The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), was founded on American soil in the early 1800s by four ministers who felt that denominationalism and restricted access to communion were more harmful then beneficial to God's church. They set out to establish a new church that openly embraced all Christians and welcomed all people to commune with God. Today, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is uniquely equipped to live up to its identity that it is a "movement for wholeness in a fragmented world." The denomination continues to be influenced by its founding ideals of our unity in Christ with openness and diversity in practice and belief. The Disciples Vision, Mission, Imperative and Covenant statement calls the communion to be a faithful, growing church that demonstrates true community, deep Christian spirituality and a passion for justice. The Vision of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) To be a faithful, growing church, that demonstrates true community, deep Christian spirituality and a passion for justice. (Micah 6:8) This Mission of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) To be and to share the Good News of Jesus Christ, witnessing, loving and serving from our doorsteps "to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8) The church is identified with the Protestant “mainstream” and is widely involved in social justice, reconciliation ministry, mission work and other concerns. Disciples have supported vigorously world and national programs of education, agricultural assistance, racial reconciliation, care of the developmentally disabled and aid to victims of war and calamity. The denomination now counts about 500,000 members in the United States and Canada in about 3,500 congregations. Numerically, the main thrust of the Disciples of Christ runs in a broad arc that sweeps from Ohio and Kentucky through the Midwest and down into Oklahoma and Texas. For more information about the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) denomination, visit our national site at http://www.disciples.org