List of Christian denominations
Encyclopedia
Some groups included do not consider themselves a denomination
(e.g., the Catholic Church considers itself the one true Church, and as pre-denominational). Regarding the use of the word "church," the Catholic Church does not consider any groups or denominations to be true "churches" unless they have maintained apostolic succession
and observe the seven sacraments (by this definition, the Eastern Orthodox churches are, for the most part, the only other Christian groupings considered by the Catholic Church to be true "churches").
Some groups are large (e.g. Catholics, Lutherans
, Anglicans
or Baptists
), while others are just a few small churches, and in most cases the relative size is not evident in this list. Also, modern movements such as Fundamentalist Christianity
, Pietism
, Evangelicalism
, Pentecostalism
and the Holiness movement
sometimes cross denominational lines, or in some cases create new denominations out of two or more continuing groups, (as is the case for many United and uniting churches
, for example). Such subtleties and complexities are not clearly depicted here. Additionally, some groups viewed by non-adherents as denominational actively resist being called a "denomination" and do not have any formal denominational structure, authority, or record-keeping beyond the local congregation; several groups within Restoration Movement
fall into this category.
) with the early Church.
es of the Catholic Church. They are all in communion with the 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 of purgatory). The Eastern Catholic churches and the Latin church (which together compose the worldwide Catholic Church) share the same doctrine and sacraments, and thus the same faith.
The Catholic Church considers itself the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church
that Christ
founded. As such, the Catholic Church does not consider itself a denomination, but as pre-denominational, the original Church of Christ.
rather than autocephaly
.
The Eastern Orthodox Church considers itself to be the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church that Christ founded.
(AD 451). Other denominations often erroneously label these churches "Monophysite", however, as the Oriental Orthodox do not adhere to the teachings of Eutyches
, they themselves reject this label, preferring the term Miaphysite.
The Oriental Orthodox Church considers itself to be the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church that Christ founded.
The Church of the East considers itself to be the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church that Christ founded.
has referred to itself as the via media between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. It considers itself to be both Catholic
and Reformed. 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.
The Anglican Communion also includes the following united churches
:
The Anglican Communion considers itself to be part of the One Holy catholic and Apostolic Church that Christ founded, without the implication that various other churches are not also branches of it.
in 1830. The majority of "Prairie Saint" denominations were established after the death of Smith by the remnants of the Saints who did not go west with Brigham Young
. Many of which rejected some or most of the 1840s theological developments in favor of 1830s theological understandings and practices. The Rocky Mountain denominations are The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and various sects who broke from it after its settlement in the Rocky Mountains, many breaking after its abandonment of practicing polygamy
in 1890. Other denominations are defined by either a belief in Joseph Smith as a prophet
, or acceptance of the Book of Mormon
as scripture
. Mormonism
is generally considered restorationist, believing that Smith, by inspiration and revelation, restored the original Church of Christ to the earth. Some Latter Day Saint denominations are regarded by other Christians as being nontrinitarian, but generally do not accept that label themselves, in contrast to the groups labeled "nontrinitarian" below.
The churches within the Latter Day Saint movement are not recognized as an orthodox Christian denomination, and with the exception of Community of Christ, which is a member communion of the National Council of Churches, are usually rejected as Christian by many Protestants. Mormons, however, strongly oppose this rejection.
says "yes and no" to the question of whether it considers itself Christian leaving it to the individual to define themselves.
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...
(e.g., the Catholic Church considers itself the one true Church, and as pre-denominational). Regarding the use of the word "church," the Catholic Church does not consider any groups or denominations to be true "churches" unless they have maintained apostolic succession
Apostolic Succession
Apostolic succession is a doctrine, held by some Christian denominations, which asserts that the chosen successors of the Twelve Apostles, from the first century to the present day, have inherited the spiritual, ecclesiastical and sacramental authority, power, and responsibility that were...
and observe the seven sacraments (by this definition, the Eastern Orthodox churches are, for the most part, the only other Christian groupings considered by the Catholic Church to be true "churches").
Some groups are large (e.g. Catholics, Lutherans
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
, Anglicans
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
or Baptists
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
), while others are just a few small churches, and in most cases the relative size is not evident in this list. Also, modern movements such as Fundamentalist Christianity
Fundamentalist Christianity
Christian fundamentalism, also known as Fundamentalist Christianity, or Fundamentalism, arose out of British and American Protestantism in the late 19th century and early 20th century among evangelical Christians...
, Pietism
Pietism
Pietism was a movement within Lutheranism, lasting from the late 17th century to the mid-18th century and later. It proved to be very influential throughout Protestantism and Anabaptism, inspiring not only Anglican priest John Wesley to begin the Methodist movement, but also Alexander Mack to...
, Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
, Pentecostalism
Pentecostalism
Pentecostalism is a diverse and complex movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of God through the baptism in the Holy Spirit, has an eschatological focus, and is an experiential religion. The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, the Greek...
and the Holiness movement
Holiness movement
The holiness movement refers to a set of beliefs and practices emerging from the Methodist Christian church in the mid 19th century. The movement is distinguished by its emphasis on John Wesley's doctrine of "Christian perfection" - the belief that it is possible to live free of voluntary sin - and...
sometimes cross denominational lines, or in some cases create new denominations out of two or more continuing groups, (as is the case for many United and uniting churches
United and uniting churches
United and uniting churches are churches formed from the merger or other form of union of two or more different Protestant denominations.Perhaps the oldest example of a united church is found in Germany, where the Evangelical Church in Germany is a federation of Lutheran, United and Reformed...
, for example). Such subtleties and complexities are not clearly depicted here. Additionally, some groups viewed by non-adherents as denominational actively resist being called a "denomination" and do not have any formal denominational structure, authority, or record-keeping beyond the local congregation; several groups within 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...
fall into this category.
- Note: This is not a complete list, but aims to provide a comprehensible overview of the diversity among denominations of Christianity. As there are reported to be approximately 38,000 Christian denominations, many of which cannot be verified to be significant, only those denominations with Wikipedia articles will be listed in order to ensure that all entries on this list are notable and verifiable.
- Note: Between denominations, theologians, and comparative religionists there are considerable disagreements about which groups can be properly called Christian, disagreements arising primarily from doctrinal differences between groups. 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.
- Note: 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 churches about whether other churches 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, where one religious group 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.
Catholicism
These are the churches which claim continuity (based upon Apostolic SuccessionApostolic Succession
Apostolic succession is a doctrine, held by some Christian denominations, which asserts that the chosen successors of the Twelve Apostles, from the first century to the present day, have inherited the spiritual, ecclesiastical and sacramental authority, power, and responsibility that were...
) with the early Church.
Catholic Church
Catholic Church is composed of two rites; one is the western or latin rite, another is the eastern rite (i.e., Eastern Catholic Churches).The Latin Rite
The Latin Rite or Church is the largest and most widely known of the 22 Rites that together make up the Catholic Church.Eastern Catholic Churches
All of the following are particular churchParticular Church
In Catholic canon law, a Particular Church is an ecclesial community headed by a bishop or someone recognised as the equivalent of a bishop.There are two kinds of particular Churches:# Local particular Churches ...
es of the Catholic Church. They are all in communion with the 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 of purgatory). The Eastern Catholic churches and the Latin church (which together compose the worldwide Catholic Church) share the same doctrine and sacraments, and thus the same faith.
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The Catholic Church considers itself the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church
One true faith
The concept of a one true faith, one true religion, or one true church, stem from the concept of the One True God asserted by believers in a monotheistic view of God...
that Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
founded. As such, the Catholic Church does not consider itself a denomination, but as pre-denominational, the original Church of Christ.
Independent (self-identified as Catholic)
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Eastern Orthodoxy
List provided in order of precedence. Indentation indicates autonomyAutonomy
Autonomy is a concept found in moral, political and bioethical philosophy. Within these contexts, it is the capacity of a rational individual to make an informed, un-coerced decision...
rather than autocephaly
Autocephaly
Autocephaly , in hierarchical Christian churches and especially Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches, is the status of a hierarchical church whose head bishop does not report to any higher-ranking bishop...
.
Eastern Orthodox Church
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The Eastern Orthodox Church considers itself to be the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church that Christ founded.
Other churches
Some Orthodox Churches with not universally recognized autocephaly by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople:
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Oriental Orthodoxy
Oriental Orthodoxy comprises those Christians who did not accept the Council of ChalcedonCouncil of Chalcedon
The Council of Chalcedon was a church council held from 8 October to 1 November, 451 AD, at Chalcedon , on the Asian side of the Bosporus. The council marked a significant turning point in the Christological debates that led to the separation of the church of the Eastern Roman Empire in the 5th...
(AD 451). Other denominations often erroneously label these churches "Monophysite", however, as the Oriental Orthodox do not adhere to the teachings of Eutyches
Eutyches
Eutyches was a presbyter and archimandrite at Constantinople. He first came to notice in 431 at the First Council of Ephesus, for his vehement opposition to the teachings of Nestorius; his condemnation of Nestorianism as heresy precipitated his being denounced as a heretic...
, they themselves reject this label, preferring the term Miaphysite.
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- The Antiochian Catholic Church in AmericaAntiochian Catholic Church in AmericaThe Antiochian Catholic Church in America is one of the Independent Catholic Churches. The ACCA is distinct from most of these churches in that it largely embraces the theology and much of the practice of the Syriac Orthodox Church and the Indian Orthodox Church, from which the clergy of the...
is theologically aligned with the Oriental Orthodox, but is not in full communion with them, primarily because it ordains women and does not impose celibacy on its bishops. - Celtic Orthodox ChurchCeltic Orthodox ChurchThe Celtic Orthodox Church is an indigenous, Autocephalous Orthodox Church in Europe with representation in the United Kingdom since 1998. The head of the Church carries the title of Metropolitan of Dol and titular Bishop of Iona, with residence in Saint-Dolay The Celtic Orthodox Church is an...
