Frequently Asked Questions
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As "the best kept secret in town," there are several things about the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) that you may not know or understand.  In an effort to "share the secret," we thought it might be helpful to share some of the questions we receive from first time visitors and others that are interested in our church.
   
If you would like more information about any of the questions covered, or if you have a question that is not answered on this page, please do not hesitate to contact us.
 
 
What "kind of church" are you?
We are a Mainline Protestant Christian Church. 
 
With what other churches are you similar?    
"The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has beliefs and practices in common with all sorts of Christians. These apparent similarities sometimes are superficial, sometimes fundamental. We baptize by immersion, so we look like Baptists. We have Communion every Sunday, so we look a bit like Roman Catholics. We stress the ministry of the laity, so we look a little like Quakers. Our congregations call their pastors rather than accepting assigned ministers, so in that respect we look like Presbyterians. We rely heavily on preaching and teaching, so we look somewhat like Methodists. We have congregational government, so we look a lot like the United Church of Christ."
 Excerpted from We Call Ourselves Disciples, by General Minister and President Emeritus Dr. Kenneth Teegarden
 
What do you believe? 
    The only affirmation one must make in order to become a member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is that he or she believes that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and that he or she proclaims him as Lord and Savior.  There are no other creeds or doctrines one has to accept in order to become a member.  This allows for a tremendous diversity of theological understanding within our congregation.  Members of our congregation represent almost every theological and political position imaginable.  Through our common belief in Christ, we are able to learn from our differences instead of argue because of them.  This open minded approach helps us to build a truly diverse and deeply committed body of believers who truly reflect God's glory.
 
 What is your mission statement? 
   "By God's grace through Jesus Christ, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Montgomery, Alabama exists to demonstrate and proclaim God's joyful, unconditional love and to provide an inclusive environment of spiritual growth and nurturing for God's children."
 
When was your church established?   
   The Denomination was established on the American Frontier in the early 1800's by a group of Christians seeking to start a church dedicated to unity based on the New Testament.  First Christian Church in Montgomery was established in 1908.
 
How large is your church?
     The denomination now counts nearly 850,000 members in the United States and Canada. Numerically, the strength of the Disciples of Christ runs in a broad arc that sweeps from Ohio and Kentucky through the Midwest and down into Oklahoma and Texas.  First Christian Church in Montgomery currently has around 180 members, 150 of which are active on a regular basis.
 
What qualifications do your pastors have?    
    Our denomination generally requires its ministers to receive a Master of Divinity Degree from an accredited seminary before they can be ordained.  This means our pastor has a minimum of three to four years of education past their Bachelor's Degree.  On some occasions, churches in our denomination are led by licensed ministers who have not completed seminary but who have experienced the call of God and have undergone some ministerial preparation through the regional or general church.
 
Are women allowed to be pastors?   
   The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) was one of the first denominations to ordain women, doing so in 1888. This tradition of strong female leadership continues to be an integral part of our church. In fact, women experience full inclusion in every aspect of the church, including pastoral leadership, as elders and as teachers.

What are your worship services like?
    Our worship services are traditional and will feel very similar to other services you have attended in Protestant Churches.  We sing familiar hymns (with instruments), follow the Revised Common Lectionary (used for scripture lessons and sermons), have community prayer time, and celebrate communion every week.
 
Who is allowed to take communion?
    Just as the love of Christ is open to all who would receive it, so is our communion table.  Anyone who walks through our doors is welcomed to participate.
 
How does a person join your church?   
   At the end of every service, we extend the invitation for anyone gathered to join our fellowship through one of three ways.  Those who have not yet been baptized may make their confession of faith ("Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God and do you accept him as Lord and Savior?" -- "I do.") and then be baptized through full immersion.  Those who have been baptized (either by  immersion, sprinkling or christening) may transfer their membership from another congregation to become a permanent member or they may become an associate member (this membership is designed for students and military personnel who wish to be affiliated with our church but desire to keep their permanent membership established elsewhere.  Associate members have all the rights and privileges of permanent members.)
 
 
Once again, if you would like more information on any of the above questions, or if you have a question you would like answered, please  
contact us.