A Great Commission People! Cypress Chapel Christian Church Membership Class January 2013 Pastor Chris Surber
Church History The Christian Churches
The Christian Churches What is a Christian Church? The name is of course seemingly rather ambiguous. Aren t all Christians Christian? The Christian Church as a family of churches traces its origin back to 1792. Its root run deep in Northern North Carolina & Southern Virginia. Cypress Chapel was a part of its early history.
The Christian Churches The most notable figure in the formation of the Christian Church is James O Kelly who, along with several other dissenting ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, founded the Republican Methodist Church in 1792. At the General Conference of the Methodist Church he introduced a resolution to allow clergy to appeal their assignments from the bishop, if they deemed them to be unsatisfactory.
The Christian Churches After several days of debate, the resolution was defeated. In protest, O'Kelly and a large percentage of fellow ministers withdrew from the MEC, forming the Republican Methodist Church which later came to be known as the Christian Church or simply the Connection, later merging in 1931 to create the Congregational Christian Churches.
The Christian Churches O Kelly was an interesting and influential church leader. James O'Kelly (born 1735 in Tidewater Virginia; died October 16, 1826 in Chatham County, North Carolina) was an American clergyman during the Second Great Awakening and an important figure in the early history of Methodism in America. He was also known for his outspoken views on abolitionism, penning the strong antislavery work Essay on Negro Slavery.
The Christian Churches Appointed as a Methodist circuit rider in 1777, he organized preaching circuits in central and southeastern North Carolina during the American Revolutionary War. O'Kelly would later publish his position in a tract entitled The Author's Apology for Protesting against the Methodist Episcopal Government (1798).
The Christian Churches In this piece O'Kelly claims that then Methodist Bishops Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke were not elected to the episcopacy by the Conference. O'Kelly is answered in 1800 by Nicholas Snethen. Who accused O'Kelly of propagating "notorious falsehoods." O'Kelly, not one to let the argument rest, responds with his A Vindication of an Apology.
The Christian Churches Cardinal Principles of the Christian Church (O Kelly Movement) 1. The Lord Jesus is the only Head of the Church. 2. The name Christian to the exclusion of all party and sectarian names. The Holy Bible, or the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, our only creed, and a sufficient rule of faith and practice.
The Christian Churches 4. Christian Character, or vital piety, the only test of church fellowship and membership. 5. The right of private judgment, and the liberty of the conscience, the privilege and duty of all.
The Christian Churches The O'Kelly movement laid the foundation for subsequent Restoration movements out of which grew the Stone-Campbell Movement, leading to the Disciples of Christ, the Independent Christian Churches, and the Churches of Christ. This is one the earliest uniquely American Christian movements.
The Christian Churches Cypress Chapel stands in the direct lineage of the O Kelly movement of the Christian Churches. Today many of those original Christian Churches remain. Some are independent Christian Churches (Non-Denominational), others are in the UCC, NACCC or the CCCC, or one of a handful of smaller groups of congregational churches.
Church History The Congregational Churches
The Congregational Churches As we progress through a concise history of the Congregational Churches it will become evident why a merger of the Congregational and Christian Churches was plausible, if not inevitable. The core guiding principles of each were very similar, though they had divergent central theologies.
The Congregational Churches The Congregational Way is a term which is typically preferred over Congregationalism. It does not describes a specific set of beliefs or doctrinal statements. It denotes a way of following Jesus centered on Faith in God as He has revealed Himself in the pages of Holy Scripture, Freedom of conscience to interpret the Scripture individually as a priesthood of believers, and Christian Fellowship in the love and power of the Holy Spirit.
The Congregational Churches Faith, Freedom, Fellowship: Unity in Diversity in Christian Covenant. Congregational Christians are bound together in the local fellowship in Covenant with God through faith in Jesus Christ and in Covenant with one another, according to the bonds of Christian affection in the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Congregational Churches Covenant is central to The Congregational Way. We are bound together in covenant as we sojourn through the Christian pilgrimage of this life. God has made a covenant with His people and likewise we live within the bounds of covenant.
