| Part ofa series on |
| Christianity |
|---|
 |
.png)
AChristian denomination is a distinctreligious body withinChristianity, identified by traits such as a name,organization anddoctrine. Individual bodies, however, may use alternative terms to describe themselves, such as church, convention, communion, assembly, house, union, network, or sometimes fellowship. Divisions between one denomination and another are primarily defined by authority and doctrine. Issues regarding thenature of Jesus,Trinitarianism,salvation, the authority ofapostolic succession,eschatology,conciliarity,papal supremacy andpapal primacy among others may separate one denomination from another. Groups of denominations, often sharing broadly similar beliefs, practices, and historical ties—can be known as "branches of Christianity" or "denominational families" (e.g.Eastern orWestern Christianity and their sub-branches).[1] These "denominational families" are often imprecisely also called denominations.
Christian denominations since the 20th century have often involved themselves inecumenism. Ecumenism refers to efforts among Christian bodies to develop better understandings and closer relationships.[2][3] It also refers to efforts toward visible unity in theChristian Church, though the terms of visible unity vary for each denomination of Christianity, as certain groups teach they are theone true church, or that they were divinely instituted for the propagation of a certain doctrine.[4][5] The largest ecumenical organization in Christianity is theWorld Council of Churches.[6][3]
The following is not a complete list, but aims to provide a comprehensible overview of the diversity among denominations of Christianity,ecumenical organizations, and Christian ideologies not necessarily represented by specific denominations. Only those Christian denominations, ideologies and organizations withWikipedia articles will be listed in order to ensure that all entries on this list are notable and verifiable. The denominations and ecumenical organizations listed are generally ordered from ancient to contemporary Christianity.
Christianity can be taxonomically divided into six main groups: theChurch of the East,Oriental Orthodoxy,Eastern Orthodoxy,Roman Catholicism,Protestantism, andRestorationism.[8][9] Within these six main traditions are various Christian denominations (for example, theCoptic Orthodox Church is an Oriental Orthodox denomination). Protestantism includes many groups which do not share any ecclesiastical governance and have widely diverging beliefs and practices.[10] Major Protestant branches includeAdventism,Anabaptism,Anglicanism,Baptists,Lutheranism,Methodism,Moravianism,Quakerism,Pentecostalism,Plymouth Brethren,Reformed Christianity, andWaldensianism.[10] Reformed Christianity itself includes theContinental Reformed,Presbyterian,Evangelical Anglican,Congregationalist traditions.[11] Anabaptist Christianity itself includes theAmish,Apostolic,Bruderhof,Hutterite,Mennonite,Reformed Baptist,River Brethren, andSchwarzenau Brethren traditions.[12]
Within theRestorationist branch of Christianity, denominations include theIrvingians,Swedenborgians,Christadelphians,Latter Day Saints,Jehovah's Witnesses,La Luz del Mundo, andIglesia ni Cristo.[13][14][15] Among those listed, some bodies included do not consider themselves denominations, though for the purpose of academic study of religion, they are categorized as a denomination, that is, "an organized body of Christians."[16] For example, the Catholic Church considers itself theone true church and theHoly See as pre-denominational.[17] The Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Oriental Orthodox Churches, also considers themselves to be the original Christian church along with the Roman Catholic Church.[18][19] The Lutheran churches have viewed themselves as the "main trunk of the historical Christian Tree" founded by Christ and the Apostles, holding that during theReformation, the Church of Rome fell away.[20] Certain denominational traditions teach that they were divinely instituted to propagate a certain doctrine or spiritual experience, for example the raising up ofMethodism by God to propagateentire sanctification (the "second blessing"),[5] or the launch ofPentecostalism to bestow abaptism with the Holy Spirit evidenced byspeaking in tongues on humanity.[21] To express further the complexity involved, the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churcheswere historically one and the same, as evidenced by the fact that they are the only two modern churches in existence to accept all of thefirst seven ecumenical councils,until differences arose, such aspapal authority and dominance, the rise of theEcumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, thefall of the Western Roman Empire, the continuance of emperors in theEastern Roman Empire, and the final and permanent split that occurred during theCrusades with thesiege of Constantinople.[22] This also illustrates that denominations can arise not only from religious or theological issues, but political and generational divisions as well.
.jpg)
Other churches that are viewed by non-adherents as denominational are highly decentralized and do not have any formal denominational structure, authority, or record-keeping beyond the local congregation; several groups within theRestoration Movement andcongregational churches fall into this category.
Some Christian bodies are large (e.g. Catholics, Orthodox, Pentecostals andnondenominationals, Anglicans or Baptists), while others are just a few small churches, and in most cases the relative size is not evident in this list except for the denominational group or movement as a whole (e.g. Church of the East, Oriental Orthodox Churches, or Lutheranism). The largest denomination is the Catholic Church with more than 1.4 billion members.[23][24] The smallest of these groups may have only a few dozen adherents or an unspecified number of participants in independent churches as described below. As such, specific numbers and a certain size may not define a group as a denomination. However, as a general rule, the larger a group becomes, the more acceptance and legitimacy it gains.
