The tag Types of christian churches means that the church is one of an Eastern Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic Church, or Protestant Church. These churches all believe in basic Christian doctrines, yet disagree over such issues as authority, salvation, sacraments, methods of worship, and church polity. There are also denominational branches within Protestantism that have evolved their own understandings, such as the Anglican, Lutheran, Reformed, Methodist, Baptist, Pentecostal, and independent evangelical churches. Knowing which category a church falls into can be useful in determining its historical roots, but it is best to understand the church based on what it claims to believe and what it does.
How Types Of Christian Churches Developed Worldwide
The early Christian church was originally conceived as an association of independent congregations united around common beliefs in Christ and his teachings, including baptism, corporate worship, prayer, and teaching from the apostles. As the Christian movement grew in the major urban centers throughout the Roman Empire and its provinces, the church evolved from house churches to public meeting places and eventually formal institutions. Usually, they were governed locally by a council of elders, deacons, and a bishop, although the specifics of this organization could vary greatly from place to place. In spite of their geographical separation, linguistic differences, and varying local customs, the early Christian churches remained united through the exchange of correspondence and visits from traveling preachers.
A number of disputes occurred within the early church as various groups disagreed about scriptural exegesis, the nature of Christ, the Trinity, and the organization of the church. In order to bring about unity within the body of believers, the bishops would call together councils to resolve these questions. The councils were not in the business of creating new beliefs but instead of evaluating tradition, scriptural interpretation, and liturgical practice, to determine which best maintained the faith delivered by their ancestors.
The ecumenical councils were particularly influential in establishing fundamental beliefs, such as those articulated in the Nicene Creed which held that Jesus was God rather than a creation of God. Later councils continued the process of establishing orthodoxy by formulating more precise definitions regarding the nature of Jesus’ divinity and humanity. While not all Christian traditions recognize the authority of all the early councils, the decisions of these councils did shape the theology of major Christian bodies including Eastern Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran and Reformed churches.
Creeds also brought theology into everyday worship. A local congregation could recite the Nicene or Apostles’ Creeds as a quick overview of its beliefs even when it did not have the opportunity to study more sophisticated theology. This connected local and regional congregations in worship across time and space. But scripture still mattered, and Christians increasingly disagreed about who had ultimate authority to interpret scripture and whether councils, bishops, and tradition should inform such interpretation.
There were also major cultural differences between the Eastern and Western churches. The Eastern church was Greek-speaking and conciliar in nature, meaning that all the major bishops would meet to determine church policies together. The Western church was Latin-speaking, and gradually began emphasizing the primacy of the bishop of Rome, who had jurisdiction over more than his own diocese.
The Great Schism of 1054, which formally separated the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic branches of Christianity, occurred due to multiple factors. One significant factor was a dispute over authority, particularly whether the Pope in Rome had ultimate authority over all Christians or only those in the West. Another factor was theological disagreement, specifically regarding whether the Holy Spirit proceeded from the Father alone, or from both the Father and the Son (the Filioque controversy). Finally, there were long-standing differences in liturgy, language, and culture that eventually contributed to the schism.
Beginning in the sixteenth century, during the Protestant Reformation, some reformers in the Christian West sought to challenge Catholic teachings and practices. For example, Martin Luther attacked the sale of indulgences and the authority of the pope with his doctrine of justification by faith; others formulated alternative views on the nature of communion, baptism, liturgy, and church government. The Reformation spread rapidly and was facilitated by the printing press, the translation of works into vernacular languages, the support of monarchs, and vigorous debate in the universities.
Of course there were multiple options for communities that broke from Catholicism during the Reformation. Lutherans, Reformed, Anglicans, Anabaptists, and later Baptists all followed the Bible in different ways and had different relationships to secular authorities. Some maintained bishops, historic liturgies, and infant baptism; others embraced congregational leadership, simple worship, and believer’s baptism after a public profession of faith. These various denominations should not be regarded as interchangeable administrative terms but as indicative of church denominations.
These traditions were then taken to Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Oceania by Europeans, migrants, missionaries, and native Christian leaders. In their new locations, Christians translated the worship, made sense of the traditions that they inherited, and developed new forms of organization to suit their own settings. Additionally, revivals moved across existing traditions. Methodism came from within an Anglican tradition; Pentecostalism has influenced numerous institutional traditions; and independent churches have developed outside the scope of established traditions.
