List of Christian denominations: Difference between revisions
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The Catholic Church is composed of 23 Churches: the Western or [[Latin Church]] and the 22 [[Eastern Catholic Churches]]. |
The Catholic Church is composed of 23 Churches: the Western or [[Latin Church]] and the 22 [[Eastern Catholic Churches]]. The church has the rule of you must go to church every Sunday to worship god |
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====The Latin Church==== |
====The Latin Church==== |
Revision as of 23:37, 29 July 2014
This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2009) |
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity.[1] Divisions between one group and another are defined by doctrine and church authority. Issues such as the nature of Jesus, the authority of apostolic succession, eschatology, and papal primacy often separate one denomination from another.
Some groups included on this list do not consider themselves a denomination. For example, the Catholic Church considers itself the one true church and the Apostolic See, and as pre-denominational.[2] The Orthodox Church also considers itself the original Church, and pre-denominational.
Other groups that are viewed by non-adherents as denominational are highly decentralized 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.
Some groups are large (e.g. Catholics, Orthodox, 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. 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.
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.
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.
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 41,000 Christian denominations (figure includes overlap between countries),[3] 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.
Branches of first-century Christianity
Early Christianity is often divided into three different branches that differ in theology and traditions, which all appeared in the 1st century AD. They include Jewish Christianity, Pauline Christianity and Gnostic Christianity.[4] All modern Christian denominations are said to have descended from these three branches. There are also other theories on the origin of Christianity. [5]
Catholicism
Catholicism consists of the Catholic Church itself, as well as a number of independent churches and movements that self-identify as Catholic. They all claim continuity (based upon Apostolic Succession) with the early Church.
Catholic Church
The Catholic Church is composed of 23 Churches: the Western or Latin Church and the 22 Eastern Catholic Churches. The church has the rule of you must go to church every Sunday to worship god
The Latin Church
The Latin Church (not to be confused with the Roman Rite, which is one of the Latin liturgical rites, not a particular Church) is the largest and most widely known of the 23 sui iuris Churches that together make up the Catholic Church.
Eastern Catholic Churches
All of the following are Particular Churches 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).[6] 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.
- Albanian Byzantine Catholic Church
- Armenian Catholic Church
- Belarusian Catholic Church
- Bulgarian Greek Catholic Church
- Chaldean Catholic Church
- Coptic Catholic Church
- Byzantine Church of Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro
- Ethiopian Catholic Church
- Greek Byzantine Catholic Church
- Hungarian Byzantine Catholic Church
- Italo-Albanian Catholic Church ; a.k.a. Italo-Greek Catholic Church
- Macedonian Catholic Church
- Maronite Catholic Church
- Melkite Catholic Church
- Romanian Catholic Church
- Russian Catholic Church
- Ruthenian Catholic Church ; usually called the "Byzantine Catholic Church" in the United States
- Slovak Greek Catholic Church
- Syriac Catholic Church
- Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
- Syro-Malankara Catholic Church
- Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
The Catholic Church considers itself the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church that Christ founded.[7] As such, the Catholic Church does not consider itself a denomination, but rather considers itself pre-denominational, the original Church of Christ.
Other churches and movements
Independent (self-identified as Catholic)
- Apostolic Catholic Church
- American Catholic Church in the United States
- Bosnian Church (no longer in existence)
- Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church
- Catholic Charismatic Church of Canada
- Celtic Catholic Church
- Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association
- Communion of Christ the Redeemer
- Community of the Lady of All Nations
- Free Catholic Church
- Liberal Catholic Church
- Mariavite Church
- Old Catholic Church
- Old Catholic Church of America
- Old Catholic Church in Europe
- Old Roman Catholic Church in America
- Palmarian Catholic Church
- Philippine Independent Church
- Polish National Catholic Church
- True Catholic Church
Eastern Orthodoxy
The Eastern Orthodox Church is organized as a communion of autocephalous (self-headed) jurisdictions, some of which also contain within them several autonomous (self-ruling) units. They are in full communion with each other and claim continuity (based upon Apostolic Succession) with the early Church.
In addition, there exist a number of churches or jurisdictions which consider themselves Eastern Orthodox but are not in communion with the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Eastern Orthodox Church
This is the main body of Eastern Orthodoxy, consisting of jurisdictions in communion with each other. Some of them have a disputed administrative status (i.e. their autonomy or autocephaly is only partially recognized), and are marked as such, but all remain in communion with each other as one Church. This list is provided in the official order of precedence. Indentation indicates autonomy rather than autocephaly.
- Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
- Finnish Orthodox Church
- Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church (autonomy not universally recognized)
- Patriarchal Exarchate for Orthodox Parishes of Russian Tradition in Western Europe (autonomy not universally recognized)
- Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA
- Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria
- Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch
- Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem
- Saint Catherine's Monastery (considered autocephalous by some)
- Russian Orthodox Church
- Latvian Orthodox Church (semi-autonomous)
- Moldovan Orthodox Church (autonomy not universally recognized)
- Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)
- Japanese Orthodox Church (autonomy not universally recognized)
- Chinese Orthodox Church
- Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (semi-autonomous; this is not universally recognized)
- Estonian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate (semi-autonomous; this is not universally recognized)
- Serbian Orthodox Church
- Macedonian Orthodox Church (autonomy not universally recognized)
- Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric
- Romanian Orthodox Church
- Bulgarian Orthodox Church
- Georgian Orthodox and Apostolic Church
- Cypriot Orthodox Church
- Church of Greece
- Polish Orthodox Church
- Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania (Albanian Orthodox Church)
- Czech and Slovak Orthodox Church
- Orthodox Church in America (autocephaly not universally recognized)
The Eastern Orthodox Church considers itself to be the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church that Christ founded. As such, the Eastern Orthodox Church does not consider itself a denomination, but rather considers itself pre-denominational, the original Church of Christ.
Other churches
These are churches that consider themselves Eastern Orthodox but are not in communion with the main body of Eastern Orthodoxy.
- Greek Old Calendarists
- Montenegrin Orthodox Church
- Macedonian Orthodox Church
- Russian Old Believers
- Russian Orthodox Church in America
- Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church
- Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyivan Patriarchate
- Autocephalous Turkish Orthodox Patriarchate
- Bosnian Church (no longer in existence)
- Bulgarian Alternative Synod
Oriental Orthodoxy
Oriental Orthodoxy comprises those Christians who did not accept the Council of Chalcedon (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.
- Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria
- Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
- Ethiopian Orthodox Coptic Church of North and South America (considers itself autocephalous but considered schismatic by the Church in Ethiopia)
- Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church
- Syriac Orthodox Church
- Jacobite Syrian Christian Church (located in Kerala, India)
- Knanaya Jacobites (located in Kerala, India)
- Honavar Mission Church (located in Karnataka, India)
- Indian (Malankara) Orthodox Church (located in Kerala, India)
- Brahmavar (Goan) Orthodox Church (located in Karnataka, India)
- Jacobite Syrian Christian Church (located in Kerala, India)
- Malabar Independent Syrian Church (located in Kerala, India)
Historically, many of the Oriental Orthodox Churches consider themselves collectively to be the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church that Christ founded. Some have considered the Oriental Orthodox communion to be a part of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, a view which is gaining increasing acceptance in the wake of the ecumenical dialogues.
Other Churches
The following Churches affirm a Miaphysite christological position but are not in communion with any of the ancient Oriental Orthodox Churches for various reasons:
Church of the East
The Church of the East is said to have been formed by St Thomas. It has also been known as the Persian or Sassanid Church. The Church did not attend the Council of Ephesus (AD 431). Historically, it has often been incorrectly referred to as the Nestorian Church. Although at some points throughout their history, Assyrian Christians have been willing to accept the label of Nestorians, they now consider this term pejorative. Recent Christological agreements with the Roman Catholic Church and some of the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches have substantially resolved this semantic debate permanently, clearing the way for ecumenical relations.
In the twentieth century, it was divided into two groups which have recently been working towards reunification:
- Assyrian Church of the East (recognises Mar Dinkha IV as Patriarch)
- Ancient Church of the East (recognises Mar Addai II as Patriarch)
The Church of the East considers itself to be a part of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church that Christ founded.
Other early Christians
Christian groups appearing between the beginning of the Christian religion to the First Council of Nicaea in 325.
- Adamites
- Agonoclita
- Christian Gnosticism
- Bardaisanites
- Basilideans
- Carpocratianism
- Nicolaitans
- Sethianism
- Simonians (Sometimes considered proto-Gnostic)
- Valentinianism
- Ebionites
- Elcesaites
- Marcionism
- Nazarenes
Medieval sects
Groups of Christians appearing between the First Council of Nicaea and the Protestant Reformation.
