The Complete Guide to Christian Denominations: Understanding the History, Beliefs, and Differences

528 Pages·2015·3.04 MB·English

by  Ron Rhodes

HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS
EUGENE, OREGON
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the HOLY
BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978,
1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All
rights reserved.
Verses marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright ©
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Verses marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, ©
1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman
Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org) All italicized emphasis in
Scripture quotations is added by the author.
Cover by Dugan Design Group, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Cover illustration @ Michael Brown / Fotolia
THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO CHRISTIAN DENOMINATIONS
Copyright © 2005/2015 Ron Rhodes Published by Harvest House Publishers
Eugene, Oregon 97402
www.harvesthousepublishers.com
ISBN 978-0-7369-5291-0 (pbk.)
ISBN 978-0-7369-5292-7 (eBook)
The Library of Congress has cataloged the edition as follows: Rhodes, Ron.
The complete guide to Christian denominations / Ron Rhodes.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-7369-1289-4 (pbk.)
1. Protestant churches—United States. 2. Protestant churches—Doctrines. I.
Title.
BR516.5.R47 2005
280’.4—dc22
2004017507
2004017507
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Dedication
In honor of the head of the church (Ephesians 5:23), who purchased the church
with His own blood (Acts 20:28)—
Jesus Christ
Acknowledgments
Researching every denomination in this book required considerable
effort. Representatives of many of these denominations made the
task easier by pointing me to helpful information regarding their
groups. To these individuals—too many to list—I offer a heartfelt
thanks.
Kerri, David, and Kylie (my wife and adult children)—as always, I
could not have written this book without your continued support.
God has used you mightily in my life!
CONTENTS
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Beginnings: The Emergence of Christianity and Denominations
1. Adventist Churches
Historical Background
Advent Christian Church
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement
2. Baptist Churches
Historical Background
American Baptist Association
American Baptist Churches USA
Converge Worldwide
General Association of General Baptists
General Association of Regular Baptist Churches
National Association of Free Will Baptists
National Baptist Convention of America
National Primitive Baptist Convention
New Testament Association of Independent Baptist Churches
North American Baptists
Primitive Baptists
Progressive National Baptist Convention
Reformed Baptist Church
Southern Baptist Convention
3. Brethren Churches
Historical Background
Church of the Brethren
Brethren Church (Ashland, Ohio)
Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches
Brethren in Christ Church
Church of the United Brethren in Christ
Church of God (Anderson, Indiana)
Evangelical Covenant Church
Evangelical Free Church of America
Moravian Churches
4. Catholic Churches
Historical Background
Roman Catholic Church
Eastern Rite Catholic Church
Old Catholic Church
Polish National Catholic Church of America
5. Christian Churches
Historical Background
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
Christian Congregation
Churches of Christ
6. Congregational Churches
Historical Background
Congregational Christian Churches (National Association)
Conservative Congregational Christian Conference
United Church of Christ
7. Episcopal and Anglican Churches
Historical Background
Episcopal Church
Reformed Episcopal Church in America
Anglican Orthodox Church
Anglican Catholic Church
8. Friends (Quaker) Churches
Historical Background
Friends General Conference
Friends United Meeting
Religious Society of Friends (Conservative)
Evangelical Friends International
9. Fundamentalist, Bible, and Conservative Evangelical Churches
Historical Background
American Evangelical Christian Churches
Baptist Bible Fellowship International
Baptist Missionary Association of America
Christian and Missionary Alliance
Conservative Baptist Association of America
IFCA International
Plymouth Brethren
10. Holiness Churches
Historical Background
Church of Christ (Holiness) USA
Church of God (Holiness)
Church of the Nazarene
Churches of Christ in Christian Union
Wesleyan Church
11. Lutheran Churches
Historical Background
American Association of Lutheran Churches
Association of Free Lutheran Congregations
Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Evangelical Lutheran Synod
Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
12. Mennonite Churches
Historical Background
Beachy Amish Mennonite Churches
Church of God in Christ, Mennonite
Conservative Mennonite Conference
General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches
Mennonite Church
Missionary Church
Old Order Amish Churches
13. Methodist Churches
Historical Background
African Methodist Episcopal Church
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
Congregational Methodist Church
Evangelical Church of North America
Evangelical Congregational Church
Evangelical Methodist Church
Free Methodist Church–USA
Southern Methodist Church
United Methodist Church
14. Orthodox Churches
Historical Background
Orthodox Church in America
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA
15. Pentecostal Churches
Historical Background
Assemblies of God
Calvary Chapel
Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)
Church of God in Christ
Congregational Holiness Church
Elim Fellowship
Fellowship of Christian Assemblies
Independent Assemblies of God International
International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
International Pentecostal Holiness Church
Open Bible Standard Churches
Vineyard Churches International
16. Presbyterian Churches