CHURCH OF CHRIST. - Under this name two Protestant sects are included, namely: 1) C. of C. Scientist, better known by the name of Christian Science, of which Mary Eddy Baker (v.) was the founder; 2) C. of C. Holiness. This was founded by Dr. C. P. Jones, a Baptist pastor in the state of Alabama (United States), who, dissatisfied with his sect, was seeking a new faith that would make him "one of the true children of Wisdom" and, like Abraham, "one of the friends of God." After fasting and praying, he went to Jackson in the State of Mississippi, where he convened a "Holiness" meeting. At first it had an interdenominational tendency, but then it gradually developed into a new sect through union with certain other similar groups from Virginia and North Carolina. It was called the "National Convention of the C. of C., Holiness," and more briefly the "C. of C., Holiness" (Church of Christ, Holiness).

This sect insists, like certain others that have added the name "Holiness," on justification and on holiness; it believes in original sin; in the gifts of the Holy Spirit; it admits only baptism by immersion and practices the washing of feet. The supreme authority resides in the general council, presided over by five bishops or superintendents, of whom the eldest is the president. It numbers about 5,000 faithful.

Bibliography

BIBL.: United States Department of Commerce, Religious Bodies, 2 vols., Washington 1929.

Camillo Crivelli

@incollection{ec3_chiesa_di_cristo, author = {Crivelli, Camillo}, title = {Chiesa di Cristo}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {III}, pages = {1526--1527}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1949}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/chiesa-di-cristo} }

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