Christian Association of Washington
Encyclopedia
The Christian Association of Washington was an organization established by Thomas Campbell in 1809 to promote Christian
unity. It was a study group that Campbell formed with like minded friends and acquaintances in the local neighborhood of Washington, Pennsylvania
. The group sought to foster unity by focusing on a common form of Christianity
that they could all agree upon. This charter that Campbell wrote for this group, the Declaration and Address of the Christian Association of Washington
, became one of the most important early texts of the Restoration Movement
.
After arriving in the United States
in 1807, Thomas Campbell began working with the Associate Synod of North America, which assigned him to the Chartierd Presbytery in Western Pennsylvania
. He was censured by the Presbytery for extending communion
to individuals who were not seceder
Presbyterians
, and withdrew from the synod. After withdrawing, he continued to preach, working with Christians without regard to their denominational
affiliation.
In 1809 Campbell decided to establish a Christian society which individuals could join, but that would not be a church
. During a first meeting in the summer of 1809, Campbell discussed his concern about the divisions among Christians, and proposed that unity could be restored by taking the Bible
as the only standard for faith and practice. The group adopted the "rule" he proposed: "Where the Scriptures speak, we speak; and where they are silent, we are silent."
During a second meeting, held on August 17, 1809, the name "Christian Association of Washington" was chosen and Campbell was asked to draft a statement of the purposes and objectives of the Association. The Declaration and Address of the Christian Association of Washington was adopted unanimously on September 7, 1809 and published shortly before the end of the year. The Declaration received little attention at the time.
Campbell soon became concerned that, despite his intentions, the Association was taking on the characteristics of a church. After the Association unsuccessfully sought to be accepted into fellowship with the Pittsburgh Synod of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, Campbell became convinced that it would have to become an independent church in order to continue to function. On May 4, 1811, the Association reconstituted itself as a congregationally governed
church. With the building it constructed at Brush Run, Pennsylvania
, it became known as the Brush Run Church
.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
unity. It was a study group that Campbell formed with like minded friends and acquaintances in the local neighborhood of Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Pittsburgh Metro Area in the southwestern part of the state...
. The group sought to foster unity by focusing on a common form of Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
that they could all agree upon. This charter that Campbell wrote for this group, the Declaration and Address of the Christian Association of Washington
Declaration and address
The Declaration and Address was written by Thomas Campbell in 1809. It was the founding document for the Christian Association of Washington, a short lived religious movement of the 19th century. The Christian Association ultimately led to what is now known as the Restoration Movement. In many...
, became one of the most important early texts of the Restoration Movement
Restoration Movement
The Restoration Movement is a Christian movement that began on the American frontier during the Second Great Awakening of the early 19th century...
.
History
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1807, Thomas Campbell began working with the Associate Synod of North America, which assigned him to the Chartierd Presbytery in Western Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania consists of the western third of the state of Pennsylvania in the United States. Pittsburgh is the largest city in the region, with a metropolitan area population of about 2.4 million people, and serves as its economic and cultural center. Erie, Altoona, and Johnstown are its...
. He was censured by the Presbytery for extending communion
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
to individuals who were not seceder
Seceders
Amongst other uses, Seceders is a name used for those who followed the 18th century Secession movement from the Church of Scotland, for the history of which see United Presbyterian Church of Scotland....
Presbyterians
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
, and withdrew from the synod. After withdrawing, he continued to preach, working with Christians without regard to their denominational
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
affiliation.
In 1809 Campbell decided to establish a Christian society which individuals could join, but that would not be a church
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
. During a first meeting in the summer of 1809, Campbell discussed his concern about the divisions among Christians, and proposed that unity could be restored by taking the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
as the only standard for faith and practice. The group adopted the "rule" he proposed: "Where the Scriptures speak, we speak; and where they are silent, we are silent."
During a second meeting, held on August 17, 1809, the name "Christian Association of Washington" was chosen and Campbell was asked to draft a statement of the purposes and objectives of the Association. The Declaration and Address of the Christian Association of Washington was adopted unanimously on September 7, 1809 and published shortly before the end of the year. The Declaration received little attention at the time.
Campbell soon became concerned that, despite his intentions, the Association was taking on the characteristics of a church. After the Association unsuccessfully sought to be accepted into fellowship with the Pittsburgh Synod of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, Campbell became convinced that it would have to become an independent church in order to continue to function. On May 4, 1811, the Association reconstituted itself as a congregationally governed
Congregationalist polity
Congregationalist polity, often known as congregationalism, is a system of church governance in which every local church congregation is independent, ecclesiastically sovereign, or "autonomous"...
church. With the building it constructed at Brush Run, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, it became known as the Brush Run Church
Brush Run Church
The Brush Run Church was one of the earliest congregations associated with the Restoration Movement that arose during the during the Second Great Awakening of the early 19th century...
.
External links
- Declaration and Address at the Restoration Movement Pages at the Memorial University of NewfoundlandMemorial University of NewfoundlandMemorial University of Newfoundland, is a comprehensive university located primarily in St...