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The Christian Association of Washington was an organization established by Thomas Campbell in 1809 to promote
Christian A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...
unity.Douglas Allen Foster and Anthony L. Dunnavant, ''The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, Churches of Christ'', Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2004, , , 854 pages, entry on ''Christian Association of Washington'' It was a study group that Campbell formed with like minded friends and acquaintances in the local neighborhood of
Washington, Pennsylvania Washington, also known as Little Washington to distinguish it from the District of Columbia, is a city in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. The population was 13,176 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 censu ...
.C. Leonard Allen and Richard T. Hughes, ''Discovering Our Roots: The Ancestry of the Churches of Christ,'' Abilene Christian University Press, 1988, The group sought to foster unity by focusing on a common form of
Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion, which states that Jesus in Christianity, Jesus is the Son of God (Christianity), Son of God and Resurrection of Jesus, rose from the dead after his Crucifixion of Jesus, crucifixion, whose ...
that they could all agree upon. This charter that Campbell wrote for this group, the ''Declaration and Address of the Christian Association of Washington'', became one of the most important early texts of the
Restoration Movement The Restoration Movement (also known as the American Restoration Movement or the Stone–Campbell Movement, and pejoratively as Campbellism) is a Christian movement that began on the American frontier during the Second Great Awakening (1790–1 ...
.


History

After arriving in the
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in 1807, Thomas Campbell began working with the Associate Synod of North America, which assigned him to the Chartiers Presbytery in
Western Pennsylvania Western Pennsylvania is a region in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the Unite ...
.Douglas Allen Foster and Anthony L. Dunnavant, ''The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, Churches of Christ'', Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2004, , , 854 pages, entry on ''Campbell, Thomas'' He was censured by the Presbytery for extending communion to individuals who were not seceder
Presbyterians Presbyterianism is a historically Reformed Protestant tradition named for its form of church government by representative assemblies of elders, known as "presbyters". Though other Reformed churches are structurally similar, the word ''Pr ...
, and withdrew from the synod. After withdrawing, he continued to preach, working with Christians without regard to their denominational affiliation. In 1809 Campbell decided to establish a Christian society which individuals could join, but that would not be a
church Church may refer to: Religion * Church (building), a place/building for Christian religious activities and praying * Church (congregation), a local congregation of a Christian denomination * Church service, a formalized period of Christian comm ...
. During a first meeting in the summer of 1809, Campbell discussed his concern about the divisions among Christians, and proposed that unity could be restored by taking the
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as the only standard for faith and practice. The group adopted the "rule" he proposed, "Where the Scriptures speak, we speak; and where they are silent, we are silent," as its only creed.Reid, D. G., Linder, R. D., Shelley, B. L., & Stout, H. S. (1990). Dictionary of Christianity in America. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press. Entry on ''Campbell, Thomas (1763–1854)'' During a second meeting, held on August 17, 1809, the name "Christian Association of Washington" was chosen and Campbell was asked to draft a statement of the purposes and objectives of the Association. The ''Declaration and Address of the Christian Association of Washington'' was adopted unanimously on September 7, 1809 and published shortly before the end of the year. The ''Declaration'' received little attention at the time. Campbell soon became concerned that, despite his intentions, the Association was taking on the characteristics of a church. After the Association unsuccessfully sought to be accepted into fellowship with the Pittsburgh Synod of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, Campbell became convinced that it would have to become an independent church in order to continue to function. On May 4, 1811, the Association reconstituted itself as a congregationally governed church. With the building it constructed at Brush Run,
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...
, it became known as the Brush Run Church.McAlister, Lester G. and Tucker, William E. (1975), ''Journey in Faith: A History of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)'', St. Louis, MO: Chalice Press,


Notes


External links


''Declaration and Address''
at th
Restoration Movement Pages
at the
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{{Restoration Movement Religious organizations established in 1809 Disciples of Christ (Campbell Movement) Religion in Washington County, Pennsylvania 1809 establishments in the United States 1809 establishments in Pennsylvania Restoration Movement predecessors (pre-1832)