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*[[Iglesia Anglicana del Cono Sud de las Americas]]
*[[Iglesia Anglicana del Cono Sud de las Americas]]
*[[Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil]]
*[[Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil]]
⚫
*[[Kerala Christian Assembly]] (Canada) [http://www.keralachristian.com]
*[[Lusitanian Church of Portugal]]
*[[Lusitanian Church of Portugal]]
*[[Nippon Sei Ko Kai]] (Japan)
*[[Nippon Sei Ko Kai]] (Japan)
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*[[Iglesia Anglicana del Cono Sud de las Americas]]
*[[Iglesia Anglicana del Cono Sud de las Americas]]
*[[Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil]]
*[[Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil]]
*[[Kerala Christian Assembly]] (Canada) [http://www.keralachristian.com]
*[[Lusitanian Church of Portugal]]
*[[Lusitanian Church of Portugal]]
*[[Nippon Sei Ko Kai]] (Japan)
*[[Nippon Sei Ko Kai]] (Japan)
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*[[Holy Mountain Church]]
*[[Holy Mountain Church]]
*[[House of Prayer Christian Church]]
*[[House of Prayer Christian Church]]
*[[India Pentecostal Church of God]]
*[[Independent Assemblies of God, International]]
*[[Independent Assemblies of God, International]]
*[[International Church of the Foursquare Gospel]]
*[[International Church of the Foursquare Gospel]]
*[[International Pentecostal Church of Christ]]
*[[International Pentecostal Church of Christ]]
*[[International Pentecostal Holiness Church]]
*[[International Pentecostal Holiness Church]]
⚫
*[[Kerala Christian Assembly]] (Canada) [http://www.keralachristian.com]
*[[Ministers Fellowship International]]
*[[Ministers Fellowship International]]
*[[New Life Churches]]
*[[New Life Churches]]

Revision as of 02:18, 1 April 2007

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

Some groups are large (e.g. Catholics, 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. 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.

Eastern Churches

Note: nearly all the Churches of this group name themselves as Orthodox Catholic, though this can be confusing with the Catholic (non Orthodox) Churches (which see).

The Orthodox Church (aka, Eastern Orthodox Church)

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

Western-Rite Orthodox Churches

Other Eastern Orthodox Churches

from Ukrainian Orthodox Church:

Assyrian Church of the East

The Assyrian Church of the East is said to have been formed by St Thomas. The Church did not accept the Council of Ephesus (AD 431). It is incorrectly referred to as Nestorianism; Assyrian Orthodox do not consider themselves Nestorians, and recent Christological agreements with the Catholic and Orthodox churches have resolved this debate permanently, clearing the way for union.

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.

Catholicism

The Catholic Church: Churches in communion with the bishop of Rome

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

The Latin Rite, is the largest and most familiar of the 23 Rites that make up The Catholic Church. It is commonly referred to as "the Roman Catholic Church", though some people say that to mean the whole church in communion with Rome.

Eastern Catholic Rites

All of the following are to be particular churches of the Catholic Church. The derogatory term, uniate, has been used to refer to the Eastern Catholic Churches in some circles. They are part of the Catholic Church in communion with the Pope and have no doctrinal differences and are therefore different rites within the Catholic Church

  • The Catholic Church does not consider itself a denomination.

Other Churches that are called Catholic, But Who Are Not In Communion With Rome

Many other churches- especially those with roots in the Reformation- claim to be 'catholic' in doctrine but are not in commmunion with Rome.

Anglicanism

The Anglican Church always existed in a union with Rome but left the Roman Church during the Reformation. This split didn't change the practices of the Anglican Church so it wouldn't be proper to place Anglicans under the Protestant category. However, the general public and many in the Anglican Communion consider this group Protestant.

Anglican Communion (in commmunion with the Church of England)
Independent Anglican and Continuing Anglican Movement Churches

Churches of the Reformation (often described as 'Protestant')

Protestants before Luther

Lutheranism

Anglicanism

The Anglican Church always existed in a union with Rome but left the Roman Church during the Reformation. Being a state church, Anglicanism encompasses both Catholic and Protestant elements.

Anglican Communion (in commmunion with the Church of England)

Independent Anglican and Continuing Anglican Movement Churches

Reformed Churches

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. See also: List of Baptist sub-denominations

Spiritual Baptists

Note: The Spiritual Baptist Archdiocese of New York, Inc has congregationalist affiliations for the purpose of cooperation, in which each local church is governmentally independent.

Brethren

Apostolic Churches - Irvingites

Pentecostalism

Oneness Pentecostalism

Note: Genealogically, Oneness Pentecostalism can be grouped with other Pentecostals, but doctrinally, it is a non-trinitarian denomination.

Charismatics

Neo-Charismatic Churches

African Initiated Churches

Main article: African Initiated Church

United and uniting churches

Main article: 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 denomination, 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.

Latter Day Saints

Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement

Southcottites

Millerites and Comparable groups

Sabbath Keeping Churches, Adventist

Sabbath-Keeping Churches, Non-Adventist in north Pennsylvania

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)

The New Church also called Swedenborgianism

Episcopal

Congregational

New Thought

Christian mystery movements

Ethnic or syncretic religions incorporating elements of Christianity

Christianism

See also

  • Adherents.com, a collection of adherent statistics and religious geography citations for various religious (Christian and other) denominations
  • [2] Racial Awareness Educational Program, Asa Don Brown

ReligionFacts.com: Christian Denominations History, profiles and comparison charts of major Christian denominations.

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