- Catharism (extinct as a modern and distinct group)
- Donatism (extinct as a modern and distinct group)
- Dulcinian (extinct as a modern and distinct group)
- Hussites
- Patarines (extinct as a modern and distinct group)
- Waldensians
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 century and of any of the bodies of Christians descended from them."[8]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/Protestant_branches.svg/700px-Protestant_branches.svg.png)
Lutheranism
- Apostolic Lutheran Church of America
- Association of Free Lutheran Congregations
- Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America
- Church of the Lutheran Confession
- Concordia Lutheran Conference
- Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference
- Evangelical Lutheran Church "Concord" (Russia)
- Evangelical Lutheran Free Church (Germany)
- Evangelical Lutheran Synod (United States)
- Lutheran Church of Central Africa Malawi Conference
- Lutheran Church of Central Africa Zambia Conference
- Ukrainian Lutheran Church
- Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (United States)
- Evangelical Catholic Church
- Kosovo Protestant Evangelical Church
- Evangelical Community Church-Lutheran
- Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America
- International Lutheran Council
- American Association of Lutheran Churches
- Evangelical Lutheran Church - Synod of France and Belgium
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of England
- Gutnius Lutheran Church
- Independent Evangelical-Lutheran Church
- Japan Lutheran Church
- Lanka Lutheran Church
- Lutheran Church—Canada
- Lutheran Church—Hong Kong Synod
- Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (United States)
- Lutheran Church of Australia (associate member)
- Laestadian Lutheran Church
- Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
- Lutheran Church of China (no longer in existence)
- Lutheran Church-International
- Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (United States)
- Lutheran Evangelical Protestant Church (United States)
- Lutheran Ministerium and Synod - USA
- Lutheran World Federation
- Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Arcot Lutheran Church
- Batak Christian Protestant Church
- Church of Denmark
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
- Church of Iceland
- Church of Norway
- Church of Sweden
- Church of the Faroe Islands
- Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovakia
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Madhya Pradesh
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Himalayan States
- Evangelical Lutheran Free Church of Norway (associate member)
- Gossner Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chotanagpur and Assam
- Indian Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Jeypore Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Lutheran Church of Australia (associate member)
- Malagasy Lutheran Church
- Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Simalungun Protestant Christian Church
- South Andhra Lutheran Church
- Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church
Anglicanism
Anglican Communion
Anglicanism has referred to itself as the via media between 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.
- Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia
- Anglican Church in Central America
- Anglican Church of Australia
- Anglican Church of Burundi
- Anglican Church of Canada
- Anglican Church of Kenya
- Anglican Church of Korea
- Anglican Church of Melanesia
- Anglican Church of Mexico
- Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea
- Anglican Church of Southern Africa
- Anglican Church of Tanzania
- Anglican Church of the Southern Cone of America
- Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil
- Church in the Province of the West Indies
- Church in Wales
- Church of England
- Church of Ireland
- Church of Nigeria
- Church of Uganda
- Church of the Province of Central Africa
- Church of the Province of Myanmar
- Church of the Province of Rwanda
- Church of the Province of South East Asia
- Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean
- Church of the Province of West Africa
- Episcopal Church (in the United States and elsewhere)
- Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East
- Episcopal Church in the Philippines
- Episcopal Church of Cuba
- Episcopal Church of the Sudan
- Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui
- Iglesia Filipina Independiente (in the Philippines)
- Lusitanian Catholic Apostolic Evangelical Church (in Portugal)
- Nippon Sei Ko Kai (Japan)
- Province de L'Eglise Anglicane Du Congo
- Scottish Episcopal Church
- Spanish Reformed Episcopal Church
The Anglican Communion also includes the following united churches:
- Church of Bangladesh
- Church of North India
- Church of South India
- Church of Pakistan
- Malankara Marthoma Syrian Church
Other Anglican Churches
As secessionist churches, these churches are not in full communion with the Anglican Communion. A select few of these churches are, however, recognized by certain individual provinces of the Anglican Communion.
- African Orthodox Church
- Anglican Catholic Church
- Anglican Church in America
- Anglican Church in North America
- Anglican Church of India
- Anglican Episcopal Church (USA)
- Anglican Mission in the Americas
- Anglican Orthodox Church
- Anglican Province of America
- Anglican Province of Christ the King
- Christian Episcopal Church
- Church of England (Continuing)
- Church of England in South Africa
- Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches
- Diocese of the Great Lakes
- Diocese of the Holy Cross
- Episcopal Missionary Church
- Evangelical Connexion of the Free Church of England
- Free Church of England
- Free Protestant Episcopal Church
- Holy Catholic Church--Western Rite
- Independent Anglican Church Canada Synod
- Orthodox Anglican Church
- Reformed Episcopal Church
- Southern Episcopal Church
- United Episcopal Church of North America
Calvinism
Continental Reformed churches
- Afrikaans Protestant Church
- Canadian and American Reformed Churches
