Restoration Movement
The Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement (or simply,
Restoration Movement) is a religious reform movement born in the early 1800s. The name is taken from the names of Barton W. Stone and
Alexander Campbell, who were regarded as the leading figures of two independent movements with like principles who merged together into a religious body of significant size.
Pioneers of the movement
Although Stone and Campbell were to become the best-known and most influential early leaders of the movement, others preceded them and laid the foundation for their work.
- James O'Kelley (1735?-1826), Durham, North Carolina
- Rice Haggard
- William Guirey (1773-1840)
- Elias Smith (1769-1846)
- Abner Jones (1742-1841)
Key Principles
- Christianity should not be divided, Christ intended the creation of ONE church.
- Creeds divide, but Christians should be able to find agreement by standing on the Bible itself (from which all creeds are derived) instead of on the opinions of men ABOUT the Bible.
- Ecclesiastical traditions divide, but Christians should be able to find common ground by following the practice (as best as it can be determined) of the early church.
- Names of human origin divide, but Christians should be able to find common ground by using biblical names for the church (ie. "Christian Church" as opposed to "Methodist" or "Lutheran", etc.)
Three Modern Branches
Three modern religious groups trace their heritage back to roots in the Stone-Campbell Restoration movement:
References
- North, James B. (1994).Union in Truth: An Interpretive History of the Restoration Movement. Cincinnati, Ohio: The Standard Publishing Company. ISBN 0-7847-0197-0.
