Disciples of Christ Historical Society has established a Bicentennial Task Force to promote the celebration of our heritage.

The Stone-Campbell movement celebrates several bicentennials in the first decade of the twenty-first century, including, the Cane Ridge revival, publication of ‘The Last Will and Testament,’ and the arrival in America of both Thomas and Alexander Campbell. The most important event to be celebrated, however, is the publication of Thomas Campbell’s ‘Declaration and Address.’ In this document, he gave form and shape to Disciples identity. It is from this publication, more than any other one event, that we became a distinct religious movement in the history of Christianity.

Today, there are three streams that descend from the original movements of Barton W. Stone and the Campbells, father and son. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Churches of Christ, and Christian Churches/Churches of Christ all trace their lineage to the same beginnings.

Through the work of the Historical Society, the Stone-Campbell Dialogue, and now the Bicentennial Task Force, we are re-forging ties among all streams and again pointing to unity in the essential matters of faith.

We have established a sixteen-member task force (five persons from each stream of the Stone-Campbell movement, plus the Executive Director of World Convention) for the purpose of promoting a worldwide celebration of the bicentennial of Thomas Campbell’s foundational document.

We are also marking the centennial of the Centennial celebration in Pittsburgh (October 1909). Over 50,000 Christians and Disciples gathered for a giant outdoor communion service. So, we too will celebrate communion together.

The Bicentennial celebration will be kicked off at World Convention in Nashville, Tennessee in August 2008. We will continue through a ‘Great Communion Sunday’ on October 4, 2009.

In 2008 we launched this website, www.greatcommunion.org, and ask congregations all over the world to celebrate communion ‘together.’ By connecting with their joint heritage, congregations will (we hope) experience the renewal that comes through a mutually shared faith.

Task Force Members
Glenn Thomas Carson, President, Disciples of Christ Historical Society
Robert Welsh, President, Council on Christian Unity
Charles Gaines, Former Vice Moderator of CC(DOC)
Diane Spleth, Disciples minister, Indiana
Dara Cobb, Disciples minister, North Carolina
Jeff Weston, General Secretary, World Convention
Clinton Holloway, World Convention
Mark Taylor, Editor, Christian Standard
Doug Foster, Historian, Abilene Christian University
Victor Knowles, publisher One Body magazine
Greg Taylor, managing editor wineskins.org
Jerry Taylor, Abilene Christian University
Irie Session, Disciples minister, Texas
Patricia Magness, Milligan College
Joy McMillon, the Christian Chronicle
Wye Huxford, European Evangelistic Society

Great Communion is sponsored by Disciples of Christ Historical Society. To learn more about their mission, visit www.DisciplesHistory.org