Modern movements such asChristian fundamentalism,Radical Pietism,Evangelicalism, theHoliness movement andCharismatic Christianity sometimes cross denominational lines, or in some cases create new denominations out of two or more continuing groups (as is the case for manyunited and uniting churches, for example; e.g. theUnited Church of Christ).[25][26] Such subtleties and complexities are not clearly depicted here.
Between denominations, theologians, and comparative religionists there are considerable disagreements about which groups can be properly called Christian or a Christian denomination as disagreements arise primarily from doctrinal differences between each other. As an example, this list contains groups also known as "rites" which many, such as the Roman Catholic Church, would say are not denominations as they are in full papalcommunion, and thus part of the Catholic Church.[27] For the purpose of simplicity, this list is intended to reflect the self-understanding of each denomination. Explanations of different opinions concerning their status as Christian denominations can be found at their respective articles.
There is no official recognition in most parts of the world for religious bodies, and there is no official clearinghouse which could determine the status or respectability of religious bodies. Often there is considerable disagreement between various groups about whether others should be labeled with pejorative terms such as "cult", or about whether this or that group enjoys some measure of respectability. Such considerations often vary from place to place, or culture to culture, where one denomination may enjoy majority status in one region, but be widely regarded as a "dangerous cult" in another part of the world. Inclusion on this list does not indicate any judgment about the size, importance, or character of a group or its members.
Early Christianity is often divided into three different branches that differ in theology and traditions, which all appeared in the 1st centuryAD/CE. They includeJewish Christianity,Pauline Christianity andGnostic Christianity.[28] All modern Christian denominations are said to have descended from the Jewish and Pauline Christianities, with Gnostic Christianity dying, or being hunted out of existence after the early Christian era and being largely forgotten until discoveries made in the late 19th and early twentieth centuries.[29] There are also other theories on the origin of Christianity.[30]
The following Christian groups appeared between the beginning of the Christian religion and theFirst Council of Nicaea in 325.
The following are groups of Christians appearing between theFirst Council of Nicaea, theEast-West Schism andproto-Protestantism. Among these late ancient and Medieval Christian denominations, the most prominent and continuously operating have been theChurch of the East and its successors, theAssyrian Church of the East,Ancient Church of the East, andChaldean Catholic Church (full communion withRome since 1552); and theOriental Orthodox Churches. In the 5th century, two schisms occurred: the first for the Oriental Orthodox and the second for the Church of the East, which cemented the existence of three parallel ecclesiastical structures.[31]
During theSasanian Period, a schism occurred between the Church of the East and the Roman-recognizedstate church of Rome. This church is also called the Nestorian Church or the Church of Persia.[32] Declaring itself separate from the state church in 424–427, liturgically, it adhered to theEast Syriac Rite.[31] Theologically, it adopted thedyophysite doctrine of Nestorianism, which emphasizes the separateness of thedivine and human natures ofJesus, and addressesMary asChristotokos instead ofTheotokos; the Church of the East also largely practicedaniconism, especially afterIslamic conquests.[33][34] Adhered to by groups such as theKeraites andNaimans (seeChristianity among the Mongols), the Church of the East had a prominent presence inInner Asia between the 11th and 14th centuries, but by the 15th century was largely confined to the EasternAramaic-speakingAssyrian communities of northern Mesopotamia, in and around the rough triangle formed byMosul andLakes Van andUrmia—the same general region where the Church of the East had first emerged between the 1st and 3rd centuries.[35]
Its patriarchal lines divided in a tumultuous period from the 16th-19th century, finally consolidated into theEastern CatholicChaldean Church (in full communion with thePope of Rome), and theAssyrian Church of the East.[36][37] Other minor, modern related splinter groups include the Ancient Church of the East (split 1968 due to rejecting some changes made by PatriarchShimun XXI Eshai) and theChaldean Syrian Church. In 1995 the Chaldean Syrian Church reunified with the Assyrian Church of the East as anarchbishopric. The Chaldean Syrian Church is headquartered inThrissur,India. Together, the Assyrian, Ancient, Chaldean Syrian and Chaldean Catholic Church comprised about 1,120,000 members as of 2025.[38][39][40][41] The three churches, among others, are part ofSyriac Christianity.[42]
| Part of a series on |
| Oriental Orthodoxy |
|---|
 |
| Oriental Orthodox churches |
Independent churches |
History and theology
|
Liturgy and practices
|
Major figures
|
Links and resources |
 Christianity portal |
The Oriental Orthodox Churches are the Christian churches adhering toMiaphysite Christology and theology, with a combined global membership of 62 million as of 2019[update].[43][44][45] These churches reject theCouncil of Chalcedon in 451 and the following Byzantine councils.[46][45] Following the events of the council, the majority of the Eastern regions within theByzantine Empire, particularly inMesopotamia, theLevant, andEgypt, rejected the teachings and proceedings of the council. They continued as Miaphysite patriarchates inAntioch andAlexandria, withArmenia andEthiopia formally joining them shortly thereafter.[47][48]
Other denominations, such as the Eastern Orthodox Church and bodies inOld andTrue Orthodoxy, often label the Oriental Orthodox Churches as "Monophysite". As the Oriental Orthodox do not adhere to the teachings ofEutyches, they themselves reject this label, preferring the term "Miaphysite" based onCyril of Alexandria's Christological formula.[49]
