List of Christian denominations
A Christian denomination is a distinct religious body within Christianity, identified by traits such as a name, organization and doctrine. Individual bodies, however, may use alternative terms to describe themselves, such as church, convention, communion, assembly, house, union, network, or sometimes fellowship. Divisions between one denomination and another are primarily defined by authority and doctrine. Issues regarding the nature of Jesus, Trinitarianism, salvation, the authority of apostolic succession, eschatology, conciliarity, and papal primacy among others may separate one denomination from another. Groups of denominations, often sharing broadly similar beliefs, practices, and historical ties—can be known as "branches of Christianity" or "denominational families" (e.g. Eastern or Western Christianity and their sub-branches).[1] These "denominational families" are often imprecisely also called denominations.
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Christian denominations since the 20th century have often involved themselves in ecumenism. Ecumenism refers to efforts among Christian bodies to develop better understandings and closer relationships.[2][3] It also refers to efforts toward visible unity in the Christian Church, though the terms of visible unity vary for each denomination of Christianity; the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church both teach visible unity may only be achieved by converting to their denominational beliefs and structure, citing claims of being the one true church.[4][5] The largest ecumenical organization in Christianity is the World Council of Churches.[6]
The following is not a complete list, but aims to provide a comprehensible overview of the diversity among denominations of Christianity, ecumenical organizations, and Christian ideologies not necessarily represented by specific denominations. Only those Christian denominations, ideologies and organizations with Wikipedia articles will be listed in order to ensure that all entries on this list are notable and verifiable. The denominations and ecumenical organizations listed are generally ordered from ancient to contemporary Christianity.
Terminology and qualification
Some bodies included on this list do not consider themselves denominations. For example, the Roman Catholic Church considers itself the one true church and the Holy See as pre-denominational.[7] The Eastern Orthodox Church also considers itself the original Christian Church and pre-denominational.[8] To express further the complexity involved, the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches were historically one and the same, as evidenced by the fact that they are the only two modern churches in existence to accept all of the first seven ecumenical councils, until differences arose, such as papal authority and dominance, the rise of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the continuance of emperors in the Eastern Roman Empire, and the final and permanent split that occurred during the Crusades with the siege of Constantinople.[9] This also illustrates that denominations can arise not only from religious or theological issues, but political and generational divisions as well.
Other churches that are viewed by non-adherents as denominational are highly decentralized and do not have any formal denominational structure, authority, or record-keeping beyond the local congregation; several groups within the Restoration movement and congregational churches fall into this category.
Some Christian bodies are large (e.g. Catholics, Orthodox, 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 except for the denominational group or movement as a whole (e.g. Church of the East, Oriental Orthodox Churches, or Lutheranism). The largest denomination is the Roman Catholic Church with more than 1.3 billion members.[10] The smallest of these groups may have only a few dozen adherents or an unspecified number of participants in independent churches as described below. As such, specific numbers and a certain size may not define a group as a denomination. However, as a general rule, the larger a group becomes, the more acceptance and legitimacy it gains.
Modern movements such as Christian fundamentalism, Pietism, Evangelicalism, the Holiness movement and Pentecostalism 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; e.g. the United Church of Christ).[11][12] Such subtleties and complexities are not clearly depicted here.
Between denominations, theologians, and comparative religionists there are considerable disagreements about which groups can be properly called Christian or a Christian denomination as disagreements arise primarily from doctrinal differences between each other. As an example, this list contains groups also known as "rites" which many, such as the Roman Catholic Church, would say are not denominations as they are in full papal communion, and thus part of the Catholic Church.[13] For the purpose of simplicity, this list is intended to reflect the self-understanding of each denomination. Explanations of different opinions concerning their status as Christian denominations can be found at their respective articles.
There is no official recognition in most parts of the world for religious bodies, and there is no official clearinghouse which could determine the status or respectability of religious bodies. Often there is considerable disagreement between various groups about whether others should be labeled with pejorative terms such as "cult", or about whether this or that group enjoys some measure of respectability. Such considerations often vary from place to place, or culture to culture, where one denomination may enjoy majority status in one region, but be widely regarded as a "dangerous cult" in another part of the world. Inclusion on this list does not indicate any judgment about the size, importance, or character of a group or its members.
Christian denominational families
- (Not shown are non-Nicene, nontrinitarian, and some restorationist denominations.)
Historical groups
Early Christian
Early Christianity is often divided into three different branches that differ in theology and traditions, which all appeared in the 1st century AD/CE. They include Jewish Christianity, Pauline Christianity and Gnostic Christianity.[14] All modern Christian denominations are said to have descended from the Jewish and Pauline Christianities, with Gnostic Christianity dying, or being hunted, out of existence after the early Christian era and being largely forgotten until discoveries made in the late 19th and early twentieth centuries. There are also other theories on the origin of Christianity.[15]
The following Christian groups appeared between the beginning of the Christian religion and the First Council of Nicaea in 325.
Unlike the previously mentioned groups, the following are all considered to be related to Christian Gnosticism.
- Bardaisanites
- Basilideans
- Carpocratianism
- Nicolaitans
- Sethianism
- Simonians (sometimes considered Proto-Gnostic)
- Valentinianism
Late ancient and Medieval Christian
The following are groups of Christians appearing between the First Council of Nicaea, the East-West Schism and Proto-Protestantism.
