Race Relations in Churches of Christ, Part 2

Scripture-ish · Feb 26, 2026 · 27m

Here is part 1.

Several Christian groups in America before the Civil War separated the races into different congregations, white congregations and black congregations. But the Stone-Campbell Movement aimed at Christian unity, and this emphasis for the most part ensured that they refused to separate based on race, but rather they encouraged masters and slaves to be members of the same congregation. The Cane Ridge congregation, in 1838, seems amazingly integrated: 222 total members, 72 of whom were Black. But these Black members sat in the balcony. Sometimes congregations would serve the Lord’s…