Historically, the Oriental Orthodox Churches considered themselves collectively to be theone, holy, catholic and apostolic Church that Jesusfounded. Some Christian denominations have recently considered the body of Oriental Orthodoxy to be a part of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church—a view which is gaining increasing acceptance in the wake ofecumenical dialogues between groups such asEastern Orthodoxy, Roman and Eastern Catholicism, andProtestant Christianity.[50][51]
All canonical or mainstream Oriental Orthodox Churches are part of theWorld Council of Churches,[45] though only five form the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches.[52] Throughout Oriental Orthodoxy, non-mainstream or non-canonical churches have passed in and out of recognition with the mainstream churches (e.g.,British Orthodox Church).[53]
Eastern Orthodoxy is one of the main Chalcedonian Christian branches, alongside Roman Catholicism and Protestantism.[54][55] Each Eastern Orthodox church considers itself part of the one true church, and pre-denominational. Though they consider themselves pre-denominational, being the original Church of Christ before 1054,[56][18] some scholars suggest the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic churches began after theEast–West schism.[57][58]
The Eastern Orthodox Church, officially the Orthodox Catholic Church, claims continuity (based uponapostolic succession) with the early Church as part of thestate church of Rome. The Eastern Orthodox Church had about 230 million members as of 2019[update], making it the second largest single denomination behind the Catholic Church.[59][60][61] Some of them have a disputed administrative status (i.e. their autonomy orautocephaly is not recognized universally). Eastern Orthodox churches by and large remain in communion with one another, although this has broken at times throughout its history. Two examples of impaired communion between the Orthodox churches include the Moscow–Constantinople schisms of1996 and2018.[62][63][64][65] There are also independent churches subscribing to the Eastern Orthodox traditions.
These Eastern Orthodox churches are not in communion with the mainstream or canonical Eastern Orthodox Church. Some of these denominations consider themselves as part ofTrue Orthodoxy or theOld Believers. True Orthodoxy, or Genuine Orthodoxy, separated from the mainstream church over issues ofecumenism andcalendar reform since the 1920s;[66] and the Russian Old Believers refused to accept the liturgical and ritual changes made byPatriarch Nikon of Moscow between 1652 and 1666. Several Old Believer denominations have reunified with theRussian Orthodox Church and subsequent wider Eastern Orthodox communion.
 |
| Part ofa series on the |
| Catholic Church |
|---|
 St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City |
| Overview |
Miscellaneous |
Links and resources |
 Catholic Church portal |
The Catholic Church, orRoman Catholic Church, is composed of 24 autonomoussui iurisparticular churches: theLatin Church and the 23Eastern Catholic Churches. It considers itself the one, holy,catholic and apostolic Church thatChrist founded,[67] and whichSaint Peter initiated along with the missionary work ofSaint Paul and others. As such, the Catholic Church does not consider itself a denomination, but rather considers itself pre-denominational, the original Church of Christ.[68][69] Continuity is claimed based uponapostolic succession with the early Church.[70] The Catholic population exceeds 1.4 billion as of 2025[update],[24] making up the majority of Western Christianity. Stemming from the one Roman Catholic institution, there exists several Independent Catholic churches which have expanded the Catholic denominational family, becomingOld and Old Roman Catholicism, andLiberal Catholics.
TheLatin Church is the largest and most widely known of the 24sui iuris churches that together make up the Catholic Church.[27] It is headed by the Bishop of Rome—thePope—with headquarters inVatican City, enclaved withinRome,Italy. As of 2015[update], the Latin Church comprised 1.255 billion members.[71]
All of the following are particular churches of the Catholic Church. They are all incommunion with the Pope as Bishop of Rome and acknowledge his claim of universal jurisdiction and authority. They have some minor distinct theological emphases and expressions (for instance, in the case of those that are of Greek/Byzantine tradition, concerning some non-doctrinal aspects of the Latin view ofPurgatory andclerical celibacy).[72] The Eastern Catholic Churches and the Latin Church (which are united in the worldwide Catholic Church) share the same doctrine and sacraments, and thus the same faith. The total membership of the churches accounted for approximately 18 million members as of 2019[update].[73]
Independent Catholics consists of those denominations embodyingcatholicity, and have initially separated from the Latin Church in 1724 through the consecrations of bishops for the present-dayOld Catholic Archdiocese of Utrecht without papal approval.[74][75] Largely distinguished by their rejection of papal infallibility and supremacy, most Independent Catholic churches are unrecognized by the Vatican, although their sacraments have been recognized asvalid but illicit.[76]
Protestantism is a movement within Christianity which owes its name to the 1529Protestation at Speyer, but originated in 1517 whenMartin Luther began his dispute with the Roman Catholic Church. This period of time, known as theReformation, began a series of events resulting over the next 500 years in several newly denominated churches (listed below). Some denominations were started by intentionally dividing themselves from the Roman Catholic Church, such as in the case of theEnglish Reformation while others, such as with Luther's followers, were excommunicated after attempting reform.[77] New denominations and organizations formed through further divisions within Protestant churches since the Reformation began. A denomination labeled "Protestant" subscribes to the fundamental Protestant principles—though not always—that is scripture alone, justification by faith alone, and the universal priesthood of believers.[78]
