About Us

Jesus once told a story about a wealthy king who hosted a wedding banquet (Matthew 22:1-14). When his servants invited his guests, each guest declined and offered a believable excuse. “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.”

At Central, we have taken this story to heart and built our purpose around it. Our vision is simple: “The Central Church of Christ will welcome everyone to Christ’s table.” Whoever you are from whatever background, you are welcome here. The gospel you hear preached at Central will challenge and change you, as it does all of us, but no one will be rejected at the door because of their past.

Wanderers Welcome!

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10). We believe every person bears the image of God uniquely and has a purpose in this world. At Central, we want to help you serve God by finding a purpose you are passionate about. In this way, we imitate our Savior, whose purpose led Him to the cross.

Jesus said, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth … and he will declare to you the things to come” (John 16:12-13). We believe the uncertain present will give way to a future that rests securely in God’s hands. At Central, we refuse to fear the future, and we choose to see obstacles as opportunities. In this way, we put our trust entirely in the Father rather than human wisdom.

Jesus promised, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper … I will not leave you as orphans” (John 15:16-18). We believe that God has not abandoned us in this world. At Central, we strive to accept the guidance, strength, and mystery of the work of the Spirit in our lives. In this way, we offer up our church as a temple in which the Holy Spirit may come to dwell.

The Bible records that the disciples of Jesus were simply called “Christians” (Acts 11:26). We can think of no higher name for us to wear than that. Though two millennia of history have passed since those first disciples, we still hope to practice that ancient faith today. We strive to practice what C.S. Lewis called “mere Christianity.”

From a historical point of view, we identify with the basic tenets of the Protestant Reformation and its emphasis on the centrality of the gospel. As Paul wrote, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).

We believe in the five solas of the Reformation. We follow Scripture alone in Christ alone to be saved by faith alone through grace alone to the glory of God alone. While each of these principles requires study and nuanced understanding, these basic principles – when understood in the light of Scripture – are sound.

The Central Church of Christ is a family of Christians. Historically, we are rooted in the American Restoration Movement and spiritual heirs of the great revival of Cane Ridge (1801). At Cane Ridge, ministers from Presbyterian, Methodist, and Baptist churches came together to share in the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. They realized as they did so that there was more that bound them together than anything that divided them. A unity movement began that day that left all other names and creeds behind in favor of being merely Christian.

In the spirit of the mottos of that movement, we believe “we are Christians only, but not the only Christians.” When it comes to disagreements among us, we return to another motto of the movement: “In faith, unity. In opinion, liberty. In all things, love.”

The story of that movement has had many twists and turns through the years, but the simple plea remains. Believers in Christ should be united in the work of the gospel. The Central Church of Christ remains committed to this message and mission today.

We are part of a loosely defined fellowship of churches known simply as “the Churches of Christ.” As such, we continue several distinctive characteristics of the Church of Christ. We are a free congregation, not being governed by any national board or congress. As such, we can celebrate our heritage as a Church of Christ without be bound to any specific practice beyond the convictions of our own members and leadership. We practice believer’s baptism, which we define as immersion in water for the remission of sin. We practice weekly communion and praise God with acapella singing.

“Without faith, it is impossible to please him” (Hebrews 11:6). Every member of the Central Church of Christ is expected to be a believer, someone who has accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ and submitted to Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

“We were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). Our members are expected to have been baptized in the imitation of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. At Central, we practice baptism for believers by immersion in water for the remission of sin (Acts 2:38).

“All who believed were together and had all things in common” (Acts 2:44). Our members are expected to be connected to our church family, participating in the life of our church. This can be done by volunteering in a ministry, joining a small group, or in some other way that may suit you best. To start getting connected today, fill out our digital Connect Card.