Church of the East
The Church of the East split from the sanctioned State Church of Rome during the Sasanian Period. It is also called the Nestorian Church or the Church of Persia.[16] Declaring itself separate from the Imperial Roman Church in 424–427, liturgically, it adhered to the East Syriac Rite.[17] Theologically, it adopted the dyophysite doctrine of Nestorianism, which emphasizes the separateness of the divine and human natures of Jesus, and addresses Mary as Christotokos instead of Theotokos; the Church of the East also largely practiced aniconism.[18][19] The Church of the East by the 15th century was largely confined to the Eastern Aramaic-speaking Assyrian communities of northern Mesopotamia, in and around the rough triangle formed by Mosul and Lakes Van and Urmia—the same general region where the Church of the East had first emerged between the 1st and 3rd centuries.[20]
Its patriarchal lines divided in a tumultuous period from the 16th-19th century, finally consolidated into the Eastern Catholic Chaldean Church (in full communion with the Pope of Rome), and the Assyrian Church of the East.[21][22] Other minor, modern related splinter groups include the Ancient Church of the East (split 1968 due of rejecting some changes made by Patriarch Shimun XXI Eshai) and the Chaldean Syrian Church. In 1995 the Chaldean Syrian Church reunified with the Assyrian Church of the East as an archbishopric. The Chaldean Syrian Church is headquartered in Thrissur, India. Together, the Assyrian, Ancient, Chaldean Syrian and Chaldean Catholic Church comprised over 1.6 million in 2018.[23][24][25][24][26]
Assyrian Christianity
Assyrian Christianity comprises those Eastern churches who kept the traditional Nestorian christology and ecclesiology of the historical Church of the East after the original church reunited with the Catholic Church in Rome, forming the Chaldean Catholic Church in 1552. Assyrian Christianity forms part of the Syriac Christian tradition. The Assyrian Church of the East and the Ancient Church of the East together had over 0.6 million members in 2018.[27][28]
Oriental Orthodox Churches
The Oriental Orthodox Churches are the Christian churches adhering to Miaphysite christology and theology, with a combined global membership of 62 million as of 2019.[29][30][31] These churches reject the Council of Chalcedon in 451 and those after it. They departed from the State Church of the Roman Empire after the Chalcedonian Council.[32][33][31] Other denominations, such as the Eastern Orthodox Church and bodies in Old and True Orthodoxy, often label the Oriental Orthodox Churches as "Monophysite"; as the Oriental Orthodox do not adhere to the teachings of Eutyches, they themselves reject this label, preferring the term "Miaphysite". Historically, the Oriental Orthodox Churches considered themselves collectively to be the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church that Jesus founded. Some Christian denominations have recently considered the body of Oriental Orthodoxy to be a part of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church, a view which is gaining increasing acceptance in the wake of ecumenical dialogues between groups such as Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, and Protestant Christianity. Most member churches of the Oriental Orthodox Churches are part of the World Council of Churches.[31]
Eastern Orthodox
The Eastern Orthodox Church, officially the Orthodox Catholic Church, claims continuity (based upon apostolic succession) with the early Church as part of the Imperial Catholic Church. Though it considers itself pre-denominational, being the original Church of Christ before 1054,[34][8] some scholars debate the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches began after the East-West Schism as the official State Church of the Roman Empire ceased to exist.[35][36] The Eastern Orthodox Church had about 230 million members as of 2019, making it the second largest single denomination behind the Roman Catholic Church.[37][38][39] Some of them have a disputed administrative status (i.e. their autonomy or autocephaly is not recognized universally). Eastern Orthodox churches by and large remain in communion with one another, although this has broken at times throughout its history. Two examples of impaired communion between the Orthodox churches include the Moscow-Constantinople schisms of 1996 and 2018.[40][41][42][43]
- Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
- Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Italy and Malta
- Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
- Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America
- Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada
- Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Great Britain
- Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia
- Vicariate for Palestine and Jordan in the USA
- Finnish Orthodox Church
- Greek Orthodox Church of Crete
- Monastic Community of Mount Athos
- Korean Orthodox Church
- Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church
- Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA
- Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada
- Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong
- Orthodox Metropolitanate of Singapore
- American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese
- Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria
- Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch
- Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America
- Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia
- Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Mexico
- Antiochian Orthodox Mission in the Philippines
- Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Chile
- Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem
- Russian Orthodox Church
- Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)
- Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia
- Russian Orthodox Church in Finland
- Japanese Orthodox Church
- Chinese Orthodox Church
- Estonian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)
- Latvian Orthodox Church
- Moldovan Orthodox Church
- Belarusian Orthodox Church
- Philippine Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)
- Patriarchal Exarchate in South-East Asia
- Patriarchal Exarchate in Western Europe
- Patriarchal Parishes in the USA
- Patriarchal Parishes in Canada
- Georgian Orthodox and Apostolic Church
- Serbian Orthodox Church
- Archdiocese of Belgrade and Karlovci
- Serbian Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric
- Serbian Metropolitanate of Dabar
- Serbian Metropolitanate of Montenegro
- Serbian Metropolitanate of Zagreb
- Serbian Metropolitanate of Australia
- Romanian Orthodox Church
- Romanian Metropolis of Bessarabia
- Romanian Metropolia of the Americas
- Bulgarian Orthodox Church
- Cypriot Orthodox Church
- Orthodox Church of Greece
- Albanian Orthodox Church
- Polish Orthodox Church
- Czech and Slovak Orthodox Church
- Orthodox Church in America
- Orthodox Church of Ukraine
Roman Catholic
The Catholic Church, or Roman Catholic Church, is composed of 24 autonomous sui iuris particular churches: the Latin Church and the 23 Eastern Catholic Churches. It considers itself the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church that Christ founded,[44] and which Saint Peter initiated along with the missionary work of Saint Paul and others. As such, the Roman Catholic Church does not consider itself a denomination, but rather considers itself pre-denominational, the original Church of Christ though it was once part of the Imperial Roman Church. Continuity is claimed based upon apostolic succession with the early Church.[45] The Roman Catholic population exceeds 1.3 billion as of 2016.[10]
Latin Church (Western Church)
The Latin, or Western Catholic Church, is the largest and most widely known of the 24 sui iuris churches that together make up the Roman Catholic Church (not to be confused with the Roman Rite, which is one of the Latin liturgical rites, not a particular church).[13] It is headed by the Bishop of Rome—the Pope, traditionally called the Patriarch of the West—with headquarters in Vatican City, enclaved within Rome, Italy. As of 2015, the Latin Church comprised 1.255 billion members.[46]
Eastern Catholic Churches
All of the following are particular churches of the Catholic Church. They are all in communion with the Pope as Bishop of Rome and acknowledge his claim of universal jurisdiction and authority. They have some minor distinct theological emphases and expressions (for instance, in the case of those that are of Greek/Byzantine tradition, concerning some non-doctrinal aspects of the Latin view of Purgatory and clerical celibacy).[47] The Eastern Catholic Churches and the Latin Church (which together compose the worldwide Catholic Church) share the same doctrine and sacraments, and thus the same faith. The total membership of the churches accounts for approximately 18 million members.
Alexandrian Rite
Armenian Rite
Byzantine Rite
- Albanian Greek Catholic Church
- Belarusian Greek Catholic Church
- Bulgarian Greek Catholic Church
- Greek Catholic Church of Croatia and Serbia
- Greek Byzantine Catholic Church
- Hungarian Greek Catholic Church
- Italo-Albanian Catholic Church
- Macedonian Greek Catholic Church
- Melkite Greek Catholic Church
- Romanian Greek Catholic Church
- Russian Greek Catholic Church
- Ruthenian Greek/Byzantine Catholic Church
- Slovak Greek Catholic Church
- Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
East Syriac Rite
West Syriac Rite
Protestant
Protestantism is a movement within Christianity which owes its name to the 1529 Protestation at Speyer, but originated in 1517 when Martin Luther began his dispute with the Roman Catholic Church. This period of time, known as the Reformation, began a series of events resulting over the next 500 years in several newly denominated churches (listed below). Some denominations were started by intentionally dividing themselves from the Roman Catholic Church, such as in the case of the English Reformation while others, such as with Luther's followers, were excommunicated after attempting reform.[48] New denominations and organizations formed through further divisions within Protestant churches since the Reformation began. A denomination labeled "Protestant" subscribes to the fundamental Protestant principles—though not always—that is scripture alone, justification by faith alone, and the universal priesthood of believers.[49]
The majority of contemporary Protestants are members of Adventism, Anglicanism, the Baptist churches, Calvinism (Reformed Protestantism), Lutheranism, Methodism and Pentecostalism. Nondenominational, Evangelical, charismatic, neo-charismatic, independent, Convergence, and other churches are on the rise, and constitute a significant part of Protestant Christianity.[50]
This list gives only an overview, and certainly does not mention all of the Protestant denominations. The exact number of Protestant denominations, including the members of the denominations, is difficult to calculate and depends on definition. A group that fits the generally accepted definition of "Protestant" might not officially use the term. Therefore, it should be taken with caution. The most accepted figure among various authors and scholars includes around 900 million to a little over 1 billion Protestant Christians.[51][52]
Proto-Protestant
Proto-Protestantism, or the Reformation prior to Luther refers to movements similar to the Protestant Reformation, but before 1517, when Martin Luther (1483–1546) is reputed to have nailed the Ninety-Five-Theses to the church door. Major early Reformers were Peter Waldo (c. 1140–c. 1205), John Wycliffe (1320s–1384), and Jan Hus (c. 1369–1415). It is not completely correct to call these groups Protestant due to the fact that some of them had nothing to do with the 1529 Protestation at Speyer which coined the term Protestant. In particular, the Utraquists were eventually accommodated as a separate Catholic rite by the papacy after a military attempt to end their movement failed. On the other hand, the surviving Waldensians ended up joining Reformed Protestantism, so it is not completely inaccurate to refer to their movement as Protestant.