The majority of contemporary Protestants are members of Adventism, Anglicanism, the Baptist churches, Calvinism (Reformed Protestantism), Lutheranism, Methodism and Pentecostalism.[79]Nondenominational, Evangelical,charismatic,neo-charismatic, independent,Convergence, and other churches are on the rise, and constitute a significant part of Protestant Christianity.[80]
This list gives only an overview, and certainly does not mention all of the Protestant denominations. The exact number of Protestant denominations, including the members of the denominations, is difficult to calculate and depends on definition. A group that fits the generally accepted definition of "Protestant" might not officially use the term. Therefore, it should be taken with caution. The most accepted figure among various authors and scholars includes around 900 million to a little over 1 billion Protestant Christians.[81][82]
Proto-Protestantism refers to movements similar to the Protestant Reformation, but before 1517, when Martin Luther (1483–1546) is reputed to have nailed theNinety-Five-Theses to the church door. Major early Reformers werePeter Waldo (c. 1140–c. 1205),John Wycliffe (1320s–1384), andJan Hus (c. 1369–1415). It is not completely correct to call these groups Protestant due to the fact that some of them had nothing to do with the1529 protestation at Speyer which coined the term Protestant. In particular, theUtraquists were eventually accommodated as a separate Catholic rite by thepapacy after a military attempt to end their movement failed. On the other hand, the survivingWaldensians ended up joining Reformed Protestantism, so it is not completely inaccurate to refer to their movement as Protestant; theWaldensian Evangelical Church is a well known existing body in that tradition. The Hussites are presently represented in theMoravian Church,Unity of the Brethren and theCzechoslovak Hussite Church.
Lutherans are a major branch of Protestantism, identifying with the theology of Martin Luther, a German friar, ecclesiastical reformer, andtheologian. Lutheranism initially began as an attempt to reform the Catholic Church before the excommunication of its members. Lutherans are divided amongHigh Church,Confessional,Pietist and Liberal churchmanships, though these can overlap, e.g. theCommunion of Nordic Lutheran Dioceses is High Church and Confessional. The whole of Lutheranism had about 70-90 million members in 2018,[83][84][85][86] and its largest communion, the Lutheran World Federation, had a total of 78,431,111 members as of 2023, making it the sixth-largest communion.[87] The largest non-United Lutheran denomination was theEthiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus, anEastern Protestant Christian group.[88]
Those who separated from established Lutheran churches to form their own denominations are known as Radical Pietists (as opposed toPietistic Lutherans, who remain in the Lutheran churches (such as theChurch of the Lutheran Brethren) and combine its emphasis on Biblical doctrine with the importance of individual piety and living a holy Christian life.[89] Although the Radical Pietists broke with Lutheranism, its influence on Anglicanism, in particularJohn Wesley, led to the spawning of theMethodist movement.
| Part ofa series on |
| Reformed Christianity |
|---|
 Reformation Wall in Geneva, featuring prominent Reformed theologiansWilliam Farel,John Calvin,Theodore Beza, andJohn Knox |
Background |
Theologians List of theologians
|
 Reformed Christianity portal |
Calvinism, also known as the Reformed tradition or Reformed Protestantism is a movement which broke from the Catholic Church in the 16th century. Reformed Christianity is represented in theContinental Reformed,Presbyterian, andCongregationalist traditions, along withReformed Anglican andReformed Baptist denominations (the latter two are listed under the Anglican and Baptist sections of this article, respectively). Calvinism follows the theological traditions set down byJohn Calvin,John Knox and other Reformation-eratheologians. Calvinists differ from Lutherans on the nature of thereal presence of Christ in the Eucharist,theories of worship, and theuse of God's law for believers, among other things. There are from 60 to 80 million Christians identifying as Reformed or Calvinist according to statistics gathered in 2018.[90][91][92] Including only full members, theWorld Communion of Reformed Churches numbered more than 100,000,000 members as of 2025.[A][93][94][95] It is the largest[96][97][98][99][100] or second largest Protestant community in the world.[B][101][102]
| Part ofa series on |
| Anglicanism |
|---|
 |
Background and history Celtic Christianity Augustine of Canterbury Bede Medieval cathedral architecture Apostolic succession Henry VIII English Reformation Thomas Cranmer Dissolution of the monasteries Church of England Edward VI Elizabeth I Matthew Parker Richard Hooker James I Charles I William Laud Nonjuring schism Latitudinarian Anglo-Catholicism (Liberal) Oxford Movement |
| Christianity portal |
Anglicanism or Episcopalianism has referred to itself as thevia media between Lutheranism and Reformed Christianity,[103] as well as between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism.[104][105] The majority of Anglicans consider themselves part of theone, holy, catholic and apostolic Church within the Anglican Communion. Anglicans or Episcopalians also self-identify as bothCatholic andReformed. Although the use of the term "Protestant" to refer to Anglicans was once common, it is controversial today, with some rejecting the label and others accepting it. Anglicans uniting in the Anglican Communion numbered over 85 million in 2018.[106] Tabulating each Anglican Communion-member, it grew to more than 94,613,000 members as of 2025, excluding the United churches, remaining the third-largest Christian communion.[107]
There are numerous churches following the Anglican tradition that are not infull communion with the Anglican Communion. Some churches split due to changes in theBook of Common Prayer and theordination of women, formingAnglo-Catholic,Anglican Papal orEvangelical Anglican communities.[108] A select few of these churches are recognized by certain individual provinces of the Anglican Communion.
