World Communion Sunday will take on special significance in Nacogdoches Oct. 4 as First Christian Church will host a celebration of the "Great Communion," commemorating the 200th anniversary of Thomas Campbell's "Declaration and Address," written in 1809.
Campbell (1763-1854) began his career as a Presbyterian minister in Ireland and migrated to the American frontier in 1807, according to www.wikipedia.org.
Considered an "unorthodox minister" because of his views of the American frontier as "a new life and a new era for the church," his position as a Presbyterian minister was short-lived.
Campbell's conflict with the Presbyterians and his desire for a united church led him to organize the Christian Association of Washington, along with his son, Alexander Campbell, and Barton W. Stone, who had both left the Presbyterian church to be part of this movement seeking church unity.
The "Declaration and Address," the founding document of that group, was first read at a special meeting of the group in September 1809.
Although the Christian Association of Washington did not succeed in uniting the church, as Thomas Campbell had hoped, it led to what is now known as the Restoration Movement.
The "Great Communion" celebrates the history of the Restoration Movement from which came three new denominations: the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Churches of Christ and Christian Churches/Churches of Christ.
"In many ways, Thomas Campbell was before his time," according to www.wikipedia.org. "He had an ecumenical spirit long before the ecumenical movement began."
Speaker for the 4 p.m. service at First Christian Church, 702 N. Mound St., will be state Rep. Jim McReynolds, an elder at North Street Church of Christ in Nacogdoches.
Jerry Alexander, vice-chairman of the First Christian Church elder board, and Jim Riggs, an elder at Lufkin's First Christian Church, organizers of the event, emphasize the "Great Communion" celebration is open to all.
"We're sending notices to all the churches in Nacogdoches and Angelina counties," Alexander said, "and to all the Disciples of Christ churches in the Northeast area — from Lufkin to Texarkana."
For information, go to www.greatcommunion.org.