Lutheran
Lutherans are a major branch of Protestantism, identifying with the theology of Martin Luther, a German friar, ecclesiastical reformer, and theologian. Lutheranism initially began as an attempt to reform the Roman Catholic Church before the excommunication of its members. Today with most Protestants, Lutherans are divided among mainline and evangelical theological lines. The whole of Lutheranism had about 70-90 million members in 2018.[53][54][55][56] The largest non-United Lutheran denomination was the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus, a Protestant Eastern Christian group.[57]
- Apostolic Lutheran Church of America
- Association of Free Lutheran Congregations
- Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America
- Church of the Lutheran Confession
- Concordia Lutheran Conference
- Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference
- Evangelical Lutheran Church "Concord"
- Evangelical Lutheran Free Church (Germany)
- Evangelical Lutheran Synod
- Lutheran Church of Central Africa Malawi Conference
- Lutheran Church of Central Africa Zambia Conference
- Ukrainian Lutheran Church
- Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
- Evangelical Catholic Church (Lutheran)
- Evangelical Community Church-Lutheran
- Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Kingdom of the Netherlands
- General Lutheran Church
- International Lutheran Council
- American Association of Lutheran Churches
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of England
- Evangelical Lutheran Church - Synod of France and Belgium
- Gutnius Lutheran Church
- Independent Evangelical-Lutheran Church
- Japan Lutheran Church
- Lanka Lutheran Church
- Lutheran Church—Canada
- Lutheran Church—Hong Kong Synod
- Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod
- Lutheran Church of Australia
- Kosovo Protestant Evangelical Church
- Laestadian Lutheran Church
- Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
- Lutheran Church - International
- Lutheran Church of China
- Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ
- Lutheran Evangelical Protestant Church
- Lutheran Ministerium and Synod - USA
- Lutheran World Federation
- Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Arcot Lutheran Church
- Batak Christian Protestant Church
- Church of Denmark
- Church of the Faroe Islands
- Church of Iceland
- Church of Norway
- Church of Sweden
- Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovakia
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Italy
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Madhya Pradesh
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Himalayan States
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea
- Evangelical Lutheran Free Church of Norway
- Gossner Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chotanagpur and Assam
- Indian Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Jeypore Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Lutheran Church of Australia
- Malagasy Lutheran Church
- Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Simalungun Protestant Christian Church
- South Andhra Lutheran Church
- Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church
- North American Lutheran Church
Pietism
Pietism was an influential movement in Lutheranism that combined its emphasis on Biblical doctrine with the Reformed emphasis on individual piety and living a vigorous Christian life. Pietists who separated from established Lutheran churches to form their own denominations are known as Radical Pietists.[58] Although a movement in Lutheranism, influence on Anglicanism, in particular John Wesley, led to the spawning of the Methodist movement.
- Amana Society
- Bible Fellowship Church
- Temple Society (Templers)
- United Christian Church
Calvinist
Calvinism, also known as the Reformed tradition or Reformed Protestantism is a movement which broke from the Roman Catholic Church in the 16th century. Calvinism follows the theological traditions set down by John Calvin, John Knox and other Reformation-era theologians. Calvinists differ from Lutherans on the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, theories of worship, and the use of God's law for believers, among other things. There are from 60-80 million Christians identifying as Reformed or Calvinist according to statistics gathered in 2018.[59][60][61]
Continental Reformed churches
- Afrikaans Protestant Church
- Canadian and American Reformed Churches
- Christian Reformed Church in North America
- Christian Reformed Church in Sierra Leone
- Christian Reformed Church in South Africa
- Christian Reformed Church of Nigeria
- Christian Reformed Churches
- Continued Reformed Churches in the Netherlands
- Christian Reformed Churches of Australia
- Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches
- Dutch Reformed Church
- Dutch Reformed Church in Botswana
- Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa - NG Church
- Evangelical and Reformed Church in Honduras
- Evangelical Reformed Church in Bavaria and Northwestern Germany
- Evangelical Reformed Church of Christ
- Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches
- Free Reformed Churches of Australia
- Free Reformed Churches of North America
- Free Reformed Churches of South Africa
- Heritage Reformed Congregations
- Huguenot
- Lithuanian Evangelical Reformed Church
- National Union of Independent Reformed Evangelical Churches of France
- Netherlands Reformed Churches
- Netherlands Reformed Congregations
- Nigeria Reformed Church
- Orthodox Christian Reformed Church
- Polish Reformed Church
- Protestant Church in the Netherlands
- Protestant Reformed Christian Church in Croatia
- Protestant Reformed Church of Luxembourg
- Protestant Reformed Churches in America
- Reformed Christian Church in Croatia
- Reformed Christian Church in Serbia
- Reformed Church in America
- Reformed Church in Austria
- Reformed Church in Hungary
- Reformed Church in Latvia
- Reformed Church in Romania
- Reformed Church in Transcarpathia
- Reformed Church in the United States
- Reformed Church of Christ in Nigeria
- Reformed Church of East Africa
- Reformed Church of France
- Reformed Churches in the Netherlands
- Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Liberated)
- Reformed Churches of New Zealand
- Reformed Evangelical Church in Myanmar
- Reformed Synod of Denmark
- Restored Reformed Church
- United Church of Christ
- United Reformed Church
- United Reformed Church in Congo
- United Reformed Churches in North America
- Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa
Presbyterianism
- Africa Evangelical Presbyterian Church
- Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church
- Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church of Mexico
- Bible Presbyterian Church
- Church of Central Africa Presbyterian
- Church of Scotland
- Christian Evangelical Church in Minahasa
- Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches
- Conservative Presbyterian Church in Brazil