- Sassanid Church (no longer in existence)
- Malabar Independent Syrian ChurchMalabar Independent Syrian ChurchThe Malabar Independent Syrian Church, also known as the Thozhiyur Sabah , is a Christian church centred in Kerala, India. It is one of the churches of the Saint Thomas Christian community, which traces its origins to the evangelical activity of Thomas the Apostle in the 1st century.Considered part...
The Oriental Orthodox Church considers itself to be the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church that Christ founded.
Church of the East
The Church of the East is said to have been formed by St Thomas. The Church did not attend the Council of Ephesus (AD 431). It is incorrectly referred to as the Nestorian Church; Assyrian Christians do not consider themselves Nestorians, and recent Christological agreements with the Catholic and some of the Orthodox churches have resolved this debate permanently, clearing the way for ecumenical relations.- Church of the EastChurch of the EastThe Church of the East tāʾ d-Maḏnḥāʾ), also known as the Nestorian Church, is a Christian church, part of the Syriac tradition of Eastern Christianity. Originally the church of the Persian Sassanid Empire, it quickly spread widely through Asia...
(historical church)- Assyrian Church of the EastAssyrian Church of the EastThe Assyrian Church of the East, officially the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East ʻIttā Qaddishtā w-Shlikhāitā Qattoliqi d-Madnĕkhā d-Āturāyē), is a Syriac Church historically centered in Mesopotamia. It is one of the churches that claim continuity with the historical...
(successor church) - Ancient Church of the EastAncient Church of the EastThe Ancient Church of the East was established in 1968. It follows the traditions of one of the oldest Christian churches, the Church of the East, whose origins trace back to the See of Seleucia-Ctesiphon in central Mesopotamia...
(successor church)
- Assyrian Church of the East
The Church of the East considers itself to be the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church that Christ founded.
Protestantism
These are the churches "which repudiated the papal authority, and separated or were severed from the Roman communion in the Reformation of the 16th cent., and of any of the bodies of Christians descended from them."Pre-Lutheran Protestants
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Lutheranism
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Laestadian Lutheran Church The Laestadian Lutheran Church is a religious Christian movement, its teachings based on the Bible and the Lutheran Confessions. From June 9, 1973, the organisation was name the Association of American Laestadian Congregations , before the association changed its name in 1994 in order better to... Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America The Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is a Lutheran denomination, formed in 1957 as a federation, and reorganized in 1975 as a formal denomination. As of 2007, 12,000 congregants and 68 congregations of the church were present in the United States. It is headquartered in Milwaukee,... Lutheran Church of China The Lutheran Church of China or LCC was a Lutheran church body in China from 1920 to 1951. It was established as a result of the consultations between the various Lutheran missionary bodies in China that was initiated during the China Centenary Missionary Conference held in Shanghai in 1907... (no longer in existence) Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ is an association of Lutheran congregations in the United States. It began in 2000 in response to the liberalization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America . LCMC is characterized by the traditional stances it takes on Lutheran polity, biblical... (United States) The Lutheran Evangelical Protestant Church The Lutheran Evangelical Protestant Church is a mainline Protestant denomination also known by its non profit corporation name the Evangelical Protestant Church .The earliest Lutherans in America came from Dutch, Swedish and German stock... (United States) Lutheran Ministerium and Synod - USA The Lutheran Ministerium and Synod - USA is a small Lutheran Christian denomination based in the United States. Its congregations are mostly located in the Upper Midwest, and the church body maintains its official headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana.Founded in 1995, the LMS-USA is governed by... Lutheran World Federation The Lutheran World Federation is a global communion of national and regional Lutheran churches headquartered in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland. The federation was founded in the Swedish city of Lund in the aftermath of the Second World War in 1947 to coordinate the activities of the...
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Anglican Communion
AnglicanismAnglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
has referred to itself as the via media between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. It considers itself to be both Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
and Reformed. 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.
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The Anglican Communion also includes the following united churches
United and uniting churches
United and uniting churches are churches formed from the merger or other form of union of two or more different Protestant denominations.Perhaps the oldest example of a united church is found in Germany, where the Evangelical Church in Germany is a federation of Lutheran, United and Reformed...
:
- Church of BangladeshChurch of BangladeshThe Church of Bangladesh is a church of the Anglican Communion in Bangladesh. It is a united church formed by the union of various Christian churches in the region.The Church of Bangladesh came into being as the outcome of the separation from Pakistan...
- Church of North IndiaChurch of North IndiaThe Church of North India , the dominant Protestant denomination in northern India, is a united church established on 29 November 1970 by bringing together the main Protestant churches working in northern India...
