Jump to content

List of Christian denominations

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 220.233.174.183 (talk) at 10:43, 18 September 2006 (→Greater Eastern Orthodox Communion). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Part of a series on
Christianity
Principal symbol of Christianity
Theology
Nicene
Restorationist
Related topics

List of Christian denominations (or Denominations self-identified as Christian) ordered by historical and doctrinal relationships. (See also: Christianity; Christian denominations).

Some denominations are large (e.g. Roman Catholic, Lutherans, Anglicans or Baptists) while others are just a few small churches, and in most cases the relative size is not evident in this list. Also, modern movements such as Fundamentalist Christianity, Pietism, Evangelicalism, Pentecostalism and the Holiness movement sometimes cross denominational lines, or in some cases create new denominations out of two or more continuing groups (as is the case for many United and uniting churches, for example). Such subtleties and complexities are not clearly depicted here. Additionally, some groups viewed by non-adherents as denominational actively resist being called a "denomination" and do not have any formal denominational structure, authority, or record-keeping beyond the local congregation; several groups within Restorationism fall into this category.

This is not a complete list, but aims to provide a comprehensible overview of the diversity that exists among denominations of Christianity, whose branches are collectively referred to as Christendom. Some links may point to non-existent articles. There are approximately 300 branches listed here.

Between denominations, theologians and comparative religionists, there are considerable disagreements about which groups can be properly called Christian. These disagreements rise primarily from doctrinal differences between groups. For the purpose of simplicity, this list is intended to reflect the self-understanding of each denomination. Explanations about different opinions concerning their status as Christian denominations can be found at their respective articles.

Roman Catholicism

Catholic churches accepting the primacy of the Roman Pontiff

Main articles: Roman Catholic Church and Primacy of the Roman Pontiff

The Latin Church, the most common form of Catholicism in Western Europe and North America, is sometimes said to be "the Roman Catholic Church." However, Catholics in full communion with Rome regard all of the following to be particular churches of the Catholic Church. See also the term Uniate churches.

Churches claiming to be Catholic having broken communion with Rome

Eastern Orthodoxy

Greater Eastern Orthodox Communion

(In order of precedence. Indentation indicates autonomy rather than autocephaly.)

Western-Rite Orthodox Churches

Other Eastern Orthodox Churches

from Ukrainian Orthodox Church:

Nestorianism

The Assyrian Orthodox Church was formed in the fifth century by Christians (in what was then Sassanid Persia) who did not accept the Council of Ephesus (AD 431). It is historically related to Nestorianism, but Assyrian Orthodox do not consider themselves Nestorians.

Oriental Orthodoxy

Oriental Orthodoxy was formed in the fifth century by Christians who did not accept the Council of Chalcedon (AD 451). It is historically related to Eutychian Monophysitism, and other denominations typically call these churches Monophysite, but Oriental Orthodox reject this description, calling themselves Miaphysite.

Oriental Orthodox Communion

  • The Antiochian Catholic Church in America is theologically aligned with these Churches, but is not in full communion with them, primarily because it ordains women and does not impose celibacy on its bishops.

Anglican / Episcopal Church

Anglican Communion

Independent Anglican and Continuing Anglican Movement Churches

Protestantism

Protestants before Luther

Note: These are late-Medieval groups that Protestants have identified as their spiritual forebears. In some respects, however, their beliefs were distinct from 16th-century Protestantism. The historical influence of these groups on the Reformation (if any) is a point of contention. Most began out of a following for the priest named Jan Hus.

Lutheranism

Presbyterian and Reformed Churches

Note: These are denominations that follow Calvinist theology.

Presbyterianism

Reformed / Congregationalist Churches

Anabaptists

Methodists

Main article: World Methodist Council § Members

Pietists and Holiness Churches

Baptists

Note: All Baptist associations are congregationalist affiliations for the purpose of cooperation, in which each local church is governmentally independent.

Brethren Denominations

Apostolic Churches - Irvingites

Pentecostalism

Oneness Pentecostalism

Note: Genealogically, Oneness Pentecostalism can be grouped with other Pentecostals, but doctrinally, it can be listed as a Nontrinitarian denomination.

Charismatics

Neo-Charismatic Churches

United and uniting churches

Other Protestant Denominations

Society of Friends (Quakers)

Note: Although, historically speaking, the Society of Friends can be listed as a Protestant demonination, this is sometimes contested and many Quakers today consider their faith to be a distinct, non-Protestant form of Christianity.

Church of Christ, Scientist

Messianic Judaism

Restorationism

Note: What these denominations have in common is the claim that they restore the practice and/or faith of primitive Christianity in the modern era. Otherwise their beliefs are quite distinct. Some sects consider themselves Protestant, while some of the demoninations listed under Nontrinitarianism can also be listed as Restorationist. In the study of the history of Christianity, Restorationist churches traditionally are classed as Protestant; however, their claims of restoring primitive Christianity often mean that they date their establishment to the time of Jesus and thus resist being classified in this manner. Additionally, some of the groups — particularly within the Stone-Campbell movement — reject the idea of a denominational authority or structure and do not consider themselves to be denominations.

Mormonism

Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement

Southcottites

Millerites and Comparable groups

Sabbath-Keeping Churches, Adventist

Sabbath-Keeping Churches, Non-Adventist

Sunday Adventists

Sacred Name Groups

Other Adventists

Russellite Groups

Jehovah's Witnesses

Bible Student Groups

Anglo-Israelism

Nontrinitarian Christianity

Unitarianism and Universalism

Manichaeism

(extinct as a distinct and modern group)

Swedenborgianism

Episcopal

Congregational

New Thought

Christian mystery movements

Ethnic or syncretic religions incorporating elements of Christianity

Christianism

See also

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Christian_denominations&oldid=76388932"