- Costa Rican Evangelical Presbyterian Church
- Covenant Presbyterian Church
- Cumberland Presbyterian Church
- Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America
- Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians
- Evangelical Presbyterian Church (Australia)
- Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales
- Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Malawi
- Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Ukraine
- Evangelical Presbyterian Church (United States)
- Evangelical Reformed Presbyterian Church
- Free Church of Scotland
- Free Church of Scotland (Continuing)
- Free Presbyterian Church (Australia)
- Free Presbyterian Church of North America
- Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland
- Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster
- Fundamentalist Presbyterian Church in Brazil
- Grace Presbyterian Church of New Zealand
- Greek Evangelical Church
- National Presbyterian Church in Chile
- National Presbyterian Church in Mexico
- National Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Guatemala
- Orthodox Presbyterian Church
- Presbyterian Church in America
- Presbyterian Church in Canada
- Presbyterian Church in Chile
- Presbyterian Church in Honduras
- Presbyterian Church in Ireland
- Presbyterian Church in Korea (HapDong)
- Presbyterian Church in Korea (Koshin)
- Presbyterian Church in Korea (TongHap)
- Presbyterian Church in Liberia
- Presbyterian Church in Malaysia
- Presbyterian Church in Singapore
- Presbyterian Church in Sudan
- Presbyterian Church in Taiwan
- Presbyterian Church in Uganda
- Presbyterian Church of Africa
- Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand
- Presbyterian Church of Australia
- Presbyterian Church of Belize
- Presbyterian Church of Brazil
- Presbyterian Church of East Africa
- Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia
- Presbyterian Church of Ghana
- Presbyterian Church of India
- Presbyterian Church of Mozambique
- Presbyterian Church of Nigeria
- Presbyterian Church of Pakistan
- Presbyterian Church of the Philippines
- Presbyterian Church of Wales
- Presbyterian Church (USA)
- Presbyterian Reformed Church (Australia)
- Presbyterian Reformed Church (North America)
- Reformed Presbyterian Church General Assembly
- Reformed Presbyterian Church – Hanover Presbytery
- Reformed Presbyterian Church in the United States
- Reformed Presbyterian Church of Australia
- Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland
- Reformed Presbyterian Church of Malawi
- Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America
- Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland
- Renewed Presbyterian Church in Brazil
- Southern Presbyterian Church (Australia)
- Sudan Evangelical Presbyterian Church
- United Free Church of Scotland
- United Presbyterian Church of North America
- United Presbyterian Church of Pakistan
- Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa
- Upper Cumberland Presbyterian Church
- Westminster Presbyterian Church in the United States
- Westminster Presbyterian Church of Australia
Congregationalism
- Church of Niue
- Church of Tuvalu
- Congregational Christian Church in American Samoa
- Congregational Christian Church in Samoa
- Congregational Christian Churches in Canada
- Congregational Federation
- Congregational Federation of Australia
- Congregational Union of Ireland
- Congregational Union of New Zealand
- Conservative Congregational Christian Conference
- Cook Islands Christian Church
- English Independents
- Evangelical Congregational Church in Angola
- Evangelical Fellowship of Congregational Churches
- Fellowship of Congregational Churches (Australia)
- Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches
- Huguenots
- Kiribati Protestant Church
- National Association of Congregational Christian Churches
- Nauru Congregational Church
- Reformed Congregational Churches
- Union of Evangelical Congregational Churches in Brazil
- Union of Evangelical Congregational Churches in Bulgaria
- United Church in the Solomon Islands
- United Church of Christ
- United Church of Christ-Congregational in the Marshall Islands
- United Congregational Church of Southern Africa
Anglican
Anglicanism or Episcopalianism has referred to itself as the via media between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism.[62][63] The majority of Anglicans consider themselves part of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church within the Anglican Communion. Anglicans or Episcopalians also self-identify as both Catholic and Reformed. Although the use of the term "Protestant" to refer to Anglicans was once common, it is controversial today, with some rejecting the label and others accepting it. In Protestantism, Anglicans numbered over 85 million in 2018.[64]
Anglican Communion
- Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia
- Anglican Church in Central America
- Anglican Church in Japan
- Anglican Church of Australia
- Anglican Church of Bermuda
- Anglican Church of Canada
- Anglican Church of Kenya
- Anglican Church of Korea
- Anglican Church of Melanesia
- Anglican Church of Mexico
- Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea
- Anglican Church of South America
- Anglican Church of Southern Africa
- Anglican Church of Tanzania
- Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil
- Church in the Province of the West Indies
- Church in Wales
- Church of Ceylon
- Church of England
- Church of Ireland
- Church of Nigeria
- Church of the Province of Central Africa
- Church of the Province of Myanmar
- Church of the Province of South East Asia
- Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean
- Church of the Province of West Africa
- Church of Uganda
- Episcopal Church (United States)
- Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East
- Episcopal Church in the Philippines
- Episcopal Church of Cuba
- Hong Kong Anglican Church
- Lusitanian Catholic Apostolic Evangelical Church
- Parish of the Falkland Islands
- Province of the Anglican Church of Burundi
- Province of the Anglican Church of Rwanda
- Province of the Anglican Church of the Congo
- Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan
- Province of the Episcopal Church of Sudan
- Scottish Episcopal Church
- Spanish Reformed Episcopal Church
United and uniting churches who hold membership in the Anglican Communion
- Church of Bangladesh
- Church of North India
- Church of Pakistan
- Church of South India
- Mar Thoma Syrian Church (Protestant Eastern Christian denomination in full communion with the Anglican Communion)
Other Anglican churches and Continuing Anglican movement
There are numerous churches following the Anglican tradition that are not in full communion with the Anglican Communion. Some churches split due to changes in the Book of Common Prayer and the ordination of women, forming Anglo-Catholic or Evangelical Anglican communities.[65] A select few of these churches are recognized by certain individual provinces of the Anglican Communion.
