Coptic Church & Ecumenical Movement - Saint Mina Coptic ...

maintain a degree of flexibility in their rites of worship. There are no Bishops, leaving church
affairs to be administered by national and state presidents.
BAPTIST
This Church began in the 17 th century in England. As the name indicates, the chief cause of
difference here was in the matter of baptism. Where most Christians practised infant baptism,
these people felt that the only real baptism was the baptism of Christian believers. On this issue
they separated themselves from the Church of England. Their greatest concentration is in the
United States.
There is no official creed or system of Church law to which Baptists must subscribe because the
Bible, as the Word of God, is the supreme guide to faith and practice. Individuals have the right
of private interpretation, but as a guide, most churches include in their constitution a brief
statement of commonly accepted doctrines, which cover the main evangelical beliefs with
additional articles on baptism and church government. However, over the years Baptists have
produced many ‘confessions of faith’ and theological documents for the guidance of their
members.
CHURCHES OF CHRIST
It was organised as a separate denomination in the United States from 1827 by Alexander
Campbell who had been a Presbyterian minister. It grew out of a strong interest in the union of
the Churches, through a restoration of New Testament Christianity.
Some historians describe the Churches of Christ as the indigenous American Religious
movement. The Church beliefs that God’s self revelation has been progressive. This belief
found expression in their stress on the fact that it was the New Testament rather than the Old
Testament, which was normative for Christians. Further, they assert that the Scriptures need to
be intelligently interpreted. The Churches of Christ claim they do not hold any formal doctrine,
rather they exist to re-acquaint the divided Church with the need for unity.
QUAKERS OR SOCIETY OF FRIENDS
This denomination began in the 17 th Century under the leadership of George Fox. He
emphasised the ‘Inner Light’ and pursuing this idea. The Quakers dispensed with most of the
normal features of Church life. Their worship is characterised by quietness and silence.
BRETHREN
Under the leadership of an Irish Anglican priest, J. Darby, groups of brethren began to appear in
England about 1830, accepting neither creeds nor formal ministers. They were to be found in
groups open in varying degrees to ideas and conduct other than their own.
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