Churches of Christ, Non-Institutional

The non-institutional churches of Christ are a non-denominational sect (for lack of a better word) of that body of faith that grew out of the Restoration Movement. They differ from other Restoration Movement churches in that (1) they are non-denominational, and (2) they are non-institutional. They are non-denominational in the sense that each local congregation is an autonomous, self-governing body. They do not believe in, nor do they have, a hierarchical organization that extends beyond the local congregation. They are non-institutional in the sense that there is no Scriptural authority for a congregation to spend the church's money on missionary societies, orphanages, or educational institutions. For more information on what some, but by no means all, members of the non-institutional churches of Christ believe, please see: http://www.bibleweb.com/beliefs.html