It is difficult to generalize about Christian theology because there is not just one Church. In fact, in the last several decades, the number of Christians has increased so much that there are now many different cultures, languages, organization types, and ways of dealing with authority and theology. For example, there are liturgical churches that conduct services in their own languages and have a less rigid form of authority. So, the theology and practice of any particular Christian group will need to be considered in light of that group’s specific understanding of authority, historical doctrine, the sacraments, and the role of church leaders.
The Three Major Families Of Christianity
The three-family approach allows us to locate church denominations in its widest context.
The three main branches of Christianity are Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestantism. All three believe in the divinity of Jesus and the Bible as the Word of God, but there are differences in their structure, organization and teachings. The Roman Catholic Church has a central hierarchy and authority with the Pope in Rome, believes in other sources of authority besides the Bible, and has a large body of priests. The Eastern Orthodox Church is found primarily in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. There is no central leader; rather there is a synod of bishops. They emphasize the liturgy and mysticism. Protestantism is not a single organization, but a loose association of different groups that originated from the Reformation in the 16th century. It accepts the Bible as the only infallible authority for Christian doctrine (sola scriptura) and does not accept the authority of the Pope or Roman Catholic Church.
| Christian family | Historical roots | Authority and governance | Baptism and Communion | Distinctive strengths | Key complexities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roman Catholic | Western church; papal communion consolidated over the first millennium | Scripture and Sacred Tradition; bishops united with the pope | Infant or convert baptism; seven sacraments; Eucharist understood as Christ’s real presence | Worldwide institutional unity; continuous episcopal succession; standardized sacramental life | Centralized papal authority is not accepted by Orthodox or Protestant churches |
| Eastern Orthodox | Eastern apostolic churches; formal break with Rome conventionally dated to 1054 | Scripture within Holy Tradition; self-governing churches led by bishops and synods | Infant or convert baptism; seven major mysteries; Eucharist understood as Christ’s real presence | Ancient liturgy; conciliar leadership; strong continuity with early Christian worship | Jurisdictions often follow national or ethnic lines; no single worldwide administrative head |
| Protestant | Reformation movements beginning in 16th-century Western Europe | Scripture as supreme authority; governance may be episcopal, presbyterian, or congregational | Usually two ordinances or sacraments; baptism mode and Communion theology differ by denomination | Broad access to vernacular Scripture; diverse worship styles; strong lay participation | Thousands of denominations; major disagreements on baptism, Communion, salvation, and ministry |
| Oriental Orthodox | Separated after the Council of Chalcedon in 451; includes Coptic, Armenian, and Syriac traditions | Scripture within apostolic Tradition; each ancient church governed by its own bishops and synod | Infant or convert baptism; sacramental worship; Eucharist understood as Christ’s real presence | Preserves ancient non-Chalcedonian liturgies, languages, and monastic traditions | Often placed outside the three-family model; distinct from Eastern Orthodoxy despite similar names |
This article will focus on the traditional division of Christianity into Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant denominations. In doing so, it will overlook the significant presence of the Oriental Orthodox Churches. These churches trace their history back to some of the most ancient Christian communities. While this standard sorting points out differences in authority, leadership, sacraments, and history among those three big groups, it completely misses the unique theological stance of the Oriental Orthodox communion.
Eastern Orthodox Churches
For Eastern Orthodoxy, Holy Scripture is part of the whole of Holy Tradition, including the decisions of the ancient Ecumenical Councils, the creeds, the writings of the early church fathers, and the living worship of the church. This is seen most clearly in the sacraments, especially at the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, when the Eucharist is combined with the litany, hymns, Scripture readings, prayers, icon veneration, and chanted responses by the congregation.
I don’t understand what you mean by church denominations.
The Roman Catholic Church
The Roman Catholic Church holds that the pope, as bishop of Rome, is the visible centre of unity of all Christians, and that bishops in communion with him share in the church’s teaching authority exercised by the magisterium. Catholics hold that the deposit of faith was entrusted to the Church and is authoritatively interpreted by its teaching authority.
Regarding different denominations of Christianity (different denominations of christianity), the Catholic Church has a more integrated global organization. It is differentiated from other Christian churches by its seven sacraments, i.e., baptism, confirmation, Eucharist, reconciliation, anointing of the sick, holy orders and marriage. The Catholic Mass is the central liturgical event in the Catholic Church.
