The Story of Governance

The idea

Our movement is deeply anti-authoritarian, drawing from its conviction of the priesthood of all believers. And the understanding that in the church, God has truly unleashed a wild democracy.

The thread

The practice that exercises it. No one can decide on your behalf; that is what all the rest was for. And it has to happen in the open, before the assembled body, or it isn't the priesthood being exercised — it's an office reappearing under another name.

Events

• The Mahoning Association Dissolves Itself 1830

  At Austintown, Ohio, the movement's own association resolves unanimously that it should never meet again as a body exercising jurisdiction over congregations. Campbell argued to keep it — and lost to his own principle.

• The Sand Creek Address and Declaration 1889

  Conservative Illinois leaders declare separation from churches supporting missionary societies, instrumental music, and located preachers — the first public move from disagreement to division.

Documents

• The Sand Creek Address and Declaration 1889

  Issued 18 August 1889 by conservative Illinois leaders, the Sand Creek "Address and Declaration" called for separation from churches that supported missionary societies, instrumental music, located preachers, and fundraising beyond the Sunday contribution — a key marker on the road to the first division.

• The Christian Baptist 1823–1830

  From 1823 to 1830 Alexander Campbell issued *The Christian Baptist*, a feisty monthly that critiqued denominational traditions, defended believer's baptism, and called readers to restore New Testament Christianity.

Read aloud

All quotes