- Christian Reformed Church in North America
- Christian Reformed Churches
- Christian Reformed Churches of Australia
- Christian Reformed Church in Sierra Leone
- Christian Reformed Church in South Africa
- Continued Reformed Churches in the Netherlands
- Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches
- Christian Reformed Church of Nigeria
- Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa - NG Church
- Dutch Reformed Church in Botswana
- Dutch Reformed Church
- Evangelical and Reformed Church in Honduras
- Evangelical Reformed Church in Bavaria and Northwestern Germany
- Evangelical Reformed Church of Christ
- Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches
- Free Reformed Churches of North America
- Free Reformed Churches of South Africa
- Free Reformed Churches of Australia
- Heritage Reformed Congregations
- Huguenot
- Lithuanian Evangelical Reformed Church
- National Union of Independent Reformed Evangelical Churches of France
- Netherlands Reformed Churches
- Netherlands Reformed Congregations
- Nigeria Reformed Church
- Polish Reformed Church
- Protestant Church in the Netherlands
- Orthodox Christian Reformed Church
- Protestant Reformed Christian Church in Croatia
- Protestant Reformed Churches in America
- Protestant Reformed Church of Luxembourg
- Reformed Church in America
- Reformed Church in Austria
- Reformed Christian Church in Croatia
- Reformed Church of East Africa
- Reformed Church of France
- Reformed Church in Hungary
- Reformed Church in Latvia
- Reformed Church in Romania
- Reformed Christian Church in Serbia
- Reformed Church in Transcarpathia
- Reformed Church in the United States
- Reformed Churches in the Netherlands
- Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Liberated)
- Reformed Churches of New Zealand
- Reformed Synod of Denmark
- Reformed Churches of New Zealand
- Reformed Church of Christ in Nigeria
- Reformed Evangelical Church in Myanmar
- Restored Reformed Church
- United Church of Christ
- United Reformed Church
- United Reformed Church in Congo
- United Reformed Churches in North America
- Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa
Presbyterianism
- Africa Evangelical Presbyterian Church
- Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church
- Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church of Mexico
- Bible Presbyterian Church
- Church of Central Africa Presbyterian
- Church of Scotland
- Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches
- Conservative Presbyterian Church in Brazil
- Costa Rican Evangelical Presbyterian Church
- Covenant Presbyterian Church
- Cumberland Presbyterian Church
- Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America
- Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians
- Evangelical Presbyterian Church (United States)
- Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales
- Evangelical Presbyterian Church (Australia)
- Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Malawi
- Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Ukraine
- Evangelical Reformed Presbyterian Church
- Free Church of Scotland
- Free Church of Scotland (Continuing)
- Free Presbyterian Church (Australia)
- Free Presbyterian Church of North America
- Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland
- Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster
- Fundamentalist Presbyterian Church in Brazil
- Grace Presbyterian Church of New Zealand
- Greek Evangelical Church
- National Presbyterian Church in Chile
- National Presbyterian Church in Mexico
- National Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Guatemala
- Orthodox Presbyterian Church
- Presbyterian Church of Africa
- Presbyterian Church of East Africa
- Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand
- Presbyterian Church of Australia
- Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia
- Presbyterian Church of Belize
- Presbyterian Church of Brazil
- Presbyterian Church of Ghana
- Presbyterian Church of India
- Presbyterian Church of Mozambique
- Presbyterian Church of Nigeria
- Presbyterian Church of Pakistan
- Presbyterian Church in America
- Presbyterian Church in Canada
- Presbyterian Church in Chile
- Presbyterian Church in Honduras
- Presbyterian Church in Ireland
- Presbyterian Church in Liberia
- Presbyterian Church in Malaysia
- Presbyterian Church in Singapore
- Presbyterian Church in Taiwan
- Presbyterian Church in Sudan
- Presbyterian Church in Uganda
- Presbyterian Church in Korea (Koshin)
- Presbyterian Church in Korea (HapDong)
- Presbyterian Church in Korea (TongHap)
- Presbyterian Church of Wales (also a Methodist church)
- Presbyterian Church (USA)
- Presbyterian Reformed Church (Australia)
- Presbyterian Reformed Church (North America)
- Reformed Presbyterian Church General Assembly
- Reformed Presbyterian Church – Hanover Presbytery
- Reformed Presbyterian Church of Australia
- Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland
- Reformed Presbyterian Church of Malawi
- Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America
- Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland
- Reformed Presbyterian Church in the United States
- Renewed Presbyterian Church in Brazil
- Southern Presbyterian Church (Australia)
- Sudan Evangelical Presbyterian Church
- United Free Church of Scotland
- Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa
- United Presbyterian Church of North America
- United Presbyterian Church of Pakistan
- Upper Cumberland Presbyterian Church
- Westminster Presbyterian Church of Australia
- Westminster Presbyterian Church in the United States
Congregationalist Churches
- Congregational Federation (United Kingdom)
- Evangelical Fellowship of Congregational Churches (United Kingdom)
- Congregational Union of Ireland
- Union of Evangelical Congregational Churches in Bulgaria
- Congregational Christian Churches in Canada
- National Association of Congregational Christian Churches (America)
- Conservative Congregational Christian Conference (America)
- Union of Evangelical Congregational Churches in Brazil
- Congregational Federation of Australia
