren Stone (1772-1844) is the earliest of the four recognized founders of the Stone-Campbell movement, which later became the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Stone's movement got its initial impetus from the famous Cane Ridge Revival, held in August 1801 at the Cane Ridge Meetinghouse, in Bourbon County, Kentucky. Stone's inclusive theology lives on in the modern ecumenical emphasis of the modern day Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

To Complete this lesson:

• Read: D. Duane Cummins, The Disciples, A Struggle for Reformation, Chap. 2, "Barton Warren Stone" (pp. 23-37).
• Read: The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: "Stone, Barton Warren" (700-20); "Cane Ridge Meetinghouse" (163-64); "Cane Ridge Revival" (164-66).
• Read the following Scripture passages:

Acts 11: 19-26
2 Peter 3: 14-18
John 17:1-26
Ephesians 4: 1-16

• Watch the two video lectures.
• Review the extra exhibits and readings attached.
• Comment on the question in the Discussion Forum for this lesson.

Lesson 3: Thomas Campbell

Anti-Burgher Seceder Presbyterian minister, Thomas Campbell (1763-1854) emigrated from Ireland to the United States in 1807, hoping to begin a new life of ministry here. Shortly after his arrival, disagreements with the Presbyterians led him to separate from that body and form an independent group of Christians who would eventually be called the Disciples of Christ.

To Complete this lesson:

• Read: The Disciples, A Struggle for Reformation, D. Duane Cummins: Chapter 3 ("Thomas and Alexander Campbell," "The Declaration and Address"), pp 38-48.
• Read: Articles from The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement ("Seceders," 679-80; "Campbell, Thomas [1763-1854]," 138-142; "Brush Run Church," 100-101).
• Watch one video lecture.
• Review the extra exhibits and readings attached.
• Comment on The Declaration and Address in the Discussion Forum for this lesson.

Lesson 4: Alexander Campbell

Alexander Campbell (1788-1866), son of Thomas Campbell, destined to become the main leader of the Stone-Campbell movement, arrived in the United States in 1809, and soon joined his father in ministry to the newly formed, independent Christian community. Campbell devoted his life to itinerant preaching, publishing, leading, and disseminating the Disciples' message.

To complete this lesson:

• Read: The Disciples, A Struggle for Reformation, D. Duane Cummins: Chapter 3 ("Alexander Campbell: A Profile"; "Brush Run: The Birth of a Church"; "Christian Baptist"; "Campbell and Stone Compared," pp 48-74).
• Read: Articles from the The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement ("Campbell, Alexander [1788-1866]," 112-134; "Campbell, Selina Huntington Bakewell [1802-1897], 134-38).
• Watch two video lecture.
• Review the extra exhibits and readings attached including the article "Tale of the Tossed Token."
• Comment on the topic in the Discussion Forum for Lesson 4.

Lesson 5: Walter Scott

Only belatedly has the work of Walter Scott (1796-1861) been recognized as especially formative in the Disciples Movement. Most church historians now consider him to be the fourth co-founder of the movement. His evangelistic efforts, mnemonically represented in his famous "Five-Finger Exercise," publishing, and leadership contributed greatly to the sense of Disciples identity.

To complete this lesson:

• Read: Articles from The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement ("Scott, Walter [1796-1864," 673-79; "Five Finger Exercise," 228-39; "Evangelism, Evangelists: 1. Nineteenth Century," 316-18).
• Read: Cummins, The Disciples: A Struggle for Reformation ("Disciples and Christians: The Joining of Congregations," 74-79).
• Read the following Scriptures
  Acts 2:1-47, noting especially 2:37-42.
• Watch one video lecture.
• Review the extra exhibits and readings attached.
• Write a 1-3 pp., double-spaced paper profiling a Disciples leader. Offer a sketch of their life, note their contributions to the Disciples, and their importance for us today. Good sources for this paper are the Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement and Cummins, The Disciples. You may choose a leader from the past, or a contemporary leader. Some suggested persons include: Edward Scribner Ames; Selina Huntington Bakewell; Isaac Errett; A. Dale Fiers; Charles Clayton Morrison; Barton Stone; Walter Scott; Alexander Campbell; Thomas Campbell; James Garfield; James H. Garrison; Sharon Watkins; David Lipscomb; Margaret Brown; Herbert L. Willett; John W. McGarvey. When you have completed your profile, email it as an attachment to .

Lesson 6: "Raccoon" John Smith and Union of the Followers of Stone and Campbell (1832)

This backwoods, self-educated preacher, who never liked the name "Raccoon," but he was responsible for proclaiming the gospel and raising up Christian churches in Kentucky. Smith urged the two movements led by Barton Stone and Alexander Campbell to unite. This was begun in a meeting at Lexington, KY, December 25, 1831- January 1, 1832. Thus 1832 became the official birth date of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

To complete this lesson:

• Watch the video presentation of "Raccoon" John Smith, and the video (no. 8) exploring the uniting of the Stone and Campbell movements.
• Read: "Smith, "Raccoon" John," in The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement, 690-91.
• Comment on the union of the Stone and Campbell movements in the Discussion Forum for this lesson.