- Church of South IndiaChurch of South IndiaThe Church of South India is the successor of the Church of England in India. It came into being in 1947 as a union of Anglican and Protestant churches in South India. With a membership of over 3.8 million, it is India's second largest Christian church after the Roman Catholic Church in India...
- Church of PakistanChurch of PakistanThe Church of Pakistan is a united church in Pakistan, which is part of the Anglican Communion and a member church of the World Methodist Council. It was established in 1970 with a union of Anglicans, Scottish Presbyterians , Methodists, and Lutherans. It is the only United Church in the South...
The Anglican Communion considers itself to be part of the One Holy catholic and Apostolic Church that Christ founded, without the implication that various other churches are not also branches of it.
Other Anglican Churches
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Diocese of the Great Lakes The Diocese of the Great Lakes is a Continuing Anglican church body in the United States and Canada. Although all of its worship centers and clergy are currently located in the American Great Lakes states and the Canadian Province of Ontario, the diocese is non-geographical in structure and open... Diocese of the Holy Cross The Diocese of the Holy Cross is a continuing Anglican church body in the United States. Unlike most dioceses it is not geographically defined but is a national jurisdiction.- History :... Episcopal Missionary Church The Episcopal Missionary Church is a Continuing Anglican church body in the United States and a member of the Federation of Anglican Churches in the Americas... Evangelical Connexion of the Free Church of England The Evangelical Connexion of the Free Church of England came into being in 2003. Its first bishops — Bishops Barry Shucksmith and Arthur Bentley-Taylor— had been outspoken in their criticisms of the direction that the FCE was taking regarding ecumenism in particular, and were removed from the body... Free Church of England The Free Church of England is an Anglican church which separated from the established Church of England in the course of the 19th century. The church was founded by evangelical clergy and congregations in response to the rise of Anglo-Catholicism. The first congregations were formed in 1844... Free Protestant Episcopal Church The Free Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States began as an overseas outreach of the Free Protestant Episcopal Church of England. The English group was formed on November 2, 1897 from the merger of three smaller churches; others were to join later... Holy Catholic Church--Western Rite The Holy Catholic Church—Western Rite is a Continuing Anglican church. It is represented in the United Kingdom, Latin America, the United States of America, South Africa, Canada, New Zealand, Rome and Spain... Independent Anglican Church Canada Synod The Independent Anglican Church is a Christian denomination in the Anglican tradition with churches in Canada and the United States of America. It is not affiliated with the Anglican Communion headed by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Most Rev. Peter Wayne Goodrich of Niagara Falls, Ontario,... Orthodox Anglican Church The Orthodox Anglican Church is the American branch of the Orthodox Anglican Communion. It is now considered to be part of the Continuing Anglican movement, although the church predates the Continuing Church movement and was actively opposed to Continuing Anglicanism when it developed during the... Reformed Episcopal Church The Reformed Episcopal Church is an Anglican church in the United States and Canada and a founding member of the Anglican Church in North America... Southern Episcopal Church The Southern Episcopal Church was founded in Nashville, Tennessee in 1962 by a physician turned clergyman, the Right Reverend Burnice Hoyle Webster, and a number of former members of the Episcopal Church. Bishop Webster became the SEC's first presiding bishop... United Episcopal Church of North America The United Episcopal Church of North America is a traditional Anglican Christian church that is part of the Continuing Anglican movement... |
Reformed Churches
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Netherlands Reformed Congregations The Netherlands Reformed Congregations, is a highly conservative denomination with congregations mostly in Canada, the United States, and the Netherlands.-Baptism:... Orthodox Christian Reformed Church The Orthodox Christian Reformed Churches were a theologically conservative federation of churches in the Dutch Calvinist tradition. Although the federation has disbanded, most of its churches still exist. They are in the United States and Canada... Protestant Reformed Churches in America The Protestant Reformed Churches in America ' or ' is a Protestant denomination of 29 churches and over 7,000 members.-History:... Reformed Church in America The Reformed Church in America is a mainline Reformed Protestant denomination in Canada and the United States. It has about 170,000 members, with the total declining in recent decades. From its beginning in 1628 until 1819, it was the North American branch of the Dutch Reformed Church. In 1819, it... Reformed Church of France The Reformed Church of France is a denomination in France with Calvinist origins. It is the original and largest Protestant denomination in France.... Reformed Church in Hungary The Reformed Church in Hungary is a key representative of Christianity in Hungary, being numerically the second-largest denomination in Hungary after the Roman Catholic Church, and the biggest denomination among ethnic Hungarians in Romania... Reformed Church in the United States The Reformed Church in the United States is a Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. The present RCUS is a conservative, Calvinist denomination. It affirms the principles of the Reformation: Sola scriptura , Solo Christo , Sola gratia , Sola fide , and Soli Deo gloria... United Reformed Church The United Reformed Church is a Christian church in the United Kingdom. It has approximately 68,000 members in 1,500 congregations with some 700 ministers.-Origins and history:... United Reformed Churches in North America The United Reformed Churches in North America is a theologically conservative federation of churches. The United Reformed Churches trace their roots back to the earlier Protestant movements in Europe, and to the Reformed churches in Belgium and the Netherlands... |
Presbyterianism
