Christian Church (Disciples Of Christ)

The worship of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is rooted in a Reformed tradition that has historically maintained both Word and sacrament. Worship is celebrated by an "ordained laity," seeks to involve the people as participants, and draws from a variety of sources developed by Catholic, evangelical, and charismatic communities.

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is rooted in the Reformed tradition, influenced both by the Presbyterian and Congregational branches. It was founded in the early nineteenth century as part of an effort to overcome the denominational barriers dividing American Protestants. The Eucharist and the Lay Eldership Since its origins the liturgical practice of this church has been marked by three characteristics: First, the Sunday service is always eucharistic. Disciples worship is typical of Protestantism in its strong emphasis upon preaching and congregational singing. Yet Disciples differ from many other churches in always celebrating the Lord's Supper during the regular Sunday services. Second, the leaders at the table are elders elected by the congregation. Earlier in Disciples history, these elders were understood to be the congregation's ministers and were ordained locally. Later, a settled, ordained pastorate also developed and the ministerial character of the eldership diminished. Even so, elders have continued to offer the Communion prayers. Third, the eucharistic prayers ordinarily are composed by these elders. Usually each elder develops a new prayer for each occasion at which he or she presides. Although the prayers differ widely, they usually include thankful remembrance of Jesus' sacrifice and the acknowledgment of our need for forgiveness. At its best, worship among Disciples appeals both to the mind and to the heart. Strong preaching and deeply introspective meditation during Communion are consistently present in congregations of this tradition. Worship of this type is also subject to problems. Because the elders are not educated in the church's theological tradition, and because there are few manuals to guide them in the preparation of prayers, idiosyncratic ideas about the meaning of the Eucharist frequently are stated in the prayers. A second problem is triviality. When offered by a well-prepared leader, free prayer deals with the major themes of the faith and the central concerns of life. When preparation is inadequate and habitual patterns of speech are used, these prayers easily lose their connections with faith and life. Reforming Eucharistic Practice For many Disciples renewal in worship begins with efforts to reform their eucharistic practice. One criterion being used for such reforms is that they should adhere to the Disciples tradition of celebrating the Lord's Supper every Sunday, under local leaders, using extemporaneous prayer. Another criterion is that these celebrations should be shaped by the emerging ecumenical consensus concerning the meaning of the Eucharist. As these criteria are used, the following trends can be seen. First, in many congregations the order of the Sunday service is being changed. Early in the twentieth century, the practice arose of conducting Communion early in the service and preaching the sermon near the end. Now these two elements are being reversed so that the actions at the Table are the culmination of the service. The pastor of the congregation is becoming more prominent as leader. Elders continue to preside and offer the Communion prayers. But now the pastor joins them, offering the invitation to Communion, speaking the biblical words of institution for breaking the bread, and perhaps offering one of the Communion prayers. Elders and pastors together constitute the spiritual leadership of the congregation. Reform also focuses upon the form and content of the Communion prayers. Recent Disciples publications outline principles to be followed and offer models for study by elders and pastors. An example of these publications is Thankful Praise: A Resource for Christian Worship (1987). This book recommends one pattern for the Sunday service. It affirms traditional values of Disciples liturgical practice but also recommends that this practice be made more consistent with the emerging ecumenical consensus. Previous to the publication of this book, Disciples borrowed materials from other churches but with little impact upon the form and intentions of their own Communion service. Disciples eucharistic practice departed more and more from that of other churches. "The most immediate result of Thankful Praise," says Gerard Moore in a dissertation at Catholic University, "is that it has placed Disciples worship firmly within the great tradition of eucharistic worship" (p. 142). Differing Paths to Renewal Renewal of worship among Disciples congregations also deals with hymnody, the celebrative style, and the involvement of the congregation. There is a growing restiveness concerning traditional hymnody. Musicians and congregants are searching for a style of congregational song that is emotionally warm and theologically strong. Like other Protestant churches, Disciples have experienced a period of increased propriety and diminished energy. In response, interest is increasing in services that provide interactions among the congregants while still preserving a basic orderliness. The leadership responsibilities of the members are being brought into the service, and pastors are less dominant in leading than once was the case. Not all Disciples are persuaded by the approach to renewal described above. Instead, they are drawn toward a more evangelical approach. These congregations continue the emphasis upon Communion every Sunday, the presidency of elders from the congregation, and extemporaneous prayer. They differ from other Disciples in liturgical style, especially music, and theological emphases. Gospel songs, both traditional and contemporary, predominate. The theological emphasis tends to be upon the experience of salvation expressed in ways similar to other evangelical Protestant churches. Under the leadership of their Division of Homeland Ministries, Disciples have developed print and electronic materials to assist congregations and pastors in the renewal of worship. These publications focus upon the work of elders, congregational approaches to the renewal of worship, and the continuing education of pastors as worship planners and leaders. In addition, a growing body of scholarly literature has developed that presents and interprets the Disciples liturgical experience. Among these works are several books and essays by Keith Watkins, including The Breaking of Bread (1969), The Feast of Joy (1977), and Patterns of Prayer (1991). Other publications with important essays about Disciples worship are: People of the Chalice by Colbert S. Cartwright (1987); Classic Themes of Disciples Theology, edited by Kenneth Lawrence (1986); Interpreting Disciples, edited by L. Dale Richesin and Larry D. Bouchard (1987); and Case Study of Mainstream Protestantism: the Disciples Relation to American Culture, 1880-1989, edited by D. Newel Williams (1991).