| Part ofa series on |
| Anabaptism |
|---|
 A 1685 illustration byJan Luyken, published inMartyrs Mirror, ofDirk Willems saving his pursuer, an act of mercy that led to his recapture, after which he was burned at the stake nearAsperen in the present-dayNetherlands |
| Christianity portal |
The Anabaptists trace their origins to theRadical Reformation. Alternative to other early Protestants, Anabaptists were seen as an early offshoot of Protestantism, although the view has been challenged by some[who?] Anabaptists.[109] There were approximately 2.1 million Anabaptists as of 2015. Anabaptists are categorized intoOld Order Anabaptism (such as theOld Brethren German Baptist),Conservative Anabaptism (such as thePilgrim Mennonite Conference,Beachy Amish andDunkard Brethren Church), and mainline/assimilated Anabaptism.
| Part ofa series on |
| Baptists |
|---|
_(cropped).jpg) |
Key figures
|
Organizations |
| Christianity portal |
Baptists emerged in 1609 under the teachings ofJohn Smyth, and along with Methodism, grew in size and influence after they sailed to theNew World (the remaining Puritans who traveled to the New World were Congregationalists). Some Baptists fit strongly with the Reformed tradition theologically but not denominationally. Some Baptists also adoptpresbyterian andepiscopal forms of governance. In 2018, there were about 75-105 million Baptists.[90][110] Of the Baptist demographic, 53 million are part of the Baptist World Alliance as of 2023, the seventh-largest Christian communion.[111]
| Part ofa series on | ||||
| Methodism | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| ||||
| Christianity portal | ||||
The Methodist movement emerged out the work of Anglican priestJohn Wesley, who taught a personal conversion to Christ (theNew Birth) and holiness of heart.[112] Calling it "the grand depositum" of the Methodist faith, Wesley specifically taught that the propagation of the doctrine ofentire sanctification was the reason that God raised up the Methodists in the world.[5] While some Methodists retained theepiscopacy (such as theFree Methodist Church,Global Methodist Church andUnited Methodist Church), others, such as theCongregational Methodist Church have acongregational polity. Methodists were among the first Christians to acceptwomen's ordination since theMontanists. Some 60-80 million Christians are Methodists, and 33,679,626 were members of theWorld Methodist Council as of 2024 (the eighth-largest communion).[90][113][114] Theholiness movement emerged within Methodism in the 19th century.[C] As of 2015[update], churches of the movement had an estimated 12 million adherents.[117] As Methodist denominations have historically preached two works of grace taught by John Wesley, (1) New Birth and (2) entire sanctification, and many denominations aligned with the holiness movement use Methodist in their name, it is difficult to draw a line between Holiness Methodist denominations and those not aligned with the holiness movement.[118][119] For example, the Free Methodist Church and theChurch of the Nazarene are widely regarded as being aligned with the holiness movement and are core members of the World Methodist Council, along with denominations with mixed churchmanship, such as the United Methodist Church.[115]
TheAlbright Brethren were organized under the leadership ofJacob Albright, who converted to Methodism and preached to German-speaking people. Although the majority of the Albright Brethren merged with theUnited Brethren, two extant bodies continue today:
Churches of the Evening Light Reformation in 1880 emerged under the direction ofDaniel Sidney Warner, and while they emerged under the influence of theholiness movement, they adhere to a position of antidenominationalism.[120] Classified asHoliness Restorationists, the Church of God (Anderson, Indiana) was the original work founded by Warner and its conservative holiness offshoot is the Church of God (Guthrie, Oklahoma).[121] While the Church of God (Restoration) is listed here, it is distinguished from the two aforementioned bodies by unique doctrines that have taken it in a direction of its own.[122]
TheHigher Life movement emerged in the United Kingdom and emphasized the importance ofsanctification, "the deeper and higher life".[123] It became popularized through theKeswick Conventions;W.E. Boardman's Keswickian theology had an influence onA.B. Simpson, who established the Christian and Missionary Alliance.[124]
| Part ofa series on |
| Quakerism |
|---|
 George Fox, founder of the Quakers |
|
Meetings and other groups
|
Testimonies |
| Christianity portal |
Quakers, or Friends, originated under the work ofGeorge Fox, who taught personal conversion to Christ, along with the doctrine ofChristian perfection.[125][126] The Friends have historically held that Christians are guided by theinward light to "make the witness of God" known to everyone.[127]
TheUnited Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing was founded byJane Wardley,Ann Lee, andLucy Wright in 1747. At present, one active Shaker community remains, theSabbathday Lake Shaker Village.[128]
Plymouth Brethren is a conservative,low church,non-conformist,evangelical Christian movement whose history can be traced toDublin,Ireland, in the late 1820s, originating from Anglicanism.[129]