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Presbyterian Church of Australia The Presbyterian Church of Australia is the largest Presbyterian denomination in Australia. .-Beginnings:... Presbyterian Church of Brazil The Presbyterian Church of Brazil is an Evangelical Protestant Christian denomination in Brazil. Part of the Reformed family of Protestantism, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the country, having an estimate 788.553 members, 3,162 ordained ministers and 4,212 churches... Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia The Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia is a Presbyterian denomination which was formed in Sydney on 10 October 1846 by three ministers and a ruling elder... Presbyterian Church of Korea The Presbyterian Church of Korea or PCK is a mainline Protestant denomination based in South Korea and currently has the second largest membership of any Presbyterian denomination in the world... Presbyterian Church of Pakistan Presbyterian Church of Pakistan is a major Protestant denomination of Pakistan. The Church of Pakistan is another Christian denomination. The Presbyterian Church of Pakistan has a membership of around 400,000. It was constituted in 1993. It belongs to the World Alliance of Reformed Churches as well... Presbyterian Church of Wales The Presbyterian Church of Wales , also known as The Calvinistic Methodist Church , is a denomination of Protestant Christianity. It was born out of the Welsh Methodist revival and the preaching of Hywel Harris Howell Harris in the 18th century and seceded from the Church of England in 1811... (also a Methodist church) Presbyterian Church (USA) The Presbyterian Church , or PC, is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. Part of the Reformed tradition, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S... Presbyterian Reformed Church (Australia) The Presbyterian Reformed Church is a Presbyterian denomination in Australia. The denomination was formed in 1967, when the leadership and majority of the members of the Sutherland, New South Wales congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Australia separated from that denomination... Reformed Presbyterian Church General Assembly The Reformed Presbyterian Church General Assembly is a conservative Presbyterian denomination in the United States. It was founded in 1991 by members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in the Americas. It admits only men into church office and holds to Young Earth creationism... Reformed Presbyterian Church in the United States The Reformed Presbyterian Church in the United States is a small Presbyterian denomination with twelve congregations in the United States. The RPCUS was established in 1983, subscribes to the unrevised Westminster Confession and upholds biblical inerrancy... Reformed Presbyterian Church of Australia The Reformed Presbyterian Church of Australia is a Calvinist denomination in Australia. It is a small Australian Presbyterian denomination numbering less than 200 persons with its largest congregation in the area of Geelong, Victoria. The first church, in Geelong, was started in 1858... Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America The Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America , a Christian church, is a small Presbyterian denomination with churches throughout the United States, in southeastern Canada, and in a small part of Japan. Its beliefs place it in the conservative wing of the Reformed family of Protestant churches... Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland The Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland is a Christian denomination. It is the original church of the Reformed Presbyterian tradition . The RPCS formed in 1690 when its members declined to be part of the establishment of the Church of Scotland... Southern Presbyterian Church (Australia) The Southern Presbyterian Church is a small denomination with a community of about 150 persons located exclusively in Tasmania, Australia. It formed in 1986 when two ministers and a number of members left the Evangelical Presbyterian Church because of a difference of belief over doctrinal issues.As... United Free Church of Scotland The United Free Church of Scotland is a Scottish Presbyterian denomination formed in 1900 by the union of the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland and the Free Church of Scotland... United Presbyterian Church of North America The United Presbyterian Church of North America was an American Presbyterian denomination that existed for exactly one hundred years. It was formed on May 26, 1858 by the union of the Northern branch of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church with the Associate Presbyterian Church at a... Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa The Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa was formed and constituted in 1999 as the outcome of the union between the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa and the Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa .These two churches shared the same origin dating back to the 19th century... Upper Cumberland Presbyterian Church The Upper Cumberland Presbyterian Church is a Christian denomination in the United States that maintains less than 1,000 members among twelve congregations in Alabama and Tennessee.-Origins:... Westminster Presbyterian Church of Australia The Westminster Presbyterian Church of Australia is a small but growing Presbyterian denomination in Australia. It is based in Western Australia, Queensland, the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, and there is one congregation in the Australian Capital Territory.-History:The Westminster... Westminster Presbyterian Church in the United States The Westminster Presbyterian Church in the United States is a small Presbyterian denomination which was constituted in January 2006 in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania... |
Congregationalist Churches
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Anabaptists
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Brethren
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Mennonite Church USA The Mennonite Church USA, or MCUSA, is an Anabaptist Christian denomination in the United States. Although the organization is a recent 2002 merger of the Mennonite Church and the General Conference Mennonite Church, the body has roots in the Radical Reformation of the 16th century... Missionary Church The Missionary Church is an evangelical Christian denomination of Anabaptist origins with Wesleyan, Pietist, and Keswickian influences.-Faith and practice:... Swiss Mennonite Conference The Swiss Mennonite Conference is an Anabaptist Christian body in Switzerland.... Plymouth Brethren The Plymouth Brethren is a conservative, Evangelical Christian movement, whose history can be traced to Dublin, Ireland, in the late 1820s. Although the group is notable for not taking any official "church name" to itself, and not having an official clergy or liturgy, the title "The Brethren," is...