- Fellowship of Congregational Churches (Australia)
- Congregational Union of New Zealand
- Congregational Christian Church in Samoa
- Congregational Christian Church in American Samoa
- Cook Islands Christian Church
- Church of Niue
- Church of Tuvalu
- Kiribati Protestant Church
- Nauru Congregational Church
- Reformed Congregational Churches (Marshall Islands)
- Evangelical Congregational Church in Angola
- United Congregational Church of Southern Africa
- English Independents
- Huguenots (virtually extinct as a modern and distinct group)
- Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches
- United Church of Christ
- United Church in the Solomon Islands
- United Church of Christ-Congregational in the Marshall Islands
Anabaptists and Schwarzenau Brethren
- Abecedarians (extinct)
- Amish
- Church of the United Brethren in Christ
- Hutterites
- Mennonites
- Alliance of Mennonite Evangelical Congregations
- Chortitzer Mennonite Conference
- Church of God in Christ, Mennonite (Holdeman Mennonites)
- Conference of the Mennonite Brethren Churches in India
- Conservative Mennonite Conference
- Evangelical Mennonite Church
- Evangelical Mennonite Conference
- Evangelical Mennonite Mission Conference
- Evangelical Missionary Church
- Fellowship of Evangelical Bible Churches (formerly Evangelical Mennonite Brethren)
- Markham-Waterloo Mennonite Conference
- Mennonite Brethren Churches
- Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches
- Japan Mennonite Brethren Conference
- US Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches
- Mennonite Church Canada
- Mennonite Church in the Netherlands
- Mennonite Church USA
- Missionary Church
- Old Order Mennonites
- Reformed Mennonite
- Swiss Mennonite Conference
- River Brethren
- Schwarzenau Brethren
- The Brethren Church (Ashland Brethren)
- Church of the Brethren
- Conservative Grace Brethren Churches, International
- Dunkard Brethren
- Ephrata Cloister
- Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches
- Old German Baptist Brethren, New Conference
- Old German Baptist Brethren
- Old Brethren
- Old Order German Baptist Brethren
- Old Brethren German Baptist
- Social Brethren
Plymouth Brethren and Free Evangelical Churches
Methodists
- African Methodist Episcopal Church
- African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
- British Methodist Episcopal Church
- Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
- Congregational Methodist Church
- Evangelical Church of the Dominican Republic
- Evangelical Methodist Church
- First Congregational Methodist Church
- Free Methodist Church
- Southern Methodist Church
- Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma
- Methodist Church of Great Britain
- Methodist Church of Malaysia
- Methodist Church of New Zealand
- Methodist Church of Southern Africa
- Primitive Methodist Church
- United Methodist Church
Pietists and Holiness Churches
- The Salvation Army
- The Wesleyan Church
- The Church of the Nazarene
- Church of God (Anderson)
- Christian and Missionary Alliance
- Bible Fellowship Church
- Christian Baptist Church of God
- Christ's Sanctified Holy Church
- Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A.
- Church of God (Holiness)
- Church of God (Restoration)
- Deeper Life Bible Church
- Free Methodist Church
- Missionary Church
- United Christian Church
Baptists
Note: All Baptist associations are congregationalist 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 Churches USA, tending to be more liberal, the National Baptist Convention, tending to be more moderate and the Southern Baptist Convention, tending to be more conservative.
- Alliance of Baptists
- American Baptist Association
- American Baptist Churches USA
- Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland
- Association of Reformed Baptist Churches of America
- Association of Regular Baptist Churches
- Baptist Bible Fellowship International
- Baptist Conference of the Philippines
- Baptist Convention of Ontario and Quebec
- Baptist Convention of Western Cuba
- Baptist General Conference (Sweden)
- Baptist General Conference of Canada
- Baptist General Convention of Texas
- Baptist Missionary Association of America
- Baptist Union of Australia
- Baptist Union of Great Britain
- Baptist Union of New Zealand
- Baptist Union of Scotland
- Baptist Union of Western Canada
- Baptist World Alliance
- Canadian Baptist Ministries
- Canadian Convention of Southern Baptists
- Central Baptist Association
- Central Canada Baptist Conference
- Christian Unity Baptist Association
- Conservative Baptist Association
- Conservative Baptist Association of America
- Continental Baptist Churches
- Convención Nacional Bautista de Mexico
- Convention of Atlantic Baptist Churches
- Convention of Baptist Churches of Northern Circars
- Council of Baptist Churches in Northeast India
- Council of Baptist Churches in Northern India
- Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
- European Baptist Convention
- European Baptist Federation
- Evangelical Baptist Mission of South Haiti
- Evangelical Free Baptist Church
- Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches in Canada
- Free Will Baptist Church
- Fundamental Baptist Fellowship of America
- General Association of Baptists
- General Association of General Baptists
- General Association of Regular Baptist Churches
- General Conference of the Evangelical Baptist Church, Inc.
- General Six-Principle Baptists
- Independent Baptist
- Independent Baptist Church of America
- Independent Baptist Fellowship International
- Independent Baptist Fellowship of North America
- Interstate & Foreign Landmark Missionary Baptist Association
- Landmark Baptist Church
- Liberty Baptist Fellowship
- Manipur Baptist Convention
- Myanmar Baptist Convention
- Nagaland Baptist Church Council
- National Association of Free Will Baptists
- National Baptist Convention of America, Inc.
- National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.
- National Baptist Evangelical Life and Soul Saving Assembly of the U.S.A.
- National Missionary Baptist Convention of America
- National Primitive Baptist Convention of the U.S.A.