The Protestant Family
Protestantism arose during the 16th century as the reformers opposed the ecclesiastical authority and theological traditions of Western Catholicism. They held the supremacy of Holy Scripture in the church (sola Scriptura) and the doctrine that sinners are justified by faith alone (sola fide) apart from good works through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.
There is a great deal of diversity in the “denominations of christianity” family. Some of these groups baptize infants, while others only baptize those who have confessed their faith in Jesus Christ. Some view Communion as a sacrament, while others view it only as a memorial service. Some are governed by bishops, others by elders, still others by congregations, or by groups of churches affiliated together in a synod. Thus “Protestant” refers not to one particular denomination, but to a whole family of diverse denominations.
Anglican And Episcopal Churches
The Book of Common Prayer forms the basis of Anglican worship. The Book of Common Prayer provides a structure for Anglican worship that includes prayer, the reading of Scripture, the celebration of the sacraments, and the observance of the church calendar. Anglicanism traces its roots back to the English Reformation. It has retained a separate existence by preserving bishops, historic liturgy, and a continuous link with the ancient church.
The Anglican Communion (in denominations of christianity) combines elements of Protestantism with traditional Catholic liturgy and church governance. A worldwide communion of autonomous regional churches linked by common history and bond of allegiance, rather than a central hierarchical structure, it includes the Episcopal Church as one of its constituent members. There is much disagreement among Anglicans about several important issues such as apostolic succession, sacramental theology, and doctrine.
Lutheran Churches
The Lutheran Church traces its origins to the reforming movement led by Martin Luther. At its core, it confesses the truth that God justifies all sinners by his grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. We believe that nothing of our own merits or good works can gain us the favor of God. Our doctrine is measured against the written Word of God (sola Scriptura). We hold the historic creeds of the Church to be a guide for our preaching, teaching, confession and worship.
Similar to different christian denominations, Lutheran churches generally retain formal liturgy and a sacramental theology. They baptize, including infants, and affirm that Christ really gives himself in the Lord’s Supper. Lutheran groups vary on matters like interpretation of scripture, ordination, ethics, and relationships with other denominations.
Presbyterian And Reformed Churches
Though the rise of Reformed Christianity involved many people, the single most important and influential figure in the movement was John Calvin. Among the defining characteristics of the Reformed tradition are a strong belief in God’s sovereignty, a particular emphasis on soteriology, and a particular understanding of the Bible as a covenantal book. That is, for the Reformed theologian, the story of redemption is told through the lens of the various covenants God makes with his people, and so covenant theology provides the primary theological structure for understanding the Bible.
In different christian denominations, the Presbyterian church is a church governed by representatives, and the representatives are the elected elders of each congregation. These elders work together in local sessions and in regional or national assemblies. There are no bishops. Ministers do not have the authority to govern alone. There is no separate clerical ruling order. In fact, many Reformed churches also have this structure, although they may differ in terms of confessions, the practice of baptism, worship styles, and contemporary issues.
Methodist And Wesleyan Churches
Methodism grew out of a revival movement begun by John Wesley, an Anglican minister. Wesley formed groups called “societies” that encouraged people to live disciplined lives devoted to prayer, teaching, service, and accountability. Wesley’s central message was about the way God saved us by grace. He stressed the importance of sanctification for his understanding of how God makes us holy love.
That’s true. The Methodist church is a Christian denomination, which means that its members belong to a connectional system rather than a congregational polity. Furthermore, the Methodist church does indeed adhere to the practices of John Wesley, with some exceptions relating to sacraments and local governance.
Baptist Churches
It describes believers’ baptism by immersion, after an individual makes a profession of faith, and Baptist support for religious liberty and the separation of church and state.
christian denomination Baptist churches are autonomous; the local congregation is the highest authority and has the right to call its own pastor, decide who can become a member, administer church discipline, choose all other staff, and make other policy decisions. While regional associations or national conventions exist for purposes of mission and education cooperation, these do not have authority over the local church. Baptist beliefs concerning salvation, spiritual gifts, modes of worship, and qualifications for the ministry vary from congregation to congregation.
Evangelical Free Churches
While the Evangelical Free Church tradition has common beliefs about the authority of Scripture, the Trinity, the atonement, salvation by faith and missions, and while churches generally maintain a common statement of faith, each individual church is autonomous. Most churches within the tradition have a ministry approach built on Bible-based preaching and conversion-centered evangelism that typically defines their worship life and mission.