River Brethren The River Brethren is a name used to indicate certain Christian groups originating in 1770, during a revival movement among German colonizers in Pennsylvania....
Schwarzenau Brethren The Schwarzenau Brethren, originated in Germany, the outcome of the Radical Pietist ferment of the late 17th and early 18th century. Hopeful of the imminent return of Christ, the founding Brethren abandoned the established Reformed and Lutheran churches, forming a new church in 1708 when their...
Social Brethren The Social Brethren is a small body of evangelical Christians located in the Midwestern United States and the Philippines.The Social Brethren originated in Saline County, Illinois in 1867. Frank Wright and Hiram T. Brannon were among those who led in the founding of this denomination... |
Methodists
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Pietists and Holiness Churches
BaptistsNote: All Baptist associations are congregationalistCongregationalist 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"... affiliations for the purpose of cooperation, in which each local church is governmentally independent. The most prominent Baptist organizations in the United States are the American Baptist Association American Baptist Association The American Baptist Association , formed in 1924, is an association of nearly 2,000 theologically conservative churches that are Landmark Baptist in their missions and teachings... , tending to be more liberal Liberal Christianity Liberal Christianity, sometimes called liberal theology, is an umbrella term covering diverse, philosophically and biblically informed religious movements and ideas within Christianity from the late 18th century and onward... , the National Baptist Convention National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. The National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. is the largest predominantly African-American Christian denomination in the United States and is the world's second largest Baptist denomination... , tending to be more moderate and the Southern Baptist Convention Southern Baptist Convention The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members... , tending to be more conservative Conservative Christianity Conservative Christianity is a term applied to a number of groups or movements seen as giving priority to traditional Christian beliefs and practices... .
Spiritual BaptistsNote: The Spiritual Baptist Archdiocese of New York, Inc has congregationalistCongregationalist 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"... affiliations for the purpose of cooperation, in which each local church is governmentally independent.
Apostolic Churches – Irvingites
Pentecostalism
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Latter Day Saints
Most Latter Day Saint denominations are derived from the Church of Christ, established by Joseph SmithJoseph Smith
Joseph Smith was founder of what later became known as the Latter Day Saint movement or Mormons.Joseph Smith may also refer to:-Latter Day Saints:* Joseph Smith, Sr. , father of Joseph Smith...
in 1830. The majority of "Prairie Saint" denominations were established after the death of Smith by the remnants of the Saints who did not go west with Brigham Young
Brigham Young
Brigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
. Many of which rejected some or most of the 1840s theological developments in favor of 1830s theological understandings and practices. The Rocky Mountain denominations are The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and various sects who broke from it after its settlement in the Rocky Mountains, many breaking after its abandonment of practicing polygamy
Polygamy
Polygamy is a marriage which includes more than two partners...
in 1890. Other denominations are defined by either a belief in Joseph Smith as a prophet
Prophet
In religion, a prophet, from the Greek word προφήτης profitis meaning "foreteller", is an individual who is claimed to have been contacted by the supernatural or the divine, and serves as an intermediary with humanity, delivering this newfound knowledge from the supernatural entity to other people...
, or acceptance of the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
as scripture
Religious text
Religious texts, also known as scripture, scriptures, holy writ, or holy books, are the texts which various religious traditions consider to be sacred, or of central importance to their religious tradition...
. Mormonism
Mormonism
Mormonism is the religion practiced by Mormons, and is the predominant religious tradition of the Latter Day Saint movement. This movement was founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. beginning in the 1820s as a form of Christian primitivism. During the 1830s and 1840s, Mormonism gradually distinguished itself...
is generally considered restorationist, believing that Smith, by inspiration and revelation, restored the original Church of Christ to the earth. Some Latter Day Saint denominations are regarded by other Christians as being nontrinitarian, but generally do not accept that label themselves, in contrast to the groups labeled "nontrinitarian" below.
The churches within the Latter Day Saint movement are not recognized as an orthodox Christian denomination, and with the exception of Community of Christ, which is a member communion of the National Council of Churches, are usually rejected as Christian by many Protestants. Mormons, however, strongly oppose this rejection.