- New England Evangelical Baptist Fellowship
- Nigerian Baptist Convention
- North American Baptist Conference
- North Bank Baptist Christian Association
- Norwegian Baptist Union
- Old Baptist Union
- Old Regular Baptist
- Old Time Missionary Baptist
- Primitive Baptist
- Primitive Baptist Universalism
- Progressive Baptist
- Progressive National Baptist Convention
- Reformed Baptist
- Regular Baptist Churches, General Association of
- Regular Baptist
- Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches
- Separate Baptist
- Seventh Day Baptist
- Southeast Conservative Baptist
- Southern Baptist Convention
- Southern Baptists of Texas
- Sovereign Grace Baptists
- Strict Baptists
- Two-Seed-in-the-Spirit Predestinarian Baptists
- Union d'Églises baptistes françaises au Canada
- United American Free Will Baptist Church
- United American Free Will Baptist Conference
- United Baptist
- United Baptist Convention of the Atlantic Provinces
- United Free Will Baptist
- World Baptist Fellowship
Spiritual Baptists
Note: The Spiritual Baptist Archdiocese of New York, Inc has congregationalist affiliations for the purpose of cooperation, in which each local church is governmentally independent.
Apostolic Churches – Irvingites
Pentecostalism
- Apostolic Church (denomination)
- Apostolic Faith Church
- Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa
- Assemblies of God
- Assemblies of God International Fellowship
- Believers Church
- C3 Church Global
- Celestial Church of Christ
- Charisma Christian Church
- Christ Gospel Churches International
- Christian Church of North America
- Christian City Churches
- Christian Congregation in the United States
- Christian Outreach Centre
- Christian Revival Crusade
- Church of God by Faith
- Church of God (Charleston, Tennessee)
- Church of God (Chattanooga)
- Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)
- Church of God (Full Gospel) in India
- Church of God (Huntsville, Alabama)
- Church of God in Christ
- Church of God Mountain Assembly
- Church of God of Prophecy
- Church of God of the Original Mountain Assembly
- Church of God of the Union Assembly
- Church of God with Signs Following
- Church of God, House of Prayer
- Church of the Foursquare Gospel
- The Church of God for All Nations
- The Church of God (Jerusalem Acres)
- Church of the Little Children of Jesus Christ
- Congregational Holiness Church
- CRC Churches International
- Deeper Life Bible Church
- Destiny Church
- Elim Pentecostal Church
- Evangelical Pentecostal Church of Besançon
- Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God of the Americas
- Free Apostolic Church of Pentecost
- God is Love Pentecostal Church
- Hillsong Church
- Holiness Baptist Association
- Independent Assemblies of God International
- Independent Assemblies of God, International
- Indian Pentecostal Church of God
- International Assemblies of God Fellowship
- International Circle of Faith
- International Fellowship of Christian Assemblies
- International Pentecostal Church of Christ
- International Pentecostal Holiness Church
- Mission of Full Gospel - Christian Open Door
- New Life Churches
- Open Bible Standard Churches
- Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada
- Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada
- Pentecostal Church of God
- Pentecostal Free Will Baptist Church
- The Pentecostal Mission
- Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4th Watch)
- Potter's House Christian Fellowship
- Redeemed Christian Church of God
- Revival Centres International
- The Revival Fellowship
- United Gospel Tabernacles
- United Holy Church of America
- United Pentecostal Church International
Charismatics
Neo-Charismatic Churches
African Initiated Churches
Messianic Judaism / Jewish Christians
United and uniting churches
Churches which are the result of a merger between distinct denominational churches. Churches are listed here when their disparate heritage marks them as inappropriately listed in the particular categories above.
- China Christian Council
- Church of Bangladesh
- Church of Pakistan
- Church of North India
- Church of South India
- Evangelical Church in Germany
- Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren
- Mar Thoma Church
- Protestant Church in the Netherlands
- St. Thomas Evangelical Church
- United Church of Canada
- United Church of Christ
- United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands
- United Church in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands
- United Church of Christ in the Philippines
- Uniting Church in Australia
Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), is considered historically to be a Protestant Christian denomination. It has gone through a small number of doctrinal schisms in its history as a Christian church. Today, the Society exists as several distinct and separate Quaker branches, and it also has an emphasis on Christian belief which ranges from evangelical to liberal.