The Catholic Apostolic churches were born out of the 1830s revival started in London by the teachings ofEdward Irving, and out of the resultant Catholic Apostolic Church movement.[130]
| Part of a series on | ||||||||||||
| Pentecostalism | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Tongues as of fire representing theHoly Spirit onPentecost | ||||||||||||
Theology
| ||||||||||||
Key people
| ||||||||||||
Major denominations | ||||||||||||
Related movements | ||||||||||||
| Christianity portal | ||||||||||||
Pentecostalism and Charismatic Christianity began in the 1900s. The two movements emphasize direct personal experience ofGod throughbaptism with the Holy Spirit. They represent some of the largest growing movements in Protestant Christianity.[131] Pentecostalism is divided between its original branch,Holiness Pentecostalism (which teaches three works of grace) andFinished Work Pentecostalism (which views sanctification only in a progressive manner). Oneness Pentecostalism, which rejects the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, split from Finished Work Pentecostalism and is covered in its own section in this article. Thecharismatic movement was established within historic denominational traditions due to influence from Pentecostalism, e.g. theCatholic Charismatic Renewal in Roman Catholicism. According to thePew Research Center, Pentecostals and Charismatics numbered some 280 million people in 2011.[85]
The Convergence Movement originated from "The Chicago Call" in 1977, urging evangelical Protestants to reconnect with the liturgical historic roots of the Christian Church.[132] It emphasizes the convergence ofsacramental,evangelical, andcharismatic streams;[133] promoting biblical fidelity, creedal identity, and church unity.
These united or uniting churches are the result of a merger between distinct denominational churches (e.g., Lutherans, Anglicans, Presbyterians and the Continental Reformed churches). Asecumenism progresses, unions between various Protestants are becoming more and more common, resulting in a growing number of united and uniting churches. Major examples of uniting churches are the United Protestant Church of France (2013) and the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (2004).[134][135] Churches are listed here when their disparate heritage marks them as inappropriately listed in the particular categories above.
Nondenominational Christianity arose in the 18th century through theStone–Campbell Movement, with followers organizing themselves simply as "Christians" and "Disciples of Christ".[D][136][138][139] The Stone–Campbell Movement was led byBarton Stone andAlexander Campbell.[138]
Adventism originated from the work ofWilliam Miller, who preached the end of the world andthe second coming of Christ in 1843/44.[140] After theGreat Disappointment, this year was reinterpreted by Adventists as being the start of theinvestigative judgment.[141]
| Part ofa series on |
| Adventism |
|---|
 |
Denominations Abajiri Advent Christian Church Seventh-day Adventist Church Church of God (Seventh-Day) Church of God General Conference Church of the Blessed Hope Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement Shepherd's Rod United Seventh-Day Brethren Branch Davidians Primitive Advent Christian Church Sabbath Rest Advent Church Adventist Church of Promise Creation Seventh Day Adventist Church True and Free Seventh-day Adventists United Sabbath-Day Adventist Church International Missionary Society True Jesus Church |
| Christianity portal |
The termEvangelical appears with the Reformation and reblossoms in the 18th and 19th centuries.[142] Evangelical Protestantism modernly understood is an inter-denominational Protestant movement which maintains the belief that the essence of theGospel consists of the doctrine ofsalvation bygrace throughfaith inJesus Christ'satonement.[143]
P'ent'ay, simply known as Ethiopian-Eritrean Evangelicalism, are a group of indigenousProtestant EasternBaptist,Lutheran,Pentecostal, andMennonite denominations infull communion with each other and believe that Ethiopian and Eritrean Evangelicalism are thereformation of the currentOrthodox Tewahedo churches as well as the restoration of it to original Ethiopian Christianity. They uphold that in order for a person to be saved one has to acceptJesus as their Lord and Savior for the forgiveness of sins; and to receive Christ one must be "born again" (dagem meweled).[144] Its members make up a significant portion of the 2 millionEastern Protestant tradition.
These churches resulted from a post–1800s reformation ofEastern Christianity, in line withProtestant beliefs and practices.
These are protestant denominations, movements and organizations that existed historically, but no longer exist in modern times.
These are denominations, movements, and organizations deriving from mainstream Protestantism but are not classifiable under historic or current Protestant movements nor as parachurch organizations.
The following are independent and non-mainstream movements, denominations and organizations formed during various times in the history of Christianity by splitting from mainline Catholicism, Eastern or Oriental Orthodoxy, or Protestantism not classified in the previous lists.
These groups or organizations diverge from historic trinitarian theology (usually based on theCouncil of Nicaea) with different interpretations of Nontrinitarianism.
