Baptist	Radical Reformation; objected to Infant Baptism; demanded Church-State separation; John Smyth, English Separatist, 1609; Roger Williams, 1638, Providence RI	Congrega- tional; each local Church is autonomous	Scripture; Southern Baptists interpret the Bible literally	Baptism, usually early teen years and afterward, by total immersion; Lord's Supper	Worship styles vary from very staid to evang- elistic; much Missionary activity	Usually opposed to alcohol and tobacco; often a tendency toward a perfect- ionist ethical standard	No Creed; the true Church is of believers only, who are all exactly equal, including Clergy	Church and State separation, because no authority can stand between any believer and God.
Church of Christ (Disciples)	from evangelical Presbyterians in KY (1804) and PA (1809); troubled over Protestant factionalism and decline in religious fervor; organized in 1832	Congrega- tional	Scriptures; where Scripture speaks, we speak, where Scripture is silent, we are silent	Adult Baptism; Lord's Supper (weekly)	tries to avoid any Rite not considered part of the first century Church; some Congreg- ations reject instru- mental music	Some tendency toward perfect- ionism; interest in social action programs	Simple New Testament Faith; avoids any elabor- ations that are not firmly based on Scripture	Extremely tolerant in doctrinal and religious matters; very supportive of advanced education and scholas- ticism
Episco- palian	Henry VIII separated the English Catholic Church from Rome, 1534, because of political reasons; Protestant Episcopal Church founded in US in 1789.	part of the Anglican Communion; Diocesan Bishops elected by Parish represent- atives	Scripture, as interpreted by Tradition, especially the 39 Articles (1563); tri-annual convention	Infant Baptism; Eucharist; other Sacraments (taken as symbolic, but having real Spiritual effect)	very formal, based on the Book of Common Prayer; Services range from austere and simple to extremely liturgical and structured	tolerant, even sometimes permissive; moderate involvement in social action programs	Scripture; the Apostles, Nicene and Athan- asian Creeds; and the Book of Common Prayer; ranges from Anglo-Catholic to the low Church, with some Calvinist influences	Strongly ecumen- ical; holds talks with many branches of Christianity
Jehovah's Witnesses	Founded in 1870 in PA by Charles Taze Russell; incorporated as Watchtower in 1884; named Jehovah's Witnesses in 1931	Each Witness is considered a Minister; each congregation under a body of Elders; a worldwide governing body in NY	The Bible, a slightly different translation from other Bibles	Baptism by immersion; annual Lord's Meal ceremony	meetings are held in Kingdom Halls and members' homes for study and worship; Very aggressive and extensive door-to-door visits to non-members	high moral code; stress on marital fidelity and family values; against all tobacco and blood transfusions	God, through Jesus, will soon destroy all wicked- ness; 144,000 faithful will rule in Heaven with Christ, over others on a Paradise Earth	Absolute allegiance proclaimed only to God's Kingdom or Heavenly govern- ment by Christ; the Watch- tower is published in 115 languages
Mormons Latter Day Saints	Joseph Smith had a vision in NY in the 1820s; he reported receiving and translating copper and golden plates	Theocratic; first presidency (President and two counselors) and 12 apostles preside over worldwide Church; Local Congreg- ations headed by lay priesthood leaders	Revelation to a living prophet (the Church President); the Book of Mormon, the Pearl of Great Price, the Bible, and other revelations of Joseph Smith and his successors	Baptism at age 8; laying on of hands (which confers the gift of the Holy Spirit); Lord's Supper; temple Rites; Baptism for the dead; Marriage for eternity; others	Simple Service and Prayers, Hymns, and Sermon; private temple ceremonies are sometimes more elaborate	Temper- ance; strict moral code; intense titheing; strong work ethic, with communal self-reliance; intense missionary activity; emphasis on family	Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Eternal Father; Jesus' atonement saves all humans; those who are obedient to God's laws may become gods and reign with Christ in Heaven	Mormons believe that theirs is the true Church of Jesus Christ, restored by God through Joseph Smith