"Prairie Saint" denominations
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Community of Christ The Community of Christ, known from 1872 to 2001 as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , is an American-based international Christian church established in April 1830 that claims as its mission "to proclaim Jesus Christ and promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace"... , formerly called Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS) (largest "Prairie Saint" denomination) Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints The Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a denomination of the Latter Day Saint movement. The president of the church is Frederick Niels Larsen, a direct descendant of Joseph Smith, Jr.... Restoration Branches The Restoration Branches movement is a Christian/Latter Day Saint religious sect which was formed in the 1980s by members of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in a reaction against the events of the RLDS 1984 world conference... Restoration Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints The Restoration Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a denomination of the Latter Day Saint movement headquartered in Independence, Missouri... |
Rocky Mountains denominations
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Nontrinitarian groups
Various denominations whose self-understanding denies trinitarian theology held by other Christians.Oneness Pentecostalism
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Unitarianism and Universalism
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Bible Student groups
- Christian Millennial FellowshipChristian Millennial FellowshipThe Free Bible Students is the branch of the Bible Student movement that discarded most of Watch Tower Society founder Charles Taze Russell's writings as error. The Free Bible Students form independent, autonomous assemblies and the name, "Free", is given to them to distinguish them from Bible...
- Dawn Bible Students AssociationDawn Bible Students AssociationThe Dawn Bible Students Association is a legal entity used by a branch of the Bible Student Movement.It was founded with the intention of becoming a publishing house to begin printing and distributing the first six volumes of the Studies in the Scriptures series that were written by Charles Taze...
- Friends of ManFriends of ManThe Friends of Man are a Christian denomination founded in 1916 by Alexander F.L. Freytag, the former Branch manager of the Swiss Watch Tower Society since 1898...
- Jehovah's WitnessesJehovah's WitnessesJehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The religion reports worldwide membership of over 7 million adherents involved in evangelism, convention attendance of over 12 million, and annual...
- Laymen's Home Missionary Movement
- Pastoral Bible InstitutePastoral Bible InstituteThe Pastoral Bible Institute was founded by a small group who were part of the Bible Student movement, a Christian denomination following Millerite Adventist notions guided by principles expounded by Pastor Charles Taze Russell...
Swedenborgianism
- General Church of the New JerusalemGeneral Church of the New JerusalemThe General Church of the New Jerusalem is an international church based in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania, and based on the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the theological works of Emanuel Swedenborg...
- Swedenborgian Church of North AmericaSwedenborgian Church of North AmericaThe Swedenborgian Church in North America . The Administrative Offices of the denomination are located at 11 Highland Avenue, Newton, MA.-Beliefs:...
Other non-Trinitarians
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Members Church of God International The Members Church of God International is an independent Christian organization with headquarters in the Philippines. The Church of God International is colloquially known through its flagship international television program, Ang Dating Daan... Most Holy Church of God in Christ Jesus The Most Holy Church of God in Christ Jesus , is a Christian denomination founded in the Philippines by Bishop Teofilo D. Ora in May 1922.... Subbotniks Subbotniks are one of the Russian religious bodies known under the general name of "Judaizing Christian sects". On the whole, the Subbotniks originally differed probably very little from other Judaizing societies. They first appeared during the reign of Catherine II, toward the end of the... Unification Church The Unification Church is a new religious movement founded by Korean religious leader Sun Myung Moon. In 1954, the Unification Church was formally and legally established in Seoul, South Korea, as The Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity . In 1994, Moon gave the church... Universal Alliance The Universal Alliance , formerly known as Universal Christian Church and followers as Christ's Witnesses , is a Christian-oriented new religious movement founded in France in 1952 by Georges Roux, a former postman in the Vaucluse department... The Way International The Way International is a non denominational Christian ministry based in New Knoxville, Ohio, with home fellowships located in the United States and in over 30 other countries. It was founded by Victor Paul Wierwille in 1942 as a radio program, and became The Chimes Hour Youth Caravan in 1947, and... |
New Thought
The relation of New Thought to Christianity is sometimes murky; some of its adherents see themselves as practicing a true or correct form of Christianity, or as doing what Jesus did, while others, in particular, Religious ScienceReligious Science
Religious Science, also known as Science of Mind, was established in 1927 by Ernest Holmes and is a spiritual, philosophical and metaphysical religious movement within the New Thought movement. In general, the term "Science of Mind" applies to the teachings, while the term "Religious Science"...
says "yes and no" to the question of whether it considers itself Christian leaving it to the individual to define themselves.
- Church of Divine Science
- Religious ScienceReligious ScienceReligious Science, also known as Science of Mind, was established in 1927 by Ernest Holmes and is a spiritual, philosophical and metaphysical religious movement within the New Thought movement. In general, the term "Science of Mind" applies to the teachings, while the term "Religious Science"...
- Unity ChurchUnity ChurchUnity, known informally as Unity Church, is a religious movement within the wider New Thought movement and is best known to many through its Daily Word devotional publication...
