WHO WE ARE

“We are Disciples of Christ, a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world. As part of the one Body of Christ, we welcome all to the Lord’s Table as God has welcomed us.” – Disciples of Christ Identity Statement

We are members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Not only are we, as individuals, members of this local church, but our church is a member of a church made up of other churches: The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Tennessee, also known as The Tennessee Disciples. This covenant model of church – basically we all belong and work with other because we want to – is different from the denominational models of some other churches. We will also work with churches of other denominations whenever we can because we acknowledge that we all work for the same Lord God Almighty, and it just makes good fiscal sense to share that ministry with each other.

OUR HISTORY

Before the American Revolution, less than one in three people in the American colonies would have self-identified as being “Christian.” That changed with a great series of revivals – called the Great Awakening – that started in New England and swept down the coast all the way to Georgia. After the war, a Second Great Awakening went back north on the western side of the Appalachians. It reached its apex at a small log church in Bourbon County, Kentucky, called Cane Ridge in 1801. The meeting house is still there today and is preserved as a shrine.

Several of the ministers in that event, led by Barton Warren Stone, noticed that during the revival all the preachers from all the denominations present – Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, and others – all preached that salvation was by grace of Jesus Christ. When the revival ended, many went back to their churches and resumed preaching that only their church was saved but everyone else wasn't. The ministers who rejected that idea started a movement they called the Christian Church to try to correct this. They said, “We are Christians only, but not the only Christians.”

In 1809, a former Presbyterian minister in Pennsylvania, Thomas Campbell – who had been thrown out of his denomination for “serving communion to the wrong kind of Presbyterian” – published a book that said, “the Church of Christ upon earth is essentially, intentionally, and constitutionally one; consisting of all those in every place that profess their faith in Christ and obedience to him in all things according to the Scripture ”. His son, Alexander Campbell, became one of the primary leaders of that movement. He called it the Church of Christ, or the Disciples of Christ.

In a New Year's Day revival at the High Street Christian Church in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1832, the two movements formally merged, but continued to use both names.

Unlike most other denominations, we did not split for the Civil War. Our detractors said it was because we were so disorganized, we couldn't have split if we tried. We hadn't even tried to split.

Unfortunately, after the war, another controversy did cause the churches to break fellowship with one another. That controversy had to do with the use of musical instruments in the church. The main culprit was small portable reed organ call the Melodeon (me-LOW-dee-an) that a traveling preacher on horseback could take with him to each church. It was the forerunner of today's electric keyboards. The group of churches that refused to allow such an instrument in their churches became the non-instrumental Churches of Christ. There are several of these churches in East Tennessee today.

Another break occurred in 1968 over whether or not we are a denomination. The group that chose to say we are not, calls itself the non-denominational fellowship of Christian Churches and Churches of Christ, independent Christian Churches, or Christian Churches (Church of Christ). Most of the Christian Churches in East Tennessee are part of this group.

The other group – those of us who will admit we are a denomination, even if we are different in many ways from other denominations – are known as the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Every church in the denomination is independent and autonomous, bound together in covenant relationship with each other.

WHAT WE BELIEVE

“As members of the Christian Church, we believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and proclaim him Lord and Savior of the world.”

That is the opening statement of the Design [which functions as our constitution and bylaws] of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the U.S. and Canada. It is as close to a “Statement of Faith” as we come.

We do not have a list of things people have to believe in order to join. We do not question people when they come to join, except for one simple question: “Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and accept him as your Lord and Savior?” The Bible says that if you answer that question “yes” you are “born again” – it is your “spiritual birth” – and you are “saved”.

A lot of people have added a lot of things to that over the years in other churches. We stick with what the Bible (John 3:16-18, Acts 2:21, Acts 10:43, Acts 13:39, Acts 16:31, Romans 3:22-24, Romans 10:9-13 & Joel 2:38a) says – “Everyone who names the name of Christ will be saved.” Your generation, sex, race, gender, orientation, political party, or any other divisive label, is not important to God. It simply does not matter.

We do not vote on whether people can join our church. If you believe in Jesus Christ, then you are welcome to be an “official” part of our fellowship.

