Our Wild Democracy
Otter Creek Church of Christ  ·  Fall 2026

Our Wild
Democracy

The Story, Promise, and Future
of the Churches of Christ

Week 0 · Introduction & Overview
What this class is

A movement drawn together from reformers, farmers, clergy, and laypeople of many traditions took root on the American frontier — and helped reshape the Christian imagination of millions.

That movement was about ideas — and the practices that embodied those ideas.

We explore that story to discover what is genuinely beautiful, and what is worth carrying forward with vision and imagination.

How each week works
Story→ Idea→ Future

One of us tells a story from our history. Another cross-examines it. Then the questions are yours:

What is beautiful here?
What do we carry forward?

A movement with more than one name

The Restoration
Movement

The Stone–Campbell
Movement

The Stone–Campbell
Restoration Movement

What they called themselves
“Reformers” Campbell's own word — “this current reformation”
“Christians” Stone's side — nothing more, nothing less
“Disciples” Campbell's preference — the New Testament's own word

And what they refused: any founder's name. “Campbellite” was always someone else's word.

Where the movement lives today
Churches of Christ that's us
Christian Churches the independent congregations
Disciples of Christ the organized denomination

One movement — three families. This class is the family story, told from our branch.

…the age to come
1801The Cane Ridge CommunionOne table, many traditions — the whole class in miniature.Unity · Priesthood · Future · Christ Alone · the TableWeek 1
1804The Last Will & TestamentA presbytery writes its own death — dissolving itself for the body's sake.Self-Sacrifice · Unity · Freedom of Conscience · CongregationWeek 4
1807–09Thomas Campbell's TrialCensured for opening the table. The founding rupture was caused by a meal.Unity · Freedom of Conscience · the TableWeek 2
1809The Declaration & Address“The Church of Christ upon earth is essentially, intentionally, and constitutionally one.”Unity · Minimalism · Freedom of Conscience · Christ Alone · ScriptureWeek 3
1812The Brush Run OrdinationAuthority conferred by the gathered congregation — every assembly apostolic.Priesthood · Congregation · the TableWeek 5
1826The Living OraclesA fresh translation in the people's own language — the text handed to every reader.Priesthood · Science & Reason · ScriptureWeek 11
1830The Millennial HarbingerRestoration as the herald of the age to come — faith at the frontier of thought.Future · Science & Reason · ScriptureWeek 6
1832The Merger at LexingtonUnion on the commitment to Scripture — not on conclusions from it.Unity · Priesthood · the Table · ScriptureWeek 7
1836Bacon CollegeThe movement’s first college — named not for a preacher but for Francis Bacon.Science & Reason · Future · PriesthoodWeek 6
1837The Lunenburg LetterA high view of baptism that refuses to weaponize it — conviction without coercion.Unity · Freedom of Conscience · BaptismWeek 9
1820s–40sThe Singing SchoolsFarmers taught to carry a part — every voice the instrument.Priesthood · Minimalism · SingingWeek 10
1861–65Lipscomb & the Civil WarAllegiance already held for another government — the vision tested by fire.Future · Freedom of Conscience · CongregationWeek 8
2026This Class, This TableA mixed-tradition congregation — exactly what the movement was at its birth. The story is unfinished.Unity · Future · Homecoming · the TableWeek 0 · and every week
CHRIST ALONE
UNITY PRIESTHOOD FUTURE
HOMECOMING SELF-SACRIFICE FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE SCIENCE & REASON MINIMALISM
the Table Baptism Scripture Singing Congregation

…the story doesn’t end at twelve
Week 1The Cane Ridge CommunionUnity · Priesthood · Future · Christ Alone · the TableThe Story
Week 2Thomas Campbell's Heresy TrialUnity · Freedom of Conscience · the TableThe Story
Week 3The Declaration & AddressUnity · Minimalism · Freedom of Conscience · Christ Alone · ScriptureThe Story
Week 4Rise & Fall of the Springfield PresbyterySelf-Sacrifice · Unity · Freedom of Conscience · CongregationThe Story
Week 5Brush Run: Where Two or Three GatherPriesthood · Congregation · the TableThe Story
Week 6The Millennial HarbingerFuture · Science & Reason · ScriptureThe Story
Week 7The Stone–Campbell MergerUnity · Priesthood · the Table · ScriptureThe Story
Week 8Lipscomb & the Civil WarFuture · Freedom of Conscience · CongregationThe Story
Week 9The Story of Believer's BaptismPriesthood · Homecoming · Freedom of Conscience · BaptismThe Practices
Week 10The Story of Congregational SingingPriesthood · Minimalism · Homecoming · SingingThe Practices
Week 11The Story of Studying ScripturePriesthood · Science & Reason · Freedom of Conscience · ScriptureThe Practices
Week 12The Story of GovernancePriesthood · Self-Sacrifice · Freedom of Conscience · CongregationThe Practices
If you want to read further

Books

  1. Leroy GarrettThe Stone-Campbell Movementthe standard one-volume story of the movement
  2. Richard T. HughesReviving the Ancient Faiththe story of Churches of Christ in America
  3. C. Leonard AllenDistant Voices · In the Great Streamrecovering the tradition’s forgotten voices
  4. Williams, Foster & BlowersThe Stone-Campbell Movement: A Global Historyall three streams, worldwide
  5. Foster et al., eds.The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movementthe reference work

Online

  1. therestorationmovement.comThe Restoration Movementbiographies, gravesites, and documents — Scott Harp
  2. mun.ca/rels/restmovRestoration Movement Textsprimary sources online — Hans Rollmann, Memorial University
  3. discipleshistory.orgDisciples of Christ Historical Societythe movement’s archive since 1941
  4. acu.eduCenter for Restoration StudiesAbilene Christian University — digital collections
Online

stone-campbell.micahredding.com

Home page
Home
Timeline page
Timeline
Exhibits page
Exhibits
People page
People

Exhibits · Timeline · People · Places · Documents

Next week

Week 1 — The Cane Ridge Communion

August 1801 · Bourbon County, Kentucky

Extra material

The timeline and the outline, laid out another way

CHRIST ALONE
UNITY PRIESTHOOD FUTURE
HOMECOMING SELF-SACRIFICE FREEDOMOF CONSCIENCE SCIENCE & REASON MINIMALISM
the Table Baptism Scripture Singing Congregation
…the age
to come
1801The Cane Ridge
Communion
1804The Last Will
& Testament
1807–09Thomas Campbell's
Trial
1809The Declaration
& Address
1812The Brush Run
Ordination
1826The Living
Oracles
1830The Millennial
Harbinger
1830Austintown
1832The Merger
at Lexington
1837The Lunenburg
Letter
1820s–40sThe Singing
Schools
1861–65Lipscomb &
the Civil War
2026This Class,
This Table
CHRIST ALONE
UNITY PRIESTHOOD FUTURE
HOMECOMING SELF-SACRIFICE FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE SCIENCE & REASON MINIMALISM
the Table Baptism Scripture Singing Congregation

The Story

  1. 1The Cane Ridge Communion
  2. 2Thomas Campbell's Heresy Trial
  3. 3The Declaration & Address
  4. 4Rise & Fall of the Springfield Presbytery
  5. 5Brush Run: Where Two or Three Gather
  6. 6The Millennial Harbinger
  7. 7The Stone–Campbell Merger
  8. 8Lipscomb & the Civil War

The Practices

  1. 9The Story of Believer's Baptism
  2. 10The Story of Congregational Singing
  3. 11The Story of Studying Scripture
  4. 12The Story of Governance

Eight weeks of story, four weeks of practice — and the story doesn't end at twelve.

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