- African Orthodox Church
- Anglican Catholic Church
- Anglican Church in America
- Anglican Church in Brazil
- Anglican Church in North America
- Anglican Church of India
- Anglican Episcopal Church (USA)
- Anglican Mission in the Americas
- Anglican Orthodox Church
- Anglican Province of America
- Anglican Province of Christ the King
- Christian Episcopal Church
- Church of England (Continuing)
- Church of England in South Africa
- Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches
- Diocese of the Great Lakes
- Diocese of the Holy Cross
- Episcopal Missionary Church
- Free Church of England
- Free Protestant Episcopal Church
- Independent Anglican Church Canada Synod
- Orthodox Anglican Church
- Reformed Episcopal Church
- Southern Episcopal Church
- United Episcopal Church of North America
Anabaptist
The Anabaptists trace their origins to the Radical Reformation. Alternative to other early Protestants, Anabaptists were seen as an early offshoot of Protestantism, although the view has been challenged by some Anabaptists.[66] There were approximately 2.1 million Anabaptists as of 2015.[67]
- Abecedarians
- Amish
- Apostolic Christian Church
- Charity Christian Fellowship
- Church of the United Brethren in Christ
- Hutterites
- Mennonites
- Alliance of Mennonite Evangelical Congregations
- Biblical Mennonite Alliance
- Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches
- Chortitzer Mennonite Conference
- Church of God in Christ, Mennonite (Holdeman Mennonites)
- Conference of the Mennonite Brethren Churches in India
- Conservative Mennonite Conference
- Evangelical Mennonite Church
- Evangelical Mennonite Conference
- Evangelical Mennonite Mission Conference
- Evangelical Missionary Church
- Fellowship of Evangelical Bible Churches
- Japan Mennonite Brethren Conference
- Kleine Gemeinde
- Markham-Waterloo Mennonite Conference
- Mennonite Brethren Churches
- Mennonite Church Canada
- Mennonite Church in the Netherlands
- Mennonite Church USA
- Missionary Church
- Noah Hoover Mennonite
- Ohio Wisler Mennonite
- Old Order Mennonites
- Reformed Mennonite
- Swiss Mennonite Conference
- US Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches
- River Brethren
- Schwenkfelders
Schwarzenau Brethren Movement
- The Brethren Church (Ashland Brethren)
- Church of the Brethren
- Conservative Grace Brethren Churches, International
- Dunkard Brethren
- Ephrata Cloister
- Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches
- Old Brethren
- Old Brethren German Baptist
- Old German Baptist Brethren
- Old German Baptist Brethren, New Conference
- Old Order German Baptist Brethren
- Social Brethren
Baptist
Baptists emerged as the English Puritans were influenced by the Anabaptists, and along with Methodism, grew in size and influence after they sailed to the New World (the remaining Puritans who traveled to the New World were Congregationalists). Some Baptists fit strongly with the Reformed tradition theologically but not denominationally. Some Baptists also adopt presbyterian and episcopal forms of governance. In 2018, there were about 75-105 million Baptists.[59][68]
- Alliance of Baptists
- American Baptist Association
- American Baptist Churches USA
- Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland
- Association of Reformed Baptist Churches of America
- Association of Regular Baptist Churches
- Baptist Bible Fellowship International
- Baptist Conference of the Philippines
- Baptist Convention of Ontario and Quebec
- Baptist Convention of Western Cuba
- Baptist Evangelical Christian Union of Italy
- Baptist General Conference of Canada
- Baptist General Convention of Texas
- Baptist General Conference (Sweden)
- Baptist Missionary Association of America
- Baptist Union of Australia
- Baptist Union of Great Britain
- Baptist Union of New Zealand
- Baptist Union of Scotland
- Baptist Union of Western Canada
- Canadian Baptist Ministries
- Canadian Convention of Southern Baptists
- Central Baptist Association
- Central Canada Baptist Conference
- Christian Unity Baptist Association
- Conservative Baptist Association
- Conservative Baptist Association of America
- Continental Baptist Churches
- Convención Nacional Bautista de Mexico
- Convention of Atlantic Baptist Churches
- Convention of Baptist Churches of Northern Circars
- Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
- Council of Baptist Churches in Northeast India
- Council of Baptist Churches in Northern India
- European Baptist Federation
- Evangelical Baptist Mission of South Haiti
- Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches in Canada
- Free Will Baptist Church
- Fundamental Baptist Fellowship of America
- General Association of Baptists
- General Association of General Baptists
- General Association of Regular Baptist Churches
- General Conference of the Evangelical Baptist Church, Inc.
- General Six-Principle Baptists
- Independent Baptist
- Independent Baptist Church of America
- Independent Baptist Fellowship International
- Independent Baptist Fellowship of North America
- Interstate & Foreign Landmark Missionary Baptist Association
- International Baptist Convention
- Landmark Baptist Church
- Liberty Baptist Fellowship
- Manipur Baptist Convention
- Myanmar Baptist Convention
- Nagaland Baptist Church Council
- National Association of Free Will Baptists
- National Baptist Convention of America, Inc.
- National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.
- National Baptist Evangelical Life and Soul Saving Assembly of the U.S.A.
- National Missionary Baptist Convention of America
- National Primitive Baptist Convention of the U.S.A.
- New England Evangelical Baptist Fellowship
- New Independent Fundamentalist Baptist
- Nigerian Baptist Convention
- North American Baptist Conference
- North Bank Baptist Christian Association
- Norwegian Baptist Union
- Old Baptist Union
- Old Regular Baptist
- Old Time Missionary Baptist
- Primitive Baptist
- Primitive Baptist Universalism
- Progressive Baptist
- Reformed Baptist
- Regular Baptist
- Regular Baptist Churches, General Association of
- Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches
- Separate Baptist
- Seventh Day Baptist
- Southeast Conservative Baptist
- Southern Baptist Convention
- Southern Baptists of Texas
- Sovereign Grace Baptists
- Strict Baptists or Particular Baptists
- Two-Seed-in-the-Spirit Predestinarian Baptists
- Union d'Églises baptistes françaises au Canada
- United American Free Will Baptist Church
- United American Free Will Baptist Conference
- United Baptist
- United Baptist Convention of the Atlantic Provinces
- United Free Will Baptist
- World Baptist Fellowship
Holiness Baptists
- Christian Baptist Church of God
- Holiness Baptist Association
Spiritual Baptists
Bapticostals
Methodist
The Methodist movement emerged out the influence of Pietism within Anglicanism. Unlike Baptists (also emerging from the Church of England), Methodists have retained liturgical worship and other historic Anglican practices including vestments and the episcopacy. Methodists were some of the first Christians to accept women's ordination since the Montanists. Some 60-80 million Christians are Methodists and members of the World Methodist Council.[59][69][70]
- African Methodist Episcopal Church
- African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
- British Methodist Episcopal Church
- Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
- Congregational Methodist Church
- Evangelical Church of the Dominican Republic
- Evangelical Methodist Church
- First Congregational Methodist Church
- Free Methodist Church
- Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma
- Methodist Church of Great Britain
- Methodist Church of Malaysia
- Methodist Church in India
- Methodist Church of New Zealand
- Methodist Church of Southern Africa
- Primitive Methodist Church
- Southern Methodist Church
- United Methodist Church
- Wesleyan Methodist Church of Australia
Holiness movement
The Holiness movement involves a set of beliefs and practices which emerged from 19th-century Methodism. As of 2015, churches of the movement had an estimated 12 million adherents.[71]
Campbellite and Millerist
Adventism was a result from the Restoration movement, which sought to restore Christianity along the lines of what was known about the apostolic early Church which Restorationists saw as the search for a more pure and ancient form of the religion.[72] This idea is also called Christian Primitivism. Following the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement, William Miller preached the end of the world and the second coming of Christ in 1843/44. Some followers after the failed prediction became the Adventists or Campbellites, while other splinter groups eventually became Apocalyptic Restorationists. Many of the splinter groups did not subscribe to trinitarian theologies. Well known Restorationist groups related in some way to Millerism include the Jehovah's Witnesses, World Mission Society Church of God, the Restored Church of God, and the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. There are a little over 7 million Restorationist Christians.