There is a saying from the Protestant Reformation that says, “In Essentials, Unity; Non-essentials, Liberty; and in all things, Charity”, or “In Faith, Unity; Opinions, Liberty; and in all things, Love”, depending upon how you translate the German. We believe that there is only one “essential” or one “fundamental”, and that is believing in Jesus Christ. Everything else is just opinion.

God gave you a brain and a Bible, and expects you to use them both – and at the same time, even. Some people think you have to turn your brain off to be a Christian. We couldn't disagree more. God made you smart for a reason. Many educators, health care professionals, and scientists have found a church home in the Disciples because we do value God's gift of knowledge.

We have also been accused of being a church that “anyone” can belong to. We think that is what a church should be. Jesus died for every person who would accept him. Who are we to judge others?

HOW WE PRACTICE WHAT WE BELIEVE

Baptism

When you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, that means that you want to do what he said. One of the first things the Bible says to do is be baptized.

While there are many different ways that churches practice baptism, we practice Believer's Immersion. It is the most symbolic form, and we believe it to be the most scriptural.

Just as we take a bath for physical cleaning, the water represents a “spiritual cleaning” – all of your sins are washed away. Going into the water represents your going with Jesus into his tomb and coming out represents his including you in his resurrection. Being immersed in water also represents your immersion into God's Spirit.

The water does not save you. Only by the Grace of God are any of us saved. Your baptism is a very powerful symbol of that Grace and Salvation.

When people transfer their church membership from another church to ours, we accept their baptism, regardless of when or how it was administered. Some people who join our church who were baptized in another church or by a different form, wish to be immersed when they accept Jesus. We recognize this request as a leading of the Holy Spirit – and we gladly comply with their wish.

The Bible (in Ephesians 4:1-7) says there is “only one baptism”, and many churches believe that means that only the baptism of their church is the right one. Some even believe that any further baptism, or “re-baptism” undoes their baptism. That is not true. You cannot undo the Saving Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and baptism is a symbol of that Grace. No matter how many times or how many different forms of baptism you have, you still only have “one baptism” and it is from God.

The Communion of the Lord's Supper

Communion – also called the Eucharist, the Lord's Supper, and the Lord's Table – is very important to us. We celebrate it in every Sunday worship service (and frequently at other gatherings, as well). We practice “Open Communion” – that is everyone is invited to partake, regardless of your church affiliation.

Jesus, on the night before he was crucified, celebrated a Passover Seder – the holiest of meals in the Jewish religion – with his disciples. Only he changed it. He said the bread was his body “given for you” and the wine was his blood, “poured out for the forgiveness of sins.” The early church would gather before work on the first day of the week and take bread and wine together to remember this. It was – and is – a way to participate every week in the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior.

The Ministry of the Laity

Protestant Reformer Martin Luther coined the term, “the priesthood of all believers”. We Disciples have taken it to its logical extreme.

We do have clergy who have been “set aside” to minister on behalf of the Lord. We have two classifications: Ordained Clergy and Commissioned Clergy. These are just two different pathways of Christian ministry.

In the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), there is nothing reserved for the clergy that the laity cannot also do – except where laws restrict it, such as performing marriages in Tennessee. Lay members take part in the worship service, serve Communion, and can even baptize. In fact, we encourage all members to be actively involved in the ministries of the church. Real ministry is fun, and there is a place to use your God-given skills in ways in the church that bring God the glory.

Some people who are from other, “more conservative” denominations are often surprised to see women in our churches in areas of leadership and leading worship. We believe what the Bible says (Galatians 3:28, Romans 10:12, 1 Corinthians 12:13 & Colossians 3:11) about everyone being equal in Christ Jesus. Both the Bible and non-biblical historical sources show women in leadership roles in the early church. Jesus certainly taught a message of equality. We have been ordaining women clergy since the 1800's. We believe – and practice – that God can, and does, call anyone – and can use everyone – regardless of their age, sex, race, gender, ethnicity, marital status, or orientation.

Today, we still believe that God created us all equal in the image of God. We believe that Jesus died for everyone who will accept him. That includes having everyone participate in the church and its leadership.