Lesson 7: The Second Generation (1850-1890)

With the passing of Barton Stone (1844), Thomas Campbell (1854), Alexander Campbell (1866), and Walter Scott (1861), the Disciples movement finds itself faced with sustaining and consolidating the vision of the founders while grappling with new national and social challenges. A new generation assumes the leadership of the Disciples, and with them come important changes in publication, mission, and education.

To complete this lesson:

• Read: Cummins, The Disciples, A Struggle for Reformation, 80-123. Note the historical collection of photos on 124-54; Article, "Missions, Missiology," by Paul A. Williams, in The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement, 537-542.
• Read the following Scripture passages: 1 Corinthians 7:20-24; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 6:5-9; Colossians 3:22-28; Philemon; 1 Peter 2:18-24. These passages were cited pro and con on the question of slavery in Disciples churches as well as in the Christian world at large.
• Watch the video presentations entitled: (9) "The Second Generation (pt. 1)"; (10) "The Second Generation (pt. 2): Publications"; (11) "The Second Generation (pt. 3): Educational Ventures"; (12) "The Second Generation (pt. 4): Missions"; (13) "The Second Generation (pt. 5): Leaders."
• Comment on the question posed in the Discussion Forum for this lesson.
• In addition to reviewing the resources below, please also review the exhibits in the lesson titled Disciples Publications below.

Lesson 8: The Disciples in Their Second Century (1890-1930)

This period in Disciples history encompasses the Gilded Age, the Great War, and the Roarin' Twenties. Not only is the period a watershed in national history, it brings to Disciples the pain of division and the theological challenge of modernism. Controversy erupts in the church.

To complete this lesson:

• Read: Cummins, The Disciples, A Struggle for Reformation, 155-204.
• Watch the video presentations entitled: (14) "The Second Century (pt. 1)"; (15) "The Second Century (pt. 2)"; (16) "The Second Century (pt. 3)."
• Review the extra exhibits and readings attached. You may wish to follow the links to the websites of some of the Disciples colleges and seminaries.
• Comment on the issues posed on the Discussion Forum for this lesson.

Lesson 9: The Maturing of the Disciples (1930--Present)

Disciples come of age in a world convulsed by economic depression, war, and rapid social, religious, and technological change. Experiencing a surge of membership during the post-war era, Disciples undertake a restructure of the denomination to prepare it for the new century. From humble beginnings in the early nineteenth century, Disciples now mature to take their place among the established, mainstream churches of today.

To complete this lesson:

• Read: Cummins, The Disciples, A Struggle for Reformation, 204-277.
• Watch the video lectures entitled: (17) "1930 to the Present: The Great Depression and World War II"; (18) "1930 to the Present: The Post-War Era"; (19) "1930 to the Present: Social Consciousness and Restructure"; (20) "1930 to the Present: The Present-Day Church."
• Review the extra exhibits and readings attached.
• Comment on the Restructure of the Disciples under the Discussion Forum for this lesson.

Lesson 10: The Polity of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Polity refers to the system of government or organization of a church. In this lesson, guest lecturer Rev. Dr. Ray Miles, retired Regional Minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Georgia, describes the structure and organization of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The contemporary polity of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is the result of the restructure of the 1960s.

To complete this lesson:

• Watch the video lectures entitled, "Polity (pt. 1)"; "Polity (pt. 2)"; "Polity (pt. 3)"; "Polity (pt. 4)."
• Review the web sites of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the Christian Church in Georgia listed below.
• Be sure to read the textbook, Freedom in Covenant: Reflections on the Distinctive Values and Practices of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). This work is an excellent presentation of the values that make us Disciples. It will help the students prepare the paper indicated in Lesson 10 that deals with the identity of Disciples.
• Using your textbooks and notes from the lectures, write a 1-3 pp., double-spaced paper discussing the contemporary identity of Disciples. It is often said that Disciples are searching for a new identity in the modern world. Who do you think the Disciples are? How would you describe them to someone who inquires? What makes them unique in the modern Christian world? What is their message? Why are they important? Discuss these issues and provide support for your responses from history and Scripture. When you have finished your paper, email it as an attachment to the instructor.

Lesson 11: The Ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

In this lesson, Rev. Dr. Ray Miles, former Regional Minister of Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Georgia, talks about the path to ordination to the ordained ministry for persons under the care of the Christian Church in Georgia Regional Commission on Ministry.

Guest lecturer, Rev. Dr. James Brewer-Calvert, Senior Minister of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Decatur, GA, presents the theology and practice of ordination to the ministry.

To complete this lesson:

• Watch the video lectures, "Ordination"; "The Theology and Practice of Ordination" (pt. 1); "The Theology and Practice of Ordination" (pt. 2).
• Read James Brewer-Calvert's paper, "The Theology and Practice of Ordination," appended below.
• Review the "Ordination Guidelines" from Disciples Home Mission website, listed below.
• As your final examination, in a short double-spaced essay (1-3 pp.), provide a sketch of the origins, development, and progress of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) until the present. Pay attention to the major religious and social forces that helped shape the movement. What role do you see the Disciples actively engaging at the present time? When you have completed this examination, e-mail it to the instructor.

Disciple Publications

Examples of journals, magazines, and other Disciples Publications from The Christian Baptist of 1827 to Disciples World of 2008.

Additional Information

Click here for information about the required textbooks.
Click here for information about Dr. Gladson.