Most Latter Day Saint denominations are derived from theChurch of Christ established byJoseph Smith in 1830. The largest worldwide denomination of this movement, and the one publicly recognized asMormonism, isthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Some sects, known as the "Prairie Saints", broke away because they did not recognizeBrigham Young as the head of the church, and did not follow him West in the mid-1800s. Other sects broke away over the abandonment of practicingplural marriage after the1890 Manifesto. Other denominations are defined by either a belief in Joseph Smith as aprophet or acceptance of theBook of Mormon asscripture. The Latter Day Saints comprise over 17 million members collectively.
Parachurch organizations are Christian faith-based organizations that work outside and across denominations to engage in social welfare andevangelism. These organizations are not churches but work with churches or represent a coalition of churches.
A Christian movement is atheological, political, or philosophical interpretation ofChristianity that is not necessarily represented by a specificchurch,sect, ordenomination.
The relation of these movements to other Christian ideas can be remote. They are listed here because they include some elements of Christian practice or beliefs, within religious contexts which may be only loosely characterized as Christian.
African diaspora religions are a number of related religions that developed in the Americas in various nations of the Caribbean, Latin America and the Southern United States. They derive from traditional African religions with some influence from other religious traditions, notably Christianity and Islam. Examples incorporating elements of Christianity include but are not limited to:
The relation of New Thought to Christianity is not defined as exclusive; some of its adherents see themselves as solely practicing Christianity, while adherents ofReligious Science say "yes and no" to the question of whether they consider themselves to be Christian in belief and practice, leaving it up to the individual to define oneself spiritually.
Other Christian or Christian-influenced syncretic traditions and movements include:
Historical movements with strong syncretic influence from Christianity but no active modern membership include
Although the two most popular textbooks used in America to teach Baptist history cite Holland and England early in the seventeenth century as the birthplace of the Baptist churches, many Baptists object vehemently and argue that their history can be traced across the centuries to New Testament times. Some Baptists deny categorically that they are Protestants and that the history of their churches is related to the success of the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century. Those who reject the Protestant character and Reformation origins of the Baptists usually maintain a view of church history sometimes called "Baptist successionism" and claim that Baptists have represented the true church, which must be, and has been, present in every period of history. The popularity of the successionist view has been enhanced enormously by a booklet entitledThe Trail of Blood, of which thousands of copies have been distributed since it was published in 1931.
Christian total 2,631,941,000, Catholic total 1,278,009,000 (48.6%), Wider Protestant total including Independents 1,047,295,000 (39.8%), Orthodox total including Eastern and Oriental 293,158,000 (11.1%)
For example, Christianity comprises six major groups: Church of the East, Oriental Orthodoxy, Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, Protestantism and Restorationism.
Amid all this diversity, however, it is possible to define Protestantism formally as non-Roman Western Christianity and to divide most of Protestantism into four major confessions or confessional families – Lutheran, Anglican, Reformed, and Free Church.
The Second Great Awakening (1790-1840) spurred a renewed interest in primitive Christianity. What is known as the Restoration Movement of the nineteenth century gave birth to an array of groups: Mormons (The Latter Day Saint Movement), the Churches of Christ, Adventists, and Jehovah's Witnesses. Though these groups demonstrate a breathtaking diversity on the continuum of Christianity they share an intense restorationist impulse. Picasso and Stravinsky reflect a primitivism that came to the fore around the turn of the twentieth century that more broadly has been characterized as a "retreat from the industrialized world."
However, Swedenborg claimed to receive visions and revelations of heavenly things and a 'New Church', and the new church which was founded upon his writings was a Restorationist Church. The three nineteenth-century churches are all examples of Restorationist Churches, which believed they were refounding the Apostolic Church, and preparing for the Second Coming of Christ.
Today these churches are also referred to as the Oriental Orthodox Churches and are made up of 50 million Christians.
Oriental Orthodoxy has separate self-governing jurisdictions in Ethiopia, Egypt, Eritrea, India, Armenia and Syria, and it accounts for roughly 20% of the worldwide Orthodox population.
Monophysites were no more than a party every where (except in Egypt, where they were all-powerful), but that party was the majority in Palestine and Syria, and was not negligible in the Capital, and in Asia Minor. .. There were plenty of laity and monks among the Monophysites; there was a fair supply of clergy; Chalcedonians were negligible in Egypt, and a minority in all the Orient, though they were a considerable minority, perhaps even a local majority, in Palestine.
mia physis tou logou sesarkomene [μία φύσις τοῦ θεοῦ λόγου σεσαρκωμένη]
About one-third of the world's population is considered Christian and can be divided into three main branches: (1) Roman Catholicism (the largest coherent group, representing over one billion baptized members); (2) Orthodox Christianity (including Eastern Orthodoxy and Oriental Orthodoxy); and (3) Protestantism (comprising many denominations and schools of thought, including Anglicanism, Reformed, Presbyterianism, Lutheranism, Methodism, Evangelicalism, and Pentecostalism).
Orthodox Churches represent one of the three major branches of Christianity, along with Roman Catholicism and Protestantism.
