Churches of Christ in Australia

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The Churches of Christ in Australia is a Christian movement in Australia. It is one of the smaller Australian denominations.^{statistics needed}. It is part of the Restoration Movement with historical influences from the United States of America and the United Kingdom.

The Churches of Christ in Australia are made up of State Conferences which are an association of independent churches who choose to relate at a state and national level. Within this conference structure, individual churches are largely autonomous and operate on a congregational and democratic form of government. Leadership varies in local churches and where there are ministers or pastor they may or may not be formally ordained. Lay people usually play an important part in the worship, mission, governance and management of the church.

Key features of the church's worship are the weekly celebration of the Lord's Supper presided over by a lay person and believer's baptism. The denomination claims to "concentrate on the essential aspects of the Christian faith, allowing for a diversity of understanding with non-essentials."^{citation needed} It is active in community services and supporting Christian unity.

1 Worship and Devotion
2 Ministry and Mission
3 Theology and Values
4 History and Heritage
5 Structure
6 Affiliations
7 Bibliography
8 External links

[edit] Worship and Devotion

Key features are the weekly celebration of the Lord's Supper presided over by a lay person and a commitment to believer's baptism.

[edit] Ministry and Mission

The church is active in community services and the ecumenical movement.

National cooperative ministries (which are called 'National Agencies') include the Australian Churches of Christ Overseas Mission Board, the Australian Churches of Christ Indigenous Ministries, the Defence Force Chaplains Committee, Youth Vision Australia and the National Media and Communications Department.

[edit] Theology and Values

The denomination claims to "concentrate on the essential aspects of the Christian faith, allowing for a diversity of understanding with non-essentials."

Theological education occurs at the:

Churches of Christ Theological College (CCTC), located in Melbourne it is the National College for the Australian Churches of Christ, accredited by the Melbourne College of Divinity.
Australian College of Ministries - a joint venture between New South Wales and Queensland Churches of Christ Conferences accredited by the Sydney College of Divinity providing training in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia.

Most new ministers do not train at these colleges, they instead choosing to study elsewhere. This is particuarly the case for initiates under the age of forty. Ordination, which is bestowed by the State Conferences, is open to both men and women, although not all churches would accept a woman minister.

[edit] History and Heritage

It is part of the Restoration Movement with historical influences from the United States of America and the United Kingdom.

There is a Federal Historical Society.

Today it is one of the smaller Australian denominations.^{statistics needed}

[edit] Structure

The State Conferences are: Victoria and Tasmania, New South Wales, South Australia and the Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory.

The Churches of Christ Provident Fund was established to support paid ministers. Most of its role has been handed over to the non-denominational Christian Super fund.