The Congregational Churches The roots of The Congregational Way are found in the driving principals of the Protestant Reformation. (Luther 95 Thesis October 1517 Peace of Westphalia /1648). 1 Sola scriptura (by Scripture alone) 2 Sola fide (by faith alone) 3 Sola gratia (by grace alone) 4 Solus Christus (Christ alone) 5 Soli Deo gloria (glory to God alone)
The Congregational Churches While the Congregational Churches grew out of the English Reformation and held to Reformed doctrines, the Christian Churches grew out of Wesleyan Methodism and as such were more Revivalist and emphasized Free Will and Holiness in contrast to the Congregational emphasis upon the Sovereignty of God and Purity. (Calvinism vs. Arminiansim)
The Congregational Churches The beginnings of a formulation of Congregational principals or theology are found in Robert Brown s Statement of Congregational Principals Which he wrote in 1582. In direct opposition to the rule and the State Church of England, Anglicanism.
The Congregational Churches He was the first to secede from the Church of England, and the first to found a Church of his own on Congregational principles. These Separatists were primarily Calvinistic Christians who had been heavily influenced by the prevailing sentiments and theological principals which drove the development of the Protestant Reformation.
The Congregational Churches Their theology was centered upon the sovereign glory of God, a deep spiritual piety, and an abiding reverence for God in prayer life and worship. Close historical ties with Presbyterians; separated primarily on matters of polity, not theology or praxis.
The Congregational Churches Puritans: The Separatists were part of the Puritan movement who want to purify the church, carry reformation beyond the Act of Uniformity (1559) that orders every minister to use the Book of Common Prayer. They believed in freedom of worship and the simplicity of religious life, wanting more emphasis on preaching than ritual or doctrine.
The Congregational Churches Separatists: While the Puritans hoped to reform the church within, the Separatists went further by breaking away from the Church of England and worshiping together in their own homes. The Separatists were more radical in their faith and how far they were willing to go for doctrinal purity.
The Congregational Churches Key Principals of Polity & Practice Local Autonomy Local & Voluntary Ecclesiastical Relationships Headship of Christ Priesthood of Believers Calls its Own Ministers
The Congregational Churches Key Principals of Polity & Practice Self Governed by boards and committees Affirmation of a Covenant & Evidence of Christian Character only Requirements for Church Membership Shared Authority is Vested in Boards and Committee Structure. A Wise Weakness
The Congregational Churches The Congregational Way was brought to the New World by the Pilgrims in 1620. This was the result of a growing sentiment on the part of the Separatists to find a place where they may live their way freely, after many of them had fled to Holland for a time, to find religious freedom.
The Congregational Churches The Pilgrims at Plymouth Colony and the Puritans of the Massachusetts Bay Colony were organized in union by the Cambridge Platform in 1648. For the first 100 years of life in the colonies, Congregationalism flourished as the prevailing religious expression.
The Congregational Churches They both held these key principles in common in their inception: Autonomy of the local church. Christ alone is the head of the Church. Each congregation calls its own ministers. Priesthood of the believer. Liberty of personal conscience. The completeness of the local gathering.
Cypress Chapel History A Guiding Memory
Cypress Chapel History Founded in 1746 and with the first building erected in 1750, Cypress Chapel Christian Church was originally a rural glebe of the Episcopal Church in Colonial Virginia. Still in its original location near the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, the "Chapel on the Cypress Swamp" had been proudly proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ since before the birth of our nation.
Cypress Chapel History During the Revolutionary War the Wesleyan Society, later known as the Methodist-Episcopal Church, held services here. Cypress Chapel was among them, and was one of the early leaders in the establishment of the Christian Denomination of the South. The Christian Church, as it was called, was founded in 1794 in Surry, Virginia.
Cypress Chapel History The first regular session of the Southern Christian Convention was held at Cypress Chapel in 1858. When the Christians merged with the Congregationalists in 1931, Cypress Chapel became a Congregational Christian Church. Another merger came in 1961 with the Evangelical and Reformed Church, creating the United Church of Christ. Cypress Chapel participated in the union for a brief time before becoming independent.
Cypress Chapel History Cypress Chapel remained independent for over 30 years, faithfully holding to the Christian principles upon which the Church had originally been built. In 1994, the 200th Anniversary Year of the founding of the Christian Church, Cypress joined the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference (the "4C's"). Together with the 4C's, Cypress is again linked with other likeminded congregations around the country and with missionaries all over the world.
The Modern Landscape Congregational Christian Churches in America
Modern Landscape The United Church of Christ (UCC) was formed by a merger of the Congregational Christian Churches and the Evangelical & Reformed Church (E&R) in 1957. As a movement, the UCC has typically favored theologically and socially liberal positions on such issues as gay rights, women s rights, abortion, etc.