Stone-Campbell Restoration movement
- Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
- Churches of Christ
- Churches of Christ in Australia
- Evangelical Christian Church in Canada (Christian Disciples)
- Independent Christian Churches/Churches of Christ
- International Christian Church
- International Churches of Christ
Early Sabbath-Keeping movements, predating Millerism
Millerism and comparable groups
Adventist movement (Sunday observing)
Adventist movement (Seventh Day Sabbath/Saturday observing)
Original denomination
Splinter denominations
Quaker
Quakers, or Friends, are members of various movements united by their belief in the ability of each human being to experientially access the light within, or "that of God in every one".[73]
Shakers
Plymouth Brethren
Plymouth Brethren is a conservative, low church, non-conformist, evangelical Christian movement whose history can be traced to Dublin, Ireland, in the late 1820s, originating from Anglicanism.[74]
- Exclusive Brethren
- Indian Brethren
- Kerala Brethren Assembly
- Open Brethren
- Church Assembly Hall or Local Churches
- Gospel Hall Brethren or Gospel Hall Assemblies
- Needed Truth Brethren or The Churches of God
Irvingist
The Catholic Apostolic churches were born out of the 1830s revival started in London by the teachings of Edward Irving, and out of the resultant Catholic Apostolic Church movement.[75]
Pentecostal and Charismatic
Pentecostalism and Charismatic Christianity began in the 1900s. The two movements emphasize direct personal experience of God through baptism with the Holy Spirit. They represent some of the largest growing movements in Protestant Christianity.[76] As a result of the two movements, the Catholic Charismatic Renewal was established. According to the Pew Research Center, Pentecostals and Charismatics numbered some 280 million people in 2011.[55]
- Affirming Pentecostal Church International
- Alamo Christian Foundation
- Global Alliance of Affirming Apostolic Pentecostals
- Apostolic Assemblies of Christ
- Apostolic Assembly of the Faith in Christ Jesus
- Apostolic Church (denomination)
- Apostolic Faith Church
- Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa
- Apostolic Gospel Church of Jesus Christ
- Apostolic Overcoming Holy Church of God
- Apostolic Pastoral Congress
- Assemblies of God
- Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ
- Associated Brotherhood of Christians
- Believers Church
- Bible Way Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ
- C3 Church Global
- Celestial Church of Christ
- Charisma Christian Church
- Christ Gospel Churches International
- Christian Assemblies International
- Christian Church of North America
- Christian City Churches
- Christian Congregation in the United States
- Christian Revival Crusade
- Church of the Foursquare Gospel
- Church of God by Faith
- Church of God (Charleston, Tennessee)
- Church of God (Chattanooga)
- Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)
- The Church of God for All Nations
- Church of God (Full Gospel) in India
- Church of God, House of Prayer
- Church of God (Huntsville, Alabama)
- Church of God in Christ
- The Church of God (Jerusalem Acres)
- Church of God Mountain Assembly
- Church of God of Prophecy
- Church of God of the Original Mountain Assembly
- Church of God of the Union Assembly
- Church of God with Signs Following
- Church of the Little Children of Jesus Christ
- Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith
- Congregational Holiness Church
- CRC Churches International
- Deeper Life Bible Church
- Destiny Church
- Elim Pentecostal Church
- Evangelical Christian Churches Assemblies of God in Italy
- Evangelical Pentecostal Church of Besançon
- Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God of the Americas
- Free Apostolic Church of Pentecost
- God is Love Pentecostal Church
- Hillsong Church
- Holiness Baptist Association
- Independent Assemblies of God, International
- Indian Pentecostal Church of God
- International Assemblies of God Fellowship
- International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
- International Fellowship of Christian Assemblies
- International Pentecostal Church of Christ
- International Pentecostal Holiness Church
- Mission of Full Gospel - Christian Open Door
- New Life Churches
- Open Bible Standard Churches
- Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada
- Pentecostal Assemblies of God of America
- Pentecostal Assemblies of the World
- Pentecostal Church of God
- Pentecostal Churches of Christ
- Pentecostal Free Will Baptist Church
- The Pentecostal Mission
- Potter's House Christian Fellowship
- Redeemed Christian Church of God
- Revival Centres International
- The Revival Fellowship
- United Covenant Churches of Christ
- United Gospel Tabernacles
- United Holy Church of America
- United Pentecostal Church International
- United Pentecostal Churches of Christ
Pentecostal Holiness movement
- Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A.
- Church of God (Holiness)
- The Wesleyan Church
- United House of Prayer For All People
Other Charismatic movements
Neo-charismatic movement
- Association of Vineyard Churches
- Bible Christian Mission
- Born Again Movement
- Christ Embassy
- Church on the Rock- International
- Destiny Church Groningen
- New Life Fellowship Association
- Newfrontiers
Uniting
These united or uniting churches are the result of a merger between distinct denominational churches (e.g., Lutherans and Calvinists). As ecumenism progresses, unions between various Protestants are becoming more and more common, resulting in a growing number of united and uniting churches. Major examples of uniting churches are the United Protestant Church of France (2013) and the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (2004).[77][78] Churches are listed here when their disparate heritage marks them as inappropriately listed in the particular categories above.
- China Christian Council
- Christian and Missionary Alliance
- Evangelical Association of Reformed and Congregational Christian Churches
- Church of Bangladesh (Anglican)
- Church of North India (Anglican)
- Church of Pakistan (Anglican)
- Church of South India (Anglican)
- Evangelical Church in Germany
- Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren
- Federation of Evangelical Churches in Italy
- Protestant Church in the Netherlands
- St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India
- Union of Methodist and Waldensian Churches
- United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands
- United Church in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands
- United Church of Canada
- United Church of Christ
- United Church of Christ in Japan
- United Church of Christ in the Philippines
- Uniting Church in Australia
- United Protestant Church of France
Free Evangelical Churches
Evangelical
The term Evangelical appears with reformation and reblossoms in the 18th century and in the 19th century.[79] Evangelical Protestantism modernly understood is an inter-denominational Protestant movement which maintains the belief that the essence of the Gospel consists of the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ's atonement.[80]
African Evangelicalism
- Evangelical Church of West Africa
P'ent'ay
P'ent'ay, simply known as Ethiopian-Eritrean Evangelicalism are a group of indigenous Protestant Eastern Christian Baptist, Lutheran, Pentecostal, and Mennonite denominations in full communion with each other and believe that Ethiopian and Eritrean Evangelicalism are the reformation of the current Orthodox Tewahedo churches as well as the restoration of it to original Ethiopian Christianity. They uphold that in order for a person to be saved one has to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior for the forgiveness of sins; and to receive Christ one must be "born again" (dagem meweled).[81] Its members make up a significant portion of the 2 million Protestant Eastern tradition.
- Kale Heywet (Word of Life) Church
- Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (Place of Jesus)
- Mulu Wongel (Full Gospel Believers) Church
- Meserete Kristos (Christ Foundation) Church
- Assembly of God
Asian-initiated churches
Asian-initiated churches are those arising from Chinese and Japanese regions that were formed during repression in authoritarian eras as responses from government crackdowns of their old Christian denominations which were deemed illegal or unrecognized in their countries' state atheism or religion.
Chinese Independent Churches
- Evangelical Free Church of China
- Local Church movement
Japanese Independent Churches
Malaysian Evangelicalism
North American Evangelicalism
South American Evangelicalism
Internet churches
Protestant Eastern Christian
These churches resulted from a post–1800s reformation of Eastern Christianity, in line with Protestant beliefs and practices. There are approximately 2 million Protestant Eastern Christians as of 2020.
Other Protestant churches and movements
These are denominations, movements, and organizations deriving from mainline Protestantism but are not classifiable under historic or current Protestant movements nor as parachurch organizations.