Eastern Orthodoxy is split into 15 jurisdictions heavily centered in Central and Eastern Europe, accounting for the remaining 80% of Orthodox Christians.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)Others had made similar observations, Patrick McGrath commenting that the Church of England was not a middle way between Roman Catholic and Protestant, but "between different forms of Protestantism," and William Monter describing the Church of England as "a unique style of Protestantism, a via media between the Reformed and Lutheran traditions." MacCulloch has described Cranmer as seeking a middle way between Zurich and Wittenberg but elsewhere remarks that the Church of England was "nearer Zurich and Geneva than Wittenberg.
Some denominations belonging to the World Methodist Council are international in character. These bodies are the United Methodist Church, Wesleyan Church, Free Methodist Church, Church of the Nazarene, and three historic black denominations—the African Methodist Episcopal, African Methodist Episcopal Zion, and Christian Methodist Episcopal Churches.
Wesley's understanding of the normative Christian experience was that after conversion, believers would have a gradual expansion of their knowledge and understanding of their own sin and of God's holiness. With the regenerate nature working within them, the increasing awareness of spiritual reality would produce a mounting tension, with greater grief over sin an greater desire to be delivered from it. Then, at a time and in a manner that pleased him, God would answer the Christian's faithful prayer for a deliverance from indwelling sin. Wesley thought this change happened in a moment, just like regeneration itself, although Methodists reported different levels of awareness of it: "an instantaneous change has been wrought in some believers," but "in some...they did not perceive the instant when it was wrought." The pattern was event-process-event-process; conversion, gradual growth, entire sanctification, then more gradual growth. Concluding his 1764 review of the subject, Wesley wrote, "All our Preachers should make a point of preaching perfection to believers constantly, strongly, and explicitly; and all believers should mind this one thing, and continually agonize for it." An in letters through the 1770s, we hear Wesley urging that: "Never be ashamed of the old Methodist doctrine. Press all believers to go on to perfection. Insist everywhere on the second blessing as receivable now, by simple faith." There are several threads woven together in the Wesleyan teaching on Christian perfection. Everything Wesley has taught about the distinction between justification and sanctification, of regeneration as initial sanctification, and about the Christian life as being normed and formed by the law comes together here. To this are joined new threads such as the idea of a second definite work of grace subsequent to conversion, and the need to ask God for that second blessing. But the dominant theme in Wesley's teaching on Christian perfection is the renewed heart.
In doctrine and practice the Church of God (Guthrie, Oklahoma) is almost identical with the Church of God (Anderson, Indiana), but it is stricter in its practice of holiness and refusal to compromise with the world.
A.B. Simpson, founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance (CMA), influenced by A.J. Gordon and W.E. Boardman, adopted a Keswickian understanding of sanctification.
On the other hand, Fox believed that perfectionism and freedom from sin were possible in this world.
This spiritual illumination is peculiar to the true people of God; the inward light, in which the Quakers believe, is common to all men. The design and effect of the "inward light" are the communication of new truth, or of truth not objectively revealed, as well as the spiritual discernment of the truths of Scripture. The design and effect of spiritual illumination are the proper apprehension of truth already speculatively known. Secondly. By the inner light the orthodox Quakers understand the supernatural influence of the Holy Spirit, concerning which they teach, – (1.) That it is given to all men. (2.) That it not only convinces of sin, and enables the soul to apprehend aright the truths of Scripture, but also communicates a knowledge of "the mysteries of salvation." ... The orthodox Friends teach concerning this inward light, as has been already shown, that it is subordinate to the Holy Scriptures, inasmuch as the Scriptures are the infallible rule of faith and practice, and everything contrary thereto is to be rejected as false and destructive.
Richard T. Hughes, professor of religion at Pepperdine University, argues that the Churches of Christ built a corporate identity around "restoration" of the primitive church and the corresponding belief that their congregations represented a nondenominational Christianity.
Not A Denomination: For this reason, we are not interested in man-made creeds, but simply in the New Testament pattern. We do not conceive of ourselves as being a denomination–nor as Catholic, Protestant, or Jewish—but simply as members of the church which Jesus established and for which he died. And that, incidentally, is why we wear his name. The term "church of Christ" is not used as a denominational designation, but rather as a descriptive term indicating that the church belongs to Christ.
Barton Stone was fully prepared to ally himself with Alexander Campbell in an effort to promote nondenominational Christianity, though it is evident that the two men came to this emphasis by very different routes.
Later proponents of Campbell's views would refer to themselves as the "Restoration Movement" because of the Campbellian insistence on restoring Christianity to its New Testament form. ... Added to this mix were the concepts of American egalitarianism, which gave rise to his advocacy of nondenominational individualism and local church autonomy, and Christian primitivism, which led to his promotion of such early church practices as believer's baptism by immersion and the weekly partaking of the Lord's Supper.
| Major branches (members) |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Movements | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bible (Scriptures) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundations | |||||||||
| History (timeline) (spread) |
| ||||||||
| Denominations (list,members) |
| ||||||||
| Theology |
| ||||||||
| Philosophy | |||||||||
| Other features |
| ||||||||