About Us

Many people like to know about the history, organization, denomination and people of the church. Here we will tell you a little about who we are.

Our History

First Meeting Place of First Christian Church

The Independence First Christian Church began in 1870 in the city's first one room school house at Fourth and Maple Streets, just across the street west of today's location of the Epiphany Episcopal Church. Initially, the church was composed of nine devoted disciples and their families. This small band of believers had considerable difficulty maintaining a viable congregation and meeting place. But after years of faithful persistance the congregation build its first church building in 1883 at the corner of West Main and Eleventh Street.

In 1909 a brick church building of classical Greek architecture was constructed at the corner of West Laurel and 10th Streets. The congregation worshipped in this building, with some alterations and modernization until 1963. In 1955 a three story educational building was added. A new sanctuary, the one in current use, was built in 1963 and was dedicated on August 2, 1964.

For 136 years, the First Christian Church has sought to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to the Independence community and beyond.

First Christian Church 1909 - 1963

Our Organization

First Christian Church has a congregationally directed church organization. The final authority in all matters is the Congregational Business Meeting, a meeting of the entire church membership where each member has a vote. The congregation makes all major decisions such as calling a minister, establishing an annual budget, electing officers, and providing for capital expenditures. Between CBM's the church is governed by a Church Board who act on matters of policy, procedure, and program. The Ministry Teams represented on the Church Board include:

Worship and Music

Membership and Fellowship

Christian Education

Outreach and Sevice

Stewardship and Property

Evangelism
Elders
Deacons

The Standing Committees represented on the Church Board include:

Personnel

Memorial

Pastoral Relations
Trustees

In addition to the Church Board, the church has Elders who promote the growth and welfare of the congregation, visit the sick, and give spiritual oversight to its programs and ordinances including the Lord's Supper. The Deacons serve the Lord's Supper in worship. minister to the needy, and give counsel regarding the business and program life of the congregation.

Frienship Abounds at FCC

Our Annual Thanksgiving Dinner

Our Denomination

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is a Protestant denomination of approximately 800,000 members in the United States and Canada. It's one of the largest faith groups founded on American soil.

Like most Christians, Disciples affirm:

Jesus Christ is the son of the Living God, and offers saving grace to all
All persons are God’s children

Beliefs and practices usually associated with Disciples include:

Open Communion. The Lord’s Supper, or Communion is celebrated in weekly worship. It is open to all who believe in Jesus Christ.
Freedom of belief. Disciples are called together around one essential of faith: belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Persons are free to follow their consciences guided by the Bible, the Holy Spirit study and prayer, and are expected to extend that freedom to others.
Baptism by immersion. In baptism the old self-centered life is set aside, and a new life of trust in God begins. Although Disciples practice baptism by immersion, other baptism traditions are honored.
Belief in the oneness of the church. All Christians are called to be one in Christ and to seek opportunities for common witness and service.
The ministry of believers. Both ministers and lay persons lead in worship, service and spiritual growth.

Our People

People at the Independence First Christian Church are like people everywhere. They have a past, a present and a future. They wrestle with the issues of marriage, family, finances and employment. They want the best for their children. They work hard as farmers, teachers, secretaries, social workers, factory workers, business men and women, tradesmen, salesmen, builders, technicans, nurses, accountants, and pharmicists. They are students. They are retired. They win victories. They make mistakes.

But they are a people in process. They know there is more to life than what you can buy or how much you achieve in the world. Over time, in a process called "discipleship," they grow. They are, and are becoming:

1) A PEOPLE FORMED by the life-giving words of Scripture and by a personal faith in Christ.

2) A PEOPLE OF FAITH as Christians believing, as did the apostolic church, in salvation through Christ and living in the practice of the sacraments of the New Testament.

3) A PEOPLE WHO REACH OUT TO OTHERS through responding to human needs at home and throughout the world, providing compassionately to victims of injustice and poverty, and proclaiming the love of Christ for all.

4) A PEOPLE OF INVITATION who share their faith, warmly welcome, and make a place for people in the community of faith.

We are not a people with all the answers. Some things in life are not black and white. We seek to be faithful to the Word of God and compassionate with a world who does not know Him. We want to honor God with our rightful living, but without giving way to self-righteousness. We have discovered in Jesus Christ a special relationship that encourages us, inspires us, and empowers us to live a more Alive Life. We would welcome you (truly with all of our hearts) to walk with us and become "a people" of God.

As Viewed by the Angels

Photo by Dana Pinnick

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The Church Family You've Always Been Looking For!