- Friends United Meeting
- Evangelical Friends International
- Central Yearly Meeting of Friends
- Conservative Friends
- Friends General Conference
- Beanite Quakerism
- Britain Yearly Meeting
- Ireland Yearly Meeting
- New Foundation Fellowship
- Shakers (United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing)
Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement
- Churches of Christ in Australia
- Evangelical Christian Church in Canada (Christian Disciples)
- Independent Christian Churches/Churches of Christ
- International Christian Church
- International Churches of Christ
Southcottites
Millerites and comparable groups
Adventist (Sunday observing)
Adventist (Seventh Day Sabbath/Saturday observing)
Church of God movements (Sunday observing)
- Church of God General Conference (Abrahamic Faith)
- Church of the Blessed Hope (aka Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith)
Church of God movements (Seventh Day Sabbath/Saturday observing)
- Church of God (Seventh-Day) (or Church of God 7th day)
- Church of God International (USA)
- Church of God, a Worldwide Association
- The Intercontinental Church of God
- Seventh Day Christians - Norway (Syvende dags Kristne)
- Living Church of God
- Philadelphia Church of God
- United Church of God
- United Seventh-Day Brethren
- World Mission Society Church of God
Sabbath-Keeping Movements, Separated from Adventists
Sacred Name groups
Movements not related to the Millerites but comparable to them
Sabbath-Keeping movements, predating the Millerites
Other
- Associated Gospel Churches of Canada (AGC)
- Believers' Church in India
- Brunstad Christian Church (a.k.a. Smith's Friends)
- Church of Christ, Instrumental (Kelleyites)
- Cooneyites (not to be confused with Christian Conventions, above)
- Evangelical Church of West Africa
- Evangelical Covenant Church of America ("Swedish Evangelical Mission Covenant")
- Evangelical Free Church of Canada
- Evangelical Free Church of America
- Family International a.k.a. "The Family International", "Family of Love", "The Family"
- Fellowship of Fundamental Bible Churches
- Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches
- Gloriavale Christian Community
- Grace Movement Churches
- Great Commission Association
- Indian Shakers
- Jesus Movement
- Local Church
- Methernitha
- Metropolitan Community Churches
- Schwenkfelder Church
- Shiloh Youth Revival Centers
- Strigolniki
- The Christian Community
- Universal Life
- Yehowists (a.k.a. Yehowists-Ilyinites, Russian Jehovists)
Nontrinitarian groups
Christians who do not believe in the traditional hypothesis of a Triune God ("one God in three co-equal Persons")
Latter Day Saints
Most Latter Day Saint denominations are derived from the Church of Christ established by Joseph Smith in 1830. The largest worldwide denomination, and the one publicly recognized as Mormonism, is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, although there are various considerably smaller sects that broke from it after its relocation to the Rocky Mountains in the mid-1800s. Several of these broke away over the abandonment of practicing plural marriage after the 1890 Manifesto. Most of the "Prairie Saint" denominations (see below) were established after Smith's death by the remnants of the Latter Day Saints who did not go west with Brigham Young. Many of these opposed some of the 1840s theological developments in favor of 1830s theological understandings and practices. Other denominations are defined by either a belief in Joseph Smith as a prophet or acceptance of the Book of Mormon as scripture. Mormons generally consider themselves to be restorationist, believing that Smith, as prophet, seer, and revelator, restored the original and true Church of Christ to the earth. Some Latter Day Saint denominations are regarded by other Christians as being nontrinitarian or even non-Christian, but the Latter Day Saints are predominantly in disagreement with these claims. Mormons see themselves as believing in a Godhead comprising the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost as separate personages united in purpose. Mormons regard traditional definitions of the Trinity as aberrations of true doctrine and emblematic of the Great Apostasy[9] but they do not accept certain trinitarian definitions in the post-apostolic creeds, such as the Athanasian Creed.
- Original denomination
- Church of Christ (Latter Day Saints) - name changed in 1838 by Joseph Smith to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
- "Prairie Saint" denominations
- Community of Christ - formerly called the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (RLDS)
- Church of Christ (Temple Lot) (Hedrickites)
- Church of Christ with the Elijah Message
- Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite)
- Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerite)
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite)
- Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
- Independent RLDS / Restoration Branches
- Restoration Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
- Restored Church of Jesus Christ (Eugene O. Walton)
- "Rocky Mountain" denominations
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church)
- Other denominations
Oneness Pentecostalism
- Affirming Pentecostal Church International
- Apostolic Assemblies of Christ
- Apostolic Assembly of the Faith in Christ Jesus
- Apostolic Gospel Church of Jesus Christ
- Apostolic Overcoming Holy Church of God
- Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ
- Bible Way Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ
- Churches of Jesus Christ International
- Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith
- Pentecostal Assemblies of the World
- United Pentecostal Church International
Unitarianism and Universalism
- American Unitarian Conference
- Christian Universalist Association
- International Council of Unitarians and Universalists
- Australian and New Zealand Unitarian Universalist Association
- Canadian Unitarian Council
- Deutsche Unitarier Religionsgemeinschaft
- European Unitarian Universalists
- General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches
- Unitarian Universalist Association
- Unitarian Universalist Society of Spain
- Unitarisk Kirkesamfund
- Socinianism (extinct as a modern and distinct group)
- Polish Brethren (extinct as a modern and distinct group)
- Unitarian Christian Emerging Church
Bible Student groups
Swedenborgianism
- General Church of the New Jerusalem
- Lord's New Church Which Is Nova Hierosolyma
- Swedenborgian Church of North America
Christian Science
Other non-Trinitarians
- Arian Catholic Church
- Arianism
- Christadelphians
- Church of God (Seventh-Day)
- Church of God (7th Day)
- Church of the Blessed Hope
- Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ)
- Jehovah's Witnesses
- Kerait (split with Nestorian Church during the reign of Gregory (Nestorian Patriarch))
- Makuya
- Molokans (began with 16th century Protestants from 11th century partial Kerait reunion with Nestorian Church)
- Members Church of God International
- Most Holy Church of God in Christ Jesus
- Some Quakers
- Spiritual Christianity (Including groups like Molokans, Dukhobors, Khlysts, Skoptsy, and Ikonobortsy)
- Subbotniks (split from Molokan Faith)
- Two by Twos ("Christian Conventions")
- Unification Church
- Universal Alliance
- United Church of God
- The Way International
New Thought
The relation of New Thought to Christianity is sometimes murky spiritually; some of its adherents see themselves as practising a true form of Christianity, while adherents of Religious Science says "yes and no" to the question of whether they consider themselves to be Christian in belief and practice, leaving it up to the individual to define oneself spiritually.
