Followers of Christ

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This article is about a particular church. For the original followers of Christ, see Apostle (Christian). For adherents of Christianity in general, see Christians.

The Followers of Christ is a small Christian denomination based in the U.S. states of Oklahoma, Oregon and Idaho.

History[]

The Followers of Christ church was founded in Chanute, Kansas, by Marion Reece (sometimes spelled Riess[1]), rooted in Holiness and Pentecostal traditions. The church moved to Ringwood, Oklahoma, in the 1890s, where leadership passed to Elder John Marshall Morris, who was the father of Marion Morris.[1] Marion Morris led the Ringwood, Oklahoma, branch of the church until his death in 1988.

During the 1920s, Charlie Smith (the founder's brother-in-law) and George White began missions in California. George White's nephew Walter White became a minister in the church. Walter moved to Oregon City, Oregon, in the 1940s, after a dispute with other ministers.[2][3][4] White and his congregation built a house of worship on Molalla Avenue in Oregon City, then a largely rural timber and farming community, now a suburb of Portland. He was a fiery speaker and maintained tight control over his congregation.[3] White died in 1969, and the church has functioned without a minister since that time.[5] The elders associated with White had also died by the early 1990s, and the leaderless Oregon community became more isolated and inward-focused, and ceased recruitment of new members.

Estimates of the Oregon church's membership in 2008 ranged from 1,200[5] to 1,500.[6][7] The Followers of Christ also have congregations in Oklahoma[3] and California,[8] and local communities operate independently of Followers of Christ churches in other areas.[3]

The Oregon City congregation owns a church building, as well as a cemetery in Carus, where deceased church members are routinely buried.[9]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Melton, J. Gordon (2003). Encyclopedia of American Religions (Seventh edition). Farmington Hills, Michigan: The Gale Group, Inc. p. 1137. ISBN 0-7876-6384-0.
  2. ^ Justin Bishop (1998-08-31). "Holy Orders". University of Oregon. Archived from the original on April 8, 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-24.
  3. ^ a b c d Peters, Shawn Francis (2008). When Prayer Fails: Faith Healing, Children, and the Law. New York, New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 186–188. ISBN 978-0-19-530635-4.
  4. ^ David van Biema (1998-08-31). "Faith Or Healing? Why the law can't do a thing about the infant-mortality rate of an Oregon sect". Time Magazine. Retrieved 2008-03-24.
  5. ^ a b Mark Larabee (1998-06-28). "Doubt, secrecy circle Followers of Christ". The Oregonian.
  6. ^ Jessica Bruder and Dana Tims (2008-03-22). "Child's death may put faith law to test". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2008-03-24.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  7. ^ Mark Larabee and Peter D. Sleeth (1998-07-06). "Followers' roots reveal numerous splinters". The Oregonian.
  8. ^ Linnard-Palmer, Luanne (2006). When Parents Say No: Religious and Cultural Influences on Pediatric Healthcare Treatment. Indianapolis, Indiana: Sigma Theta Tau International. p. 83. ISBN 978-1-930538-30-6.
  9. ^ Bruder, Jessica; Dana Tims (April 5, 2008). "Parents Plead Not Guilty in Death". Washington Post. Retrieved 2011-01-04.

Further reading[]

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