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Branches / Denominations

 


 

PROTESTANTISM

Some of the most common branches of Protestantism in the United States:

Baptists

Baptists were founded by John Smith in England in 1609. It was moved to Rhode Island in 1638 by Roger Williams. Baptism consists of 31,000,000 members and has no creed. Most Baptists do not use alcohol or tobacco.

Church of Christ

The Church of Christ was originally created by Presbyterians in the early 1800’s (1804-1809). It now has over a million followers who believe in the New Testament and strictly follow what is written in the bible.

Episcopal Church

The Episcopal Church is actually a United States version of the Church of England. It has nearly 3 million members. Their worship is based on the Book of Common Prayer, and an interpretation of the bible made by the Church of England in 1653.

Lutheran Church

The Lutheran Church, with 8 million members in the U.S., is based on the writings of Martin Luther, who broke with the Roman Catholic Church and led the Protestant Reformation. The first Lutheran congregation in North America was founded in 1638 in Wilmington, Delaware. The first North American regional synod was founded in 1748 by Heinrich Melchior Muhlenberg. Services include the Lord's Supper (communion). Lutherans are mostly conservative in religious and social ethics; infants are baptized, the church is organized in synods. The two largest synods in the United States are the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.


Methodist Church

Methodism has 13.5 million members in the U.S. It was founded by the Reverend John Wesley, who began evangelistic preaching with the Church of England in 1738. A separate Wesleyan Methodist Church was established in 1791. The Methodist Episcopal Church was founded in the United States in 1784. The name comes from the founders' desire to study religion "by rule and method" and follow the Bible interpreted by tradition and reason; worship varies by denomination within Methodism (the United Methodist Church is the largest congregation). The church is perfectionist in social dealings. Methodists have Communion and they perform baptism of infants and adults.

Pentecostal churches

The churches grew out of the "holiness movement" that developed among Methodists and Protestants in the first decade of the twentieth century. There are some 3.5 million followers today in the U.S. Pentecostals believe in baptism in the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues, faith healing, and the second coming of Jesus. The Assemblies of God is the largest denomination. Services usually have enthusiastic sermons and hymns, and Pentecostals practice adult baptism and communion.

Presbyterian Church

Presbyterianism in the U.S. grew out of the Calvinist Churches of Switzerland and France. John Knox founded the first Presbyterian Church in Scotland in 1557. There are 3.2 million members of the Presbyterian Church, and they believe that faith is in the Bible. Sacraments are infant baptism and communion. The church is organized as a system of courts in which clergy and lay members participate at local, regional, and national levels. The services are simple, and are based around the sermon.

Seventh Day Adventist Church

The Seventh Day Adventist Church grew out of the teachings of William Miller in the 1840s. There are about 700,000 members who believe in the Bible as their only creed and the second coming of Jesus. Members do not use alcoholic beverages or tobacco. They dedicate their infants to God in the same way that Hannah dedicated her son Samuel to God. They reserve baptism until a person can choose for themselves whether they accept Christ's punishment on the cross for their sins and want to follow Him as their Savior.

United Church of Christ

The United Church of Christ was formed in 1957 by the union of the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches with the Evangelical and Reformed Churches. The bible is their creed. The church is organized by congregations, which are represented at a general synod that sets policy. Services are simple, with emphasis on the sermon. They practice infant baptism, and communion.
 

 

List of Denominations and Sects:

1- LUTHERANS: Martin Luther, Germany, 1517.

2- ANABAPTISTS, (after Zwingli), 1519.
   - Brethren in Christ, German Switzerland.
   - Hutterine Brethren.
    - Mennonites, to Pennsylvania, in 1653.
   - German Baptists, Dunkards, to USA, 1723.
    - German Moravians, who became the "United Brethren Church", in 1735.
    - Separatists and Congregationalists, in England and Holland, came to America as the Pilgrim fathers on the "Mayflower" (repudiated the title of Anabaptists, as they did the "Baptists").
    - The Amish, to Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa.
   - The Baptists in USA (repudiated the title).

3- CHURCH OF ENGLAND, Henry VIII, 1534.
    - Episcopalians, England and America.
    - Methodists (split with the Ch. of England).
   - Evangelicalism, England and America.

4- CALVINISTS, after Calvin, 1536. Switzerland
   - Presbyterians, Scotland and America.
   - Dutch Reformed Church, Holland.
   - Huguenots, France.
   - Puritans, England and America.
   - Separatists and Congregationalists, with many Calvinist tenets.

5- PIETISTS, after Fox, 1654.
   - Quakers, "Society of Friends",England, 1654
   - Shakers, "Union Society", England, 1741.
   - Moravians, Germany, 1727.
   - Pentecostals, USA, 1900
    - Charismatics, USA, 1900.
    - Fundamentalists, USA, 1900.

6- MILLENIALISM, after Miller, 1818.
   - Seventh-day Adventists, USA, 1818.
   - Seenth-day Baptists.
    - Worldwide Church of God, USA, 1934.
   - Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, 1809

7- CHRISTIANS WITHOUT CHRIST:

    With or without Millenialism... For them, Jesus Christ is not God:
    - Mormons, USA, 1829.
   - Jehovah's Witnesses, USA, 1852.
   - Christian Science, USA, 1879.
   - Moonies, Korea and USA, 1936.
   - Scientology, USA, 1954.
   - Children of God, USA, 1969.
   - Unitarian- Universalist, England, 1774,
   - Transcendentalism (Kant), USA, 1800.
   - Unity School of Christianity, USA, 1889.
   - Worldwide Chruch of God (Armstrong).
   - Spiritualism, USA
   - The Way International, USA, 1957.
   - Church Universal and Triumphant, 1958.
   - The Holy Order of MANS, USA.

And others:

    - Church of the Living Word, USA.
   - Crossroads Church, England, USA.
    - United Christian... Rev. Ike, USA
   - Penitents, USA.
   - Snake Handlers, 1909, USA.
   - Homosexual Churches, 1868, USA.
   - Branch Davidians. "Waco", USA.
   - People's Temple. "Guayana", USA
   - The Jamalians, USA, 1975.
   - Gnosticism.