Esoteric Christianity
- Anthroposophical Society of Rudolf Steiner
- Archeosophical Society of Tommaso Palamidessi
- Behmenism of Jakob Böhme
- Freemasonry
- Lectorium Rosicrucianum of Jan van Rijckenborgh/Catharose de Petri
- Martinism of Louis Claude de Saint-Martin et al.
- Societas Rosicruciana by Masons
- Spiritualist Church
- The Rosicrucian Fellowship of Max Heindel
- Theosophy
- Universal White Brotherhood of Peter Deunov
Racialist groups
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.
Other
Christian Movements
- British New Church Movement
- Christian atheism
- Christian communism
- Christian democracy
- Christian existentialism
- Christian Family Movement
- Christian feminism
- Christian left
- Christian naturism
- Christian pacifism
- Christian right
- Christian socialism
- Christian Torah-submission
- Christian vegetarianism
- Christian Zionism
- Confessing Movement
- Continual prayer
- Convergence Movement
- Creationism
- Emerging church
- Green Christianity
- House church (or Simple church)
- Neo-orthodoxy
- Postmodern Christianity
- Progressive Christianity
- Restorationism
- Shepherding Movement
Internet Churches
LGBT-affirming Christian denominations
- Affirming Pentecostal Church International
- Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists
- Church of Denmark
- Church of Iceland
- Church of Norway
- Church of Sweden
- Global Alliance of Affirming Apostolic Pentecostals
- Metropolitan Community Church
- Protestant Church in the Netherlands
- United Church of Christ[10]
- United Protestant Church in Belgium
Interdenominational (ecumenical) churches and organizations
- Action of Churches Together in Scotland
- Bose Monastic Community
- Byzantine Discalced Carmelites
- Campus Crusade for Christ
- Canadian Council of Churches
- Christian Churches Together in the USA
- Churches Together in Britain and Ireland
- Churches Together in England
- Churches Uniting in Christ
- Conference of European Churches
- Ecumenical Institute for Study and Dialogue
- Edinburgh Churches Together
- Fellowship of Saint Alban and Saint Sergius
- Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity (HSA-UWC/Unification Church/Unification Movement)
- International Circle of Faith
- Iona Community
- National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
- New Monasticism related Communities
- Pentecostal Charismatic Peace Fellowship
- Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
- Society of Ordained Scientists
- Taizé Community
- World Alliance of Reformed Churches
- World Council of Churches
- World Student Christian Federation
Non-denominational churches and organizations
- Bread of Life Ministries International
- Brunstad Christian Church
- The Chapel (Ohio)
- The Crossing Church
- Harvest Bible Chapel
- The Way International
Revivals
- Azusa Street Revival
- Brownsville Revival
- Lakeland Revival (Florida Outpouring)
- Toronto Blessing
- Welsh Revival
- Welsh Methodist revival
Misc.
- Evangelical Missionary Church
- The Process Church of The Final Judgment (The Process)
- United House of Prayer for All People
See also
- Denominationalism
- 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 organization
- Timeline of Christianity
Further reading
- Crossan, John Dominic and Borg, Marcus J. The First Paul: Reclaiming the Radical Visionary Behind the Church's Conservative Icon (2009)
References
- ^ http://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/dictionary/american/denomination
- ^ "Dominus Iesus". Vatican.va. Retrieved 2013-05-14.
- ^ Appendix B: Methodology for Estimating Christian Movements, "Global Christianity: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Christian Population", The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, December 19, 2011. "The figures on Christian movements in this report were commissioned by the Pew Forum from the Center for the Study of Global Christianity (CSGC) at Gordon–Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Mass. CSGC researchers generated their estimates based in large part on figures provided by Christian denominations and organizations around the world. CSGC has obtained denominational membership information from about 41,000 organizations worldwide."
- ^ http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_brief2.htm
- ^ http://www.earlychristianhistory.info/frac.html
- ^ Anthony Dragani, From East to West
- ^ "Responses to Some Questions Regarding Certain Aspects of the Doctrine on the Church". Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
- ^ "Protestant, I.2.a" Oxford English Dictionary
- ^ "Articles of Faith, no. 1".
- ^ The United Church of Christ
Websites