Lutheran	Martin Luther first attempted to reform the Catholic Church around 1517, but the Pope was displeased; objection to the Catholic doctrine of Salvation by Works and to the Indulgences; break became complete in 1519	varies from congrega- tional to episcopal; in US, regional Synods and Congreg- ational polities is common	Scripture along; The Book of Concord (1580), is considered a correct exposition of Scripture; it also contains the three Creeds of Christianity	Infant Baptism; Lord's Supper, with Christ's true body and blood present in, with and under the bread and the wine	relatively simple, formal liturgy with an emphasis on the Sermon	generally conserv- ative in personal and social ethics; doctrine of Two Kingdoms (worldly and holy) supports conserv- atism in secular affairs	Salvation is by Grace alone, through Faith; which is a core of most Protestant beliefs	there are some divisions among ethnic lines; but the primary divisions are between fundamen- talists and liberals
Methodist	John Wesley began the momement in 1738, within the Church of England; In US first in Baltimore 1784.	Conference and super- intendant system	Scripture, as interpreted by tradition, reason and experience	Baptism of infants or adults; Lord's Supper (both com- manded); other Rites include Marriage, Ordination; Solemn- ization of personal commit- ments	worship styles vary widely, by Church and geography	originally pietist and perfect- ionist; always strong interest in social actions	no distinctive theol- ogical devel- opment; the 25 Articles (abridged from the Church of England's 39 Articles) are not binding	The United Methodist Church was formed in 1968 by the combining of the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church
Orthodox	Began to disagree with the Catholic Church around 500 AD, primarily over the Filioque Clause the Catholic Church added to the Nicene Creed; break became complete in 1054	Synods of Bishops in autonomous Churches elect a Patriarch, Archbishop or Metropolitan, as the head of the Church	Scripture, Tradition and the first Seven Ecumenical Councils; Bishops in Council have authority in doctrine and policy	Generally Seven Sacraments; infant Baptism and anointing; Eucharist, Ordination, Penance; Marriage; anointing of the sick	Very elaborate liturgy, usually in the local language; extremely traditional; the liturgy is the essence of the Orthodox Church; extensive veneration of icons	most are tolerant, less so regarding Russian Orthodox; little interest in social action; divorce and remarriage are sometimes permitted; Bishops are celibate; Priests do not need to be	Emphasis on Christ's Resur- rection, rather than the Crucifixion; the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father only	The Orthodox Church in America was originally under the Patriarch of Moscow; granted autonomy in 1970; Greek Orthodox do not recognize this autonomy
Pente- costal	Disappointed with loss of religious fervor in Methodist Churches; began in Topeka, KS 1901 and Los Angeles 1906	Originally a movement and not a formal organization; now has a variety of organized forms and also continues as a Movement	Scripture, and the leadership of individual Charismatic leaders, and the teachings of the Holy Spirit	Spirit Baptism, specifically as demon- strated by Speaking in Tongues, or by Healing ability, or sometimes by Exorcism ability; adult Baptism; Lord's Supper	rather loosely-structured Service, with rousing hymns and Sermons, culminating in Spirit Baptism; Members regularly interrupt the Service by outbursts of Tongues	usually, emphasis on perfect- ionism; varying degrees of tolerance, sometimes none	simple tradit- ional beliefs, usually Protestant, with emphasis on the immediate Presence of God in the Holy Spirit	Pente- costals were once confined to lower-class holy-rollers types of Churches; it now has established middle-class congreg- ations; aspects of Pentecos- talism have appeared in mainline Churches