Messianic Judaism / Jewish Christians
- Chosen People MinistriesChosen People MinistriesChosen People Ministries is a religious organization that melds Judaism with evangelical Christian faith and engages in evangelism to Jews. It supports development of congregations of adherents to Messianic Judaism, which it describes as "faith communities that stress the Jewish context of the...
- Coalition of Torah Observant Messianic Congregations
- British Messianic Jewish Alliance
- Fellowship of Messianic Congregations (FMC)
- International Alliance of Messianic Congregations and Synagogues
- International Federations of Messianic Jews (IFMJ)
- International Messianic Jewish Alliance (IMJA)
- Jews for JesusJews for JesusJews for Jesus is a conservative, Christian evangelical organization that focuses on the conversion of Jews to Christianity. Its members consider themselves to be Jews – either as defined by Jewish law, or as according to the view of Jews for Jesus. Jews for Jesus defines “Jewish” in terms of...
- Messianic Bureau International (MBI)
- Messianic Israel Alliance (MIA)
- Messianic Jewish Alliance of America (MJAA)Messianic Jewish Alliance of AmericaThe Messianic Jewish Alliance of America was founded in 1915 as the Hebrew Christian Alliance of America.-History:The Hebrew Christian Alliance of America began in the early 19th century as missions by churches to Jews...
- Messianic Jewish Alliance of Australia
- Messianic Hebrews International
- The Association of Messianic Congregations (AMC)
- The British Messianic Jewish Alliance
- The International Alliance of Messianic Congregations and Synagogues (IAMCS)
- The Jerusalem Council
- The United Alliance of Congregations Pursuing a Messianic Torah
- Tikkun Ministries International
- Union of Conservative Messianic Synagogues (UCMJS)
- Union of Nazarene Jewish Synagogues
- Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations (UMJC)Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations (UMJC)The Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations is an association of Messianic Jewish congregations and leaders formed to support formation and vitality of member congregations and Messianic Judaism worldwide.-Background:The Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations was formed in 1979 by nineteen...
- Union of Nazarene Yisraelite CongregationsUnion of Nazarene Yisraelite CongregationsThe Union of Nazarene Yisraelite Congregations is a religious organization that was founded in 2000 by Rabbis Moshe Koniukowski, Edward Nydle, and Thomas Mitchell. It is made up of more than 60 Congregations. The main congregations are B'Nai Avraham, Ottumwa, Iowa; B'Nai Yeshurun, Kittanning, Pa....
- United Messianic Jewish Alliance (UMJA)
Esoteric Christianity
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Syncretistic religions incorporating elements of Christianity
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.- CandombléCandombléCandomblé is an African-originated or Afro-Brazilian religion, practised chiefly in Brazil by the "povo de santo" . It originated in the cities of Salvador, the capital of Bahia and Cachoeira, at the time one of the main commercial crossroads for the distribution of products and slave trade to...
- Vodou
- Pilgrims of ArèsPilgrims of ArèsThe Pilgrims of Arès is the name of a new religious movement founded in 1974 and whose founder was Michel Potay. It was named after the town of Arès, Gironde, where Michel Potay would have received revelations. Beliefs and practices are based on the Revelation of Arès, written by Potay.-Members and...
- Rastafari movementRastafari movementThe Rastafari movement or Rasta is a new religious movement that arose in the 1930s in Jamaica, which at the time was a country with a predominantly Christian culture where 98% of the people were the black descendants of slaves. Its adherents worship Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia , as God...
- SanteríaSanteríaSantería is a syncretic religion of West African and Caribbean origin influenced by Roman Catholic Christianity, also known as Regla de Ocha, La Regla Lucumi, or Lukumi. Its liturgical language, a dialect of Yoruba, is also known as Lucumi....
- Santo DaimeSanto DaimeSanto Daime is a syncretic spiritual practice founded in the 1930s in the Brazilian Amazonian state of Acre by Raimundo Irineu Serra, known as Mestre Irineu...
- UmbandaUmbandaUmbanda is an Afro-Brazilian religion that blends African religions with Catholicism, Spiritism and Kardecism, and considerable indigenous lore....
See also
- DenominationalismDenominationalismDenominationalism is the division of one religion into separate groups, sects, schools of thought or denominations. Denominationalism as an ideology which views some or all Christian groups as being, in some sense, versions of the same thing regardless of their distinguishing labels, is not...
- List of Christian denominations by number of members
- List of the largest Protestant churches of the world
- List of religions and spiritual traditions
- List of religious organizations
- Parachurch organizationParachurch organizationParachurch organizations are Christian faith-based organizations that work outside of and across denominations to engage in social welfare and evangelism, usually independent of church oversight. These bodies can be businesses, non-profit corporations, or private associations. Most parachurch...
- Timeline of ChristianityTimeline of ChristianityThe purpose of this timeline is to give a detailed account of Christianity from the beginning of the current era to the present. Question marks on dates indicate approximate dates....