Open and Affirming

When Disciple churches say we are “Open and Affirming”, we mean that we are open to everyone (regardless of their race, orientation, gender, generation, etc.) and we affirm that each person is a loved child of God.

We believe what the Bible says – that God created every person in God's image (Genesis 1:27, 5:1-2 & 9:6) and that Christ died for everyone who will accept him (John 3:16-18, Acts 2:21, Acts 10:43, Acts 13:39, Acts 16:31, Romans 3:22-24, Romans 10:9-13 & Joel 2:38a).

This is also why we oppose all forms of racism – and work to be a “anti-racism/pro-reconciling” church. This is also why it is impossible to be against any person – regardless of who or what they may be. Jesus died and was resurrected for all of us. We try to put that into our practice.

MEET OUR MINISTER

Our Founding Minister is Rev. Sanford Wesley Downs, III – better known as “Pastor Sandy”. Pastor Sandy is an Ordained Minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), with Standing in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Tennessee. He is a resident of Blount County, Tennessee.

Pastor Sandy was born in Huntsville, Alabama (Rocket City USA, the Space Capital of the World). He has been coming to the Great Smoky Mountains frequently since before he was born – and his mother will attest that is literally true.

His parents, Dr. Sanford W. Downs, Jr. and Myron Downs, both worked for Dr. Werner von Braun in the space program. His father was recruited personally by Dr. von Braun when he graduated from Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now known as Auburn University). He also held a Master's Degree from Vanderbilt University and a Ph.D. from Auburn University. Sandy's mother was personal secretary for Ludwig Roth, one of Dr. von Braun's top lieutenants.

Pastor Sandy's parents honeymooned in the Smokies in 1954 and always wanted to retire here. After retiring from NASA, Dr. Downs began teaching engineering, first at Chattanooga State Community College, then East Tennessee State University (ETSU), and finally at University of Tennessee, Martin (UTM).

When he retired from UTM in 1989, they moved to Blount County and built a house on one of the hills outside the park. They became involved in the local area including joining the Old Harp Singers and the local Arts and Craft Guild. Dr. Downs is buried in the Cades Cove Memorial Cemetery in Blount County.

They came from two very different church backgrounds. It was their search for a church home while their children were young, that eventually led them to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

One summer after he graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and before he entered graduate school at Lexington Theological Seminary, Pastor Sandy worked for a time-share company in Gatlinburg. It was not the most ethical of companies that he ever worked for. That was part of what led him to quit and go back to school.

It was also one of the few times in his life when he wasn't actively involved in a church. The schedule of working with tourists did not fit the schedules of churches in the area at that time. His goal was to return to this area and minister to others here in similar situations.

While a graduate student at Lexington, he met Michelle Kurtz, then a University of Kentucky graduate student, and a Special Education Teacher. They were married for 35 years when she died of cancer. She is also buried in the Cades Cove Memorial Cemetery.

Pastor Sandy has served churches in Kentucky, Indiana, Nebraska, Alabama, North Carolina, West Virginia, and Ohio. He has been an Associate Minister, a solo Pastor, a Senior Minister with ministry staff, a Yoked Parish Minister (serving more than one church at the same time) and a Bi-vocational Minister (working as a manager/director in the Public Transit industry, for both governments and for private contractors). He has also taught college level Public Speaking and Interpersonal Relationship classes as a civilian Adjunct Instructor for Park University's branch aboard the Cherry Point Marine Corp Air Station.

Pastor Sandy has served the communities where he has served in various ways. He has been on numerous boards of community service organizations. He holds an Amateur Extra class radio license (KE4CTJ) and has been active in the Amateur Radio Emergency Services. He is a former District SKYWARN Emergency Coordinator, a former volunteer fire department EMT, and he was a member of a Community Emergency Response Team.

All through his ministry, Pastor Sandy has held to a dream of coming back to the foothills area and ministering to those who, like him back then, “fell through the cracks” of the existing churches. The Mountaintop is how he is now doing that.

Pastor Sandy provides – for free, without obligation – a daily email devotion. These devotions go through the entire Bible every three years. If you would be interested in receiving these free devotions, please click the button below. You can discontinue these any time you like.