Presby- terian	came out of 16-cent Calvinist reformation; differed with Lutherans over Sacraments and Church government; John Knox started Scottish Presbyterian Church around 1560	Very structured represent- ational system of Ministers and lay persons (Presbyters) in local, regional and national Synods	Scripture	Infant Baptism; Lord's Supper, where the bread and wine symbolize Christ's Spiritual Presence	very simple and sober Service, with the Sermon central in it	traditionally, a tendency toward strictness, with firm Church- and self- discipline; otherwise reasonably tolerant	emphasis on the sover- eignty and justice of God; no longer dogmatic; Belgic Confession (1561); Heidelberg Catechism (1563); Canons of Dort (1619)	originally, predest- ination was a central belief (where God had pre- ordained Salvation for certain Elect); this is no longer a central element in most Presby- terian Churches
Reformed Church	traditionally said to have formed from the work of Zwingli in Zurich and Calvin in Geneva;	usually Presbyterian in structure	Scripture	Infant Baptism; Lord's Supper, where the bread and wine symbolize Christ's Spiritual Presence	.	strongly in favor of education of Church members;	Belgic Confession (1561); Heidelberg Catechism (1563); Canons of Dort (1619)
Roman Catholic	traditionally founded by Jesus, with Peter named first leader; difficult first centuries, until Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity 312; then became the official religion of the Roman Empire	Supreme power in one Pope, elected by College of Cardinals; Councils of Bishops advise him on matters of doctrine and policy	The Pope (on matters of Faith and morals), and Tradition (expressed in Church Councils and in part contained in Scripture	Mass; Seven Sacraments, Baptism, Reconcil- iation, Eucharist, Confirm- ation, Marriage, Ordination, and Unction or the anointing of the sick	Rather elaborate and very ritual, centered on the Mass; Rosary recitations; Novenas; etc	traditionally extremely strict, but becoming more tolerant in practice; divorce and remarriage not accepted; annulments sometimes granted; celibate clergy, except in Eastern Rite Churches	highly elaborated, Salvation by merit (Good Works) gained through Grace; extremely dogmatic; special veneration of the Virgin Mary; veneration of many Saints	extremely slow to ever change, except after Vatican II; Mass is now in local languages and no longer in Latin; increasing interest in social action, tolerance and ecumenism
United Church of Christ	formed by ecumenical union of Congrega- tionalists, Evangelicals and Reformed in 1957; represents both Calvinist and Lutheran traditions	Congrega- tional; a general Synod, represent- ative of all congreg- ations, sets general policy	Scripture	Infant Baptism; Lord's Supper	Usually very simple Services with an emphasis on the Sermon	tolerant; moderate social action efforts	standard Protestant; Statement of Faith (1959) is not binding	the two main Churches that joined in 1957 were already combin- ations of Churches from many parts of Protestant Denomin- ations
Indep- endent	Arise from nearly all Denom- inations; either a new combin- ation of two existing Churches' beliefs; or some new and unique approach to Christianity; can sometimes lead to formation of cults	Independent	Scripture alone	Baptism; Lord's Supper, the two Sacraments mentioned in the Bible	Quite variable; music and even bands often participate in the Service; many have very unique present- ations of the Service	Generally good; often influenced by the personal attitudes of its Minister	generally there is a Statement of Faith, which expresses the exact beliefs and doctrines of that specific Church	Extremely variable, generally dependent on the attitude and personality of the Minister; almost no limits seem to exist, and some such Churches are commonly seen as cults
Non- Denomi- national	Generally form as Independent Churches, bothered by the divis- iveness of many Churches; attempt to Teach only core Christian beliefs in order to attract and welcome people from all forms of Christ- ianity	Independent, usually with attempts to structure as based on Scriptures from the Bible	Scripture alone	Baptism; Lord's Supper; as being the only Sacraments actually mentioned in the Bible; other Sacraments are all respected, and observed as desired by individuals	Quite variable; often like the Service of Indepen- dent Churches above.	What Would Jesus Do? (WWJD)	generally there is a Statement of Faith, which expresses the exact beliefs and doctrines of that specific Church; What Would Jesus Do? (WWJD)	Non- Denomin- ational Churches rarely have Crosses or Crucifixes displayed anywhere, partly because some possible attendees might have attitudes against icons. A rather simple and central present- ation of the Bible's Christ- ianity