Welcome from all of us at Rhett Avenue Christian Church. Here you can find information on the history of our local church and the Disciples of Christ, what we believe, our symbol (the chalice), our leadership, and life in the Church. If you are not presently active in a church, we believe that you need us and we need you. We welcome you to worship with us and participate in our fellowship.
We sometimes summarize our faith and beliefs as follows:
We call ourselves Christians, but not the only Christians; we call ourselves Disciples of Christ, because we feel called to follow in His footsteps and learn all we can of God's love for us. We believe that each of us is capable of reading and understanding the Word of God.
If you believe in Jesus Christ and His way of life, we invite you to share and join with us in our quest for Christian knowledge, faith, understanding, and service. Our congregation welcomes individuals of every ethnic community into its fellowship.
Rhett Avenue Christian Church held its first worship service in June, 1953 with Frank Elliott preaching. The congregation met in homes and Live Oak Recreation Hall in Chicora until 1955 when the church building at the corner of Rhett Avenue and Braddock near Park Circle was ready for worship. A. Lynn Robbins was called as our full time pastor in May, 1954 and served in that capacity for the next two years. The congregation has been served by several pastors since then.
Our congregation is identified with the communion of believers known as "The Christian Church" (Disciples of Christ). The Disciples had their origin on the American frontier when Barton W. Stone in 1804 at Cane Ridge, Kentucky, ended Presbyterian ties to become a "Christian only". Near Washington, Pennsylvania, Thomas Campbell and son Alexander founded the Brush Run Church in 1811, seeking union of all Christians on a simple, non-theological basis. The two movements merged in 1832.
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) was born with a desire for a Christian unity and is a charter member of the National Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches. We have a heritage of providing leadership to many inter-faith organizations, including the Consultation on Church Union and Churches Uniting in Christ. Disciples are involved in numerous ecumenical concerns on local, regional and national levels.
Disciples have founded many colleges and universities across America, with the belief that Christian education enables us to share our faith with men and women in every circle where inquiring minds gather.
The Christian Church requires no statement of faith or any member other than the affirmation that Christ is Lord. How this "creed" is interpreted and applied to one's life is a matter of individual conscience. Our founding fathers believed that creeds divided people rather than bringing them together. We have sought to be a place where many faiths can share bread and cup understanding the gifts in various ways.
The following covenantal statement has received general acceptance as an affirmation of the common ground of faith, fellowship, and commitment that unites Disciples and identifies them with the whole people of God in the Church Universal.
As members of the Christian Church, we confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and proclaim him Lord and Savior of the world. In His name and by His grace we accept our mission of witness and service to mankind. We rejoice in God our Father, Maker of heaven and earth, and in the covenant of love by which He has bound us to himself. Through baptism into Christ we enter into newness of life and are made one with the whole people of God. In the fellowship and communion of the Holy Spirit we are joined to one another in brotherhood and in obedience to Christ. At the table of the Lord we celebrate with thanksgiving His saving acts and His presence. Within the universal church we receive the gift of ministry and the light of scripture. In the bonds of Christian faith we yield ourselves to God, that we may serve Him whose kingdom has no end. Blessing, glory, and honor be to Him forever. Amen.
The red chalice bearing the "X"-shaped Cross of St. Andrew, which has come to be the symbol of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), was developed in 1969. The chalice symbolizes the centrality of the Lord's Supper as well as the cup of Christian self-giving for the world.
The St. Andrew's Cross, national cross of Scotland, focuses attention on
the Scots Presbyterian roots of the church. Thomas and Alexander
Campbell both studied in Scotland and were Presbyterians, drawing many of
their ideas from developments taking place in that country. St. Andrew,
too, has been identified with the laity and evangelism, prominent emphases of
the Disciples over the years.
Many persons see in the symbol a more traditional cross tilted as if being carried or shouldered. The red color of the chalice signifies vitality, spirit and sacrifice.
Rhett Avenue Christian Church, like all Disciples of Christ Churches, is governed by it's own constitution and by-laws. Our congregation is led by our people - laity and ordained. Our lay leaders consist of elders elected by the congregation to serve at the Table, in various church boards and in the community; deacons and deaconesses, also elected by the church, who prepare and serve communion, assist in committee work and carry the message of Jesus Christ everywhere they go; trustees, elected by the church to take care of our physical property; and officers of the congregation and board.
The church calls its own pastor. We are served by co-pastors Dan and Melanie Barton who bring a variety of talents and dedication to our pulpit and our community. They are both trained and licensed counselors and each serves the larger community.
Disciples recognize no authority beyond the congregation as having power to force its will upon the local church. Each church is governed by its own constitution and bylaws. We do voluntarily connect ourselves to regional (state) and general (US and Canada) manifestations of the church in order that we can cooperate with others to provide needed services and programs.
We are actively involved in worldwide mission programs, generally in cooperation with other denominations. The Disciples have taken leadership roles in many ecumenical ventures, attempting to fulfill Christ's command "that they all might be one body." There are many more Disciples congregations and members outside North America than within it. Closer to home. our most recent strides have been in Asian and Hispanic communities.
Disciples of Christ believe that the church is responsible for the care and nurture of each individual participating within its fellowship. Ministry is not the exclusive calling of the clergy, but the task and joy of the Church. All are called to share in the ministry of meeting social, physical and spiritual needs of each.
The Church is responsible for the teaching and practicing of the two universal ordinances which were instituted by Jesus: Baptism and the Lord's Supper.
Baptism is the symbol of commitment to follow Christ. It is administered by Disciples of Christ as immersion in water following confession of Jesus Christ as Lord.
The Lord's Supper is the central act of worship among the Disciples, being observed each Lord's Day in accordance with the practice of the early church. Communion is open to all regardless of church membership. It is an act celebrating the sacrifice of Christ and His presence with His people.
If you are not presently active in a church, we believe that you need us and we need you. We welcome you to worship with us and participate in our fellowship. If you believe in Jesus Christ and His way of life we invite you to share with us in Christian faith and service.