Christian Historians Examine Early Struggle to Preserve Churches of Christ Identity

Faith Facts

• The Restoration Movement produced three distinct fellowships by 1906, with Churches of Christ emerging as a conservative, Bible-focused body
• Early 20th-century leaders in Indiana, Tennessee, and Texas held differing convictions on the Holy Spirit, millennial teaching, and church institutions
• The conservative Texas tradition ultimately shaped the doctrinal identity that guided Churches of Christ for much of the twentieth century

A new book from Abilene Christian University Press offers a detailed look at the doctrinal battles that forged the identity of Churches of Christ in the decades after 1906. The volume, the first of three planned works, draws on essays by eight authors who trace how congregations navigated questions of Scripture, worship, and church order.

By the early twentieth century, the Restoration Movement had separated into three distinct groups. Churches of Christ stood apart for their commitment to congregational autonomy and a plain reading of the New Testament.

The collection opens with Daniel Sommer’s 1889 Address and Declaration, which set the tone for separation from the Disciples of Christ. Subsequent chapters highlight the contributions of David Lipscomb and respected African-American leaders such as Preston Taylor, S.W. Womack, and Marshall Keeble.

“Allen and Hicks are to be commended for editing a splendid and illuminating volume. Readers interested in the history of Churches of Christ will eagerly anticipate the next installment in the series.”

Three regional traditions emerged, each with its own convictions. Leaders in Tennessee upheld belief in miraculous divine action and a future millennial kingdom, while Indiana voices favored noninstitutional simplicity and resisted Bible colleges. The Texas tradition, emphasizing the Word alone and strict obedience to positive commands, gradually gained dominance.

Through influential publications like R.L. Whiteside and C.R. Nichol’s Sound Doctrine series and N.B. Hardeman’s Tabernacle Sermons, the Texas perspective reached congregations across the nation. By the 1930s, the Gospel Advocate had become its leading voice.

The book closes with primary source excerpts that allow readers to hear the founders in their own words. Christian families and church libraries will find this careful history both instructive and encouraging for the challenges of today.

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