- Associated Gospel Churches of Canada (AGC)
- Believers' Church in India
- Believers Eastern Church
- Brunstad Christian Church
- The Christian Community
- Church of Christ, Instrumental (Kelleyites)
- Cooneyites (not to be confused with Christian Conventions, above)
- Evangelical Covenant Church of America (Swedish Evangelical Mission Covenant)
- Evangelical Free Church of America
- Family International
- Fellowship of Fundamental Bible Churches
- Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches
- Gloriavale Christian Community
- Grace Movement Churches
- Great Commission Association
- Indian Shakers
- Inspirationalists (Amana Church Society)
- Jesus Movement
- Local Churches
- Methernitha
- Metropolitan Community Churches
- Shiloh Youth Revival Centers
- Universal Life
- Universal Alliance
- The Way International
- The African Church
- Apostles of Johane Maranke
- Christ Apostolic Church
- Church of the Lord (Aladura)
- Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim
- Kimbanguist Church
- Zion Christian Church
Independent Sacramental
Independent sacramental churches refer to a loose collection of individuals and Christian denominations who are not part of the historic sacramental Christian denominations (such as the Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox churches) and yet continue to practice the historic sacramental rites independently while utilizing "Old Catholic", "Catholic", or "Autocephalous Orthodox" labels. Many such groups originated from schisms of these larger denominations, and they claim to have preserved the historical episcopate or apostolic succession, though such claims are frequently disputed or rejected outright by the historic churches of Rome, Constantinople, the Old Catholic Union of Utrecht, and Canterbury.[82][83]
Independent Catholic
Independent Catholic churches arguably began in 1724. The Independent Catholic churches self-identify as either Western or Eastern Catholic although they are not affiliated with or recognized by the Catholic Church.
- American Catholic Church in the United States
- American National Catholic Church
- Antiochian Catholic Church in America
- Augustana Catholic Church
- Archdiocese of the Old Catholic Church of America
- Argentine Catholic Apostolic Church
- Apostolic Catholic Church (Philippines)
- Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church
- Catholic Charismatic Church of Canada
- Catholic Christian Church
- Catholic Life Church
- Catholic Mariavite Church
- Celtic Catholic Church
- Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association
- Christ Catholic Church
- Communion of Christ the Redeemer
- Community of the Lady of All Nations
- Congregation of Mary Immaculate Queen
- Ecumenical Catholic Church
- Ecumenical Catholic Communion
- Evangelical Catholic Church (Independent Catholic)
- Fraternité Notre-Dame
- Free Catholic Church, in Germany
- Imani Temple African-American Catholic Congregation
- Istituto Mater Boni Consilii
- Liberal Catholic Church
- National Catholic Church of America
- Mariavite Church (not to be confused with the Catholic Mariavite Church)
- Most Holy Family Monastery
- Old Catholic Church
- Old Catholic Church in Europe
- Old Catholic Church of America
- Old Catholic Apostolic Church
- Old Catholic Mariavite Church
- Old Roman Catholic Church in North America
- Old Roman Catholic Church in America
- Palmarian Catholic Church
- Philippine Independent Church (Aglipayan Church)
- Polish National Catholic Church
- Rabelados
- Reformed Catholic Church, in Venezuela
- Reformed Old Catholic Church
- St. Stanislaus Kostka Church (St. Louis, Missouri)
- Society of St. Pius V
- Traditionalist Mexican-American Catholic Church
- True Catholic Church
- Ukrainian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church
- Venezuelan Catholic Apostolic Church
Independent Orthodox
These churches consider themselves Eastern or Oriental Orthodox but are not in communion with the main bodies of Eastern and Oriental Orthodoxy. Some of these denominations consider themselves as part of True Orthodoxy or the Old Believers as examples, and have walled themselves off from other Christian denominational groups over issues of ecumenism.
- Abkhazian Orthodox Church
- American Orthodox Catholic Church
- Autocephalous Turkish Orthodox Patriarchate
- Belarusian Autocephalous Orthodox Church
- British Orthodox Church
- Lusitanian Orthodox Church
- Macedonian Orthodox Church
- Malabar Independent Syrian Church
- Montenegrin Orthodox Church (1993)
- Montenegrin Orthodox Church (2018)
- Orthodox Church in Italy
- Russian Orthodox Church in America
- Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church Canonical
True Orthodoxy
True Orthodoxy, or Genuine Orthodoxy, is a movement of Eastern Orthodox churches that separated from the mainstream Eastern Orthodox Church over issues of ecumenism and Calendar reform since the 1920s.[84]
- Bulgarian Alternative Synod
- Greek Old Calendarists
- Old Calendar Bulgarian Orthodox Church
- Old Calendar Romanian Orthodox Church
- Orthodox Church of Greece (Holy Synod in Resistance)
- Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church
- Russian True Orthodox Church (also called as Catacomb Church)
- Serbian True Orthodox Church
- True Russian Orthodox Church
Old Believers
Russian Old Believers form a sub-type of Proto-True Orthodoxy that refused to accept the liturgical and ritual changes made by Patriarch Nikon of Moscow between 1652 and 1666. Several Old Believer denominations have reunified with the Russian Orthodox Church and subsequent wider Eastern Orthodox communion.
- Russian Orthodox Old-Rite Church (Belokrinitskaya)
- Lipovan Orthodox Old-Rite Church (Belokrinitskaya)
- Russian Old-Orthodox Church (Novozybkovskaya)
- Pomorian Old-Orthodox Church (Pomortsy)
Syncretic Orthodoxy
Syncretic Orthodox churches blend with other denominations outside of Eastern Orthodoxy and are not in communion with the main body of Eastern nor Oriental Orthodoxies. These bodies may also be considered part of Protestant Eastern Christianity or the Convergence Movement.
Miscellaneous
The following are independent and non-mainstream movements, denominations and organizations formed during various times in the history of Christianity by splitting from mainline Catholicism, Eastern or Oriental Orthodoxy, or Protestantism not classified in the previous lists.
Independent Russian
- Doukhobors
- Imiaslavie (Onomatodoxy)
- Inochentism
Christian Identitist
- Christian Identity
- Assembly of Christian Soldiers
- The Christ's Assembly
- Church of Israel, Schell City, Missouri
- Church of Jesus Christ–Christian (Aryan Nations)
- The Covenant, The Sword, and the Arm of the Lord
- Kingdom Identity Ministries, Harrison, Arkansas
- LaPorte Church of Christ, Fort Collins, Colorado
Independent/Isolated
- House of Aaron
- Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity (HSA-UWC/Unification Church/Unification Movement)
- The Process Church of The Final Judgment
- Trinitarian Universalism
- United House of Prayer for All People
- Lord’s Resistance Army
- Taiping Heavenly Kingdom
- Twelve Tribes communities
Nontrinitarian
These groups or organizations diverge from historic trinitarian theology (usually based on the Council of Nicaea) with different interpretations of Nontrinitarianism.