Modern Landscape The UCC represents the majority of Congregational Churches of Plymouth heritage. As of 2008: 1.1 million members in about 5,300 local congregations The United Church of Christ does contain a small number of biblically orthodox churches but by and large the UCC is the most progressive Christian denomination in the United States.
Modern Landscape The National Association of Congregational Christian Churches (NACCC) was formed in 1955 in view of the impending merger to form the UCC. The NACCC is sometimes referred to as Continuing Congregational as the conference exists in a manner similar to that of Congregational Associations prior to the formation of the UCC.
Modern Landscape About 108, 000 members in about 400 churches. Concentrated in California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Theologically and socially the NACCC is often seen as the moderate Congregational Conference. There is wide diversity in the NACCC.
Modern Landscape The Conservative Congregational Christian Conference (CCCC or 4C s) The CCCC was organized in 1948 by some Congregational Christian churches and ministers who disagreed with what they perceived as unacceptable liberal theological, moral, and political stances espoused (or tolerated) by the majority of the congregations and national leadership.
Modern Landscape We are the smallest Congregational Conference with As of 2005, the CCCC had 42,838 members in 275 churches. That number is growing with church planting ventures, Conservative UCC churches joining the conference. Many independent ministers and chaplains hold credentials with CCCC.
Modern Landscape Many Congregational Churches have chosen to become or remain independent of these associations for various reasons. The Congregational Churches are vast and varied in theology and practice. Many Congregational Church leaders have made important contributions to society and church.
Notable Congregational Figures Jonathan Edwards (October 5, 1703 March 22, 1758) was a preacher, missionary, and America's most important and original philosophical theologian. Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.
Notable Congregational Figures Horace Bushnell (April 14, 1802 February 17, 1876) was an American Congregational clergyman, visionary, theologian, statesmen.
Notable Congregational Figures Dwight Lyman Moody (February 5, 1837 - December 22, 1899), also known as D.L. Moody, was an American evangelist who founded the Moody Church, the Moody Bible Institute, and Moody Publishers.
Notable Congregational Figures Washington Gladden (February 11, 1836 - July 2, 1918) was a leading American Congregational church pastor and early leader of the Social Gospel movement.
Cypress Chapel Today Mission
Mission Mans chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. To this end we are a people of ever increasing faith in God, empowered by His Spirit, following Jesus, gathering the world into the embrace of God through the power of the pure Gospel. Our mission is to glorify God and to do His will in our lives and in the world.
Mission To this end we are a people of growing: Discipleship. Fellowship. Outreach. Evangelism.
Cypress Chapel Today Values
Values We are a diverse people united around a few key principles of faith. Transformational biblical teaching & preaching Christ-Centered worship Authentic community Gospel-Centered outreach
Values We believe the Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, to be the only inspired, inerrant, infallible, authoritative Word of God written. We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Ghost. We believe in the deity of Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
Values We believe that for salvation of lost and sinful man regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by Whose indwelling power and fullness the Christian is enabled to live a godly life in this present evil world. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life, and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation. We believe in the spiritual unity of all believers in Christ.
Cypress Chapel Today Vision
Vision We are A great Commission People. Every aspect of the spiritual and corporate life of Cypress Chapel is centered upon fulfilling the Great Commission and discipling believers. The Great Commission is the heartbeat of Cypress Chapel in order to gather the world into the worship of God.
Conclusion In the time that I have served Cypress Chapel we have regrouped as a people after a lengthy season of storms in the life of the Church. We have taken great strides to right the ship financially, making many financial adjustments, budget reductions, and transitioning paid positions to volunteer positions.
Conclusion At present we are meeting our current budget needs, steadily paying off past renovation debt, seeing a steady increase in average attendance and growth through new membership and increased activity on the part of many long time members. Our influence in the community has increased and we are making an impact for Christ.
Conclusion At Cypress Chapel we are fulfilling our mandate to be a healing community where the grace of God abounds and the truth of His Word is proclaimed. We are on the right track and there remains much work to be done. We need every member and friend of the church to do their part to build the Kingdom of God in our corner of the world.
The Cost of Discipleship Before the service speak to God. During the service let God speak to you. After the service speak with your neighbor. Matthew 28:18-20