A Handbook for Today's Disciples, 5th Edition

by D. Duane Cummins

A revised edition of a Disciples classic, A Handbook for Today's Disciples (Fifth Edition) is an overview of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) as the denomination approaches 2020. This handbook provides concise information on Disciples history, thought, worship, mission, and structure―a valuable resource for lifelong Disciples, newcomers to the Disciples' ministry of Christian unity, and those who simply want to know more about the church. Cummins, a noted Disciples historian, illustrates his summaries of Disciples traditions with excerpts from Disciples documents and scripture, bringing a major American religious movement into sharp focus. The fifth edition includes the denomination's history and changes through 2017, including an examination of the Disciples' changing ethnic diversity in the context of contemporary North America.

Genres: Religion

80 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1981

Reviews

[Riley Brysch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book serves as a guide to the historical background and systematic theology in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) denomination. It is concise and gives a quick overview of the denomination as a whole. What is frustrating about this book though is that since Disciples of Christ emphasize ecumenism and the autonomy of the local church, the theology that it presents can honestly be used to describe virtually any other Christian denomination. This book focuses virtually only on cataphatic theology and not apophatic theology. Usually, with a book of this nature, apophatic language is more useful to highlight the distinctives of a denomination; instead, this book just affirms rather ecumenical statements of faith for the Disciples of Christ denomination. Overall, this book is useful for the length it is, but the historical sections are more helpful than the theological ones.

[TERRY RAY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Handbook for the Christian Church also known as the Disciples of Christ

This booklet tells a brief history of the church that became eventually became known as The Disciples of Christ. This occurred in the United States and began in the early 1800s. The book tells of the Christian beliefs of the Disciples of Christ Churches.
It is an excellent way to learn about the Disciples of Christ.

[Ainsley Grey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for those who want to learn more about the DoC!

[Riley Pearson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great introduction to the D of C.

[Alexander Nash · Rating 3 out of 5]

A concise read about the Disciples of Christ movement. This book helped me, a Disciple from birth, understand the roots of a lot of my own beliefs and practices. I would recommend this to anyone looking for information about the movement as it is very well organized by topic. I only wish that it told more narratives and explained more vividly what it means to be a Disciple.