Oneness Pentecostalism
- Apostolic Assemblies of Christ
- Apostolic Assembly of the Faith in Christ Jesus
- Apostolic Gospel Church of Jesus Christ
- Apostolic Overcoming Holy Church of God
- Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ
- Bible Way Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ
- Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith
- Pentecostal Assemblies of the World
- True Jesus Church
- United Pentecostal Church International
Unitarian and Universalism
- American Unitarian Association (consolidated with the Universalist Church of America to form the Unitarian Universalist Association and Unitarian Universalism)
- American Unitarian Conference
- Christian Universalist Association
- International Council of Unitarians and Universalists
- Polish Brethren
- Socinianism
- Unitarian Christian Conference USA
- Unitarian Christian Emerging Church
- Universalist Church of America (consolidated with the American Unitarian Association to form the Unitarian Universalist Association and Unitarian Universalism)
Nontrinitarian Restorationism
American Israelism and Latter Day Saint movement
Most Latter Day Saint denominations are derived from the Church of Christ established by Joseph Smith in 1830. The largest worldwide denomination of this movement, and the one publicly recognized as Mormonism, is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Some sects, known as the "Prairie Saints", broke away because they did not recognize Brigham Young as the head of the church, and did not follow him West in the mid-1800s. Other sects broke away over the abandonment of practicing plural marriage after the 1890 Manifesto. Other denominations are defined by either a belief in Joseph Smith as a prophet or acceptance of the Book of Mormon as scripture. The Latter Day Saints comprise a little over 16 million members collectively.[85]
"Prairie Saint" Latter Day Saints
- Church of Christ (Temple Lot) (Hedrickites)
- Church of Christ with the Elijah Message
- Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite)
- Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerite)
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite)
- Community of Christ
- Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
- Independent RLDS / Restoration Branches
- Restoration Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
- Restored Church of Jesus Christ (Eugene O. Walton)
"Rocky Mountain" Latter Day Saints
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church)
Fundamentalist Rocky Mountain Latter Day Saints
- Apostolic United Brethren
- Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS)
- Latter Day Church of Christ (Kingston Clan)
- The True and Living Church of Jesus Christ of Saints of the Last Days
Other Latter Day Saint denominations
- Fellowships of the Remnant
- Restoration Church of Jesus Christ (extinct)
British Israelism
- Armstrongism (World Wide Church Of God)
- British-Israel-World Federation
World Wide Church of God splinter groups
- Church of the Blessed Hope
- Church of God General Conference (Abrahamic Faith)
- Church of God International (United States)
- Church of God (Seventh-Day) (or Church of God 7th day)
- Intercontinental Church of God
- Living Church of God
- Philadelphia Church of God
- Restored Church of God
- United Church of God
- United Seventh-Day Brethren
- World Mission Society Church of God
Bible Students and splinter groups
- Christian Millennial Fellowship
- Dawn Bible Students Association
- Friends of Man
- Jehovah's Witnesses
- Laymen's Home Missionary Movement
- Pastoral Bible Institute
Mexican groups
Philippine groups
Swedenborgianism
Christian Science
Esoteric Christianity (Gnosticism)
- Anthroposophical Society
- Archeosophical Society
- Behmenism
- Ecclesia Gnostica
- Lectorium Rosicrucianum
- Martinism
- The Rosicrucian Fellowship
- Societas Rosicruciana
- Spiritualist Church
- Theosophy
- Universal White Brotherhood
Other Nontrinitarians
- Christadelphians
- Church of the Blessed Hope
- Church of God (Seventh-Day)
- The Church of Almighty God
- Family Federation for World Peace and Unification
- Keraites
- Oneness Pentecostalism
- Some Quakers
- Spiritual Christians from Russia
- Tolstoyan movement
- Two by Twos ("Christian Conventions")
- United Church of God
- Universal Alliance
- World Mission Society Church of God
Judeo-Christian
Messianic Judaism
- Chosen People Ministries
- Hebrew Christian movement
- International Messianic Jewish Alliance
- Jews for Jesus
- Messianic Jewish Alliance of America
- Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations
Black Hebrew Israelites
Other groups
Parachurch
Parachurch organizations are Christian faith-based organizations that work outside and across denominations to engage in social welfare and evangelism. These organizations are not churches but work with churches or represent a coalition of churches.
- Action of Churches Together in Scotland
- Bose Monastic Community
- Byzantine Discalced Carmelites
- Campus Crusade for Christ
- Canadian Council of Churches
- Christian Churches Together in the USA
- Churches Together in Britain and Ireland
- Churches Together in England
- Churches Uniting in Christ
- Conference of European Churches
- Ecumenical Institute for Study and Dialogue
- Edinburgh Churches Together
- Fellowship of Saint Alban and Saint Sergius
- Intervarsity Christian Fellowship
- Iona Community
- National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
- New Independent Fundamentalist Baptist
- New Monasticism related Communities
- Pentecostal Charismatic Peace Fellowship
- Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
- Reasons to Believe
- Society of Ordained Scientists
- Taizé Community
- The Gospel Coalition
- World Alliance of Reformed Churches
- World Council of Churches
- World Evangelical Alliance
- World Student Christian Federation
- Young Life
Ideologies
A Christian movement is a theological, political, or philosophical interpretation of Christianity that is not necessarily represented by a specific church, sect, or denomination.
- 24-7 Prayer Movement
- Arianism
- Arminianism
- British Israelism
- British New Church Movement
- Calvinism
- Campbellism
- Charismatic movement
- Christian atheism
- Christian communism
- Christian democracy
- Distributism
- Social Credit
- Christian existentialism
- Christian Family Movement
- Christian feminism
- Christian Identity (White Supremacist)
- Christian left
- Christian nationalism
- Christian naturism
- Christian pacifism
- Christian right
- Christian socialism
- Christian Torah-submission
- Christian vegetarianism
- Christian Zionism
- Confessing Movement
- Continual Prayer Movement
- Convergence Movement
- Countercult Movement
- Creationism
- Old Earth Creationism
- Young Earth Creationism
- Emerging Church Movement
- Evangelicalism
- German Christians (movement) (Nazi)
- Gnosticism
- Green Christianity
- House church (or Simple church)
- Jesus Movement
- Judaizers
- LGBT and Denominations
- Liberation theology
- Palestinian liberation theology
- Lutheranism
- Marcionism
- Millerism
- Neo-orthodoxy
- Neo-Charismatic
- Pelagianism
- Positive Christianity (Nazi)
- Postmodern Christianity
- Progressive Christianity (Liberal Christianity)
- Prosperity Theology
- Queer theology
- Quiverfull
- Reformed Christianity
- Restorationism
- Romanism
- Semipelagianism
- Shepherding Movement
- Wesleyanism
Syncretic
New Thought
The relation of New Thought to Christianity is not defined as exclusive; some of its adherents see themselves as solely practicing Christianity, while adherents of Religious Science say "yes and no" to the question of whether they consider themselves to be Christian in belief and practice, leaving it up to the individual to define oneself spiritually.
Other Syncretists
The relation of these movements to other Christian ideas can be remote. They are listed here because they include some elements of Christian practice or beliefs, within religious contexts which may be only loosely characterized as Christian.
- Candomblé
- Cao Đài
- Chrislam
- Cult of Santa Muerte
- Vodou
- Malbars
- Native American Church
- Pilgrims of Arès
- Rastafari movement
- Santería
- Santo Daime
- Umbanda
- Voodoo
See also
References
- "Eastern Christianity and Western Christianity | World Religions". courses.lumenlearning.com. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
- Office, Anglican Communion. "Anglican Communion: Ecumenism". Anglican Communion Website. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
- "The WCC as a fellowship of churches — World Council of Churches". www.oikoumene.org. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
- "Holy Synod - Encyclicals - On Christian Unity and Ecumenism". www.oca.org. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
- "Ecumenical". www.usccb.org. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
- "World Council of Churches | Description, History, & Members". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- "Dominus Iesus". Vatican.va. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
- "The Original Christian Church - Questions & Answers". oca.org. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
- "The differences between the Catholic and Orthodox churches". The Economist. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
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