When you see the word “Free” used in a church name, it’s generally meant to convey the concept that the church isn’t directly affiliated with the government but rather free to govern itself. An Evangelical Free Church might be a part of a larger group, but it makes all of its own decisions regarding membership, finances and staff. Since churches might apply their doctrines differently and there are a variety of ways to minister, it’s important to read through the doctrinal statement for the local church you’re considering attending.
Churches Of The Restoration Movement
The intent of the Restoration Movement was to restore the church of the New Testament without having a denomination’s creed as a condition for membership or fellowship. This movement eventually led to the formation of Churches of Christ, Christian Churches, and Disciples of Christ. While all of these churches share a common history and set of beliefs, their organizational practices, forms of worship, and theology have diverged considerably since that time.
The Restorationists differ from other Christians in their stress upon baptism and communion as important ordinances of the church, and in their weekly observance of both. They also differ in that the Churches of Christ are usually a cappella (no instruments), most Christian churches use instruments during service, the Disciples of Christ have become more institutionalized than the other sects, and local control is typical of most of the Restorationist churches.
Pentecostal And Charismatic Churches
Pentecostalism refers to a Christian movement that emphasizes the work and presence of the Holy Spirit, particularly with respect to the operation of spiritual gifts as described in scripture. The Azusa Street Revival was one of the first focal points for Pentecostal practice and played a pivotal role in the dissemination of the movement as it brought together people of varying racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, resulting in a site in which testimonies, healings, and glossolalia were regularly experienced.
This includes groups like the classical Pentecostal Assemblies of God. In more recent times, the charismatic movement has brought Pentecostalism to some Catholic, Anglican and other Protestant churches without necessarily establishing new denominations. The exact relationship between tongues-speaking and Spirit baptism is debated, as is how prophecies ought to be judged.
Non-Denominational Churches
Just because a church is non-denominational, doesn’t mean there are no doctrinal statements. It simply means that the church isn’t affiliated with a specific denomination, though the church may have an evangelical doctrine in place emphasizing biblically-centered preaching and elder or congregational church governance. In addition, some non-denominational churches are a part of larger networks for the purpose of starting new churches, training leaders, and pooling ministry efforts.
They might look like Baptist, charismatic, Reformed, or plain old evangelical churches. But they’re usually not quick to call themselves that. If you want to understand what kind of church you’re dealing with, you need to read the statement of faith, study the church bylaws, investigate network affiliation, and study the church’s governance system. A great way to figure out how these churches operate is to ask a few simple questions about power: Who makes the decisions? Who hires and fires pastors? How are disputes settled? Who owns the property? Whom do the members answer to?
How To Compare And Choose A Local Church
You’ll learn much more about a church by looking at what it actually says (mission statements, creeds, doctrinal statements, and public commitments to social justice or peace) and what it actually does (service projects, outreach ministries, inclusion initiatives, voting procedures, etc.) than by looking at its official title. The labels are usually useful only as shorthand, but even there, they can hide major differences between two churches’ theology, practice, and commitment to social action.
To understand the theology of a church, you first need to look at their beliefs about God and how one gets saved. Look for their Statement of Faith that explicitly addresses the following topics: the Trinity, the person of Jesus Christ, sin, atonement, resurrection, grace, faith and the last day. If they affirm the Nicene or Apostles’ Creed, check to see how closely their current teaching agrees with these statements of faith. If they do not have a particular doctrine and speak in only generic terms, ask a pastor for their Statement of Faith before judging their position.
So the real question about church authority is whether the church honors Scripture as its ultimate rule for doctrine or not, or whether it puts Sacred Tradition or a certain set of men over Scripture, and whether there is anyone to whom these men answer for their final say on doctrine. Many churches profess a high view of biblical authority, but really allow one man to go forth and expound on or teach Scripture with no one to hold him accountable.
I observed that the church practices believer’s baptism; that is, people must publicly profess their faith before being immersed in water, rather than being baptized as babies. This church believes that baptism is an external sign of internal grace; that it signifies a person identifying with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but not necessarily that they receive saving grace through it. The church observes communion once a month and for them it is a time to remember Christ’s sacrifice, but also to feel a connection with each other as Christians. I noticed how the reading of scripture, expository preaching, congregational singing, and times of quiet reflection came together during this service. It seems as if the way they crafted this service, and the way they allowed for people to participate, was intended to shape people into Christians, both individually and communally, on a weekly basis.
Who do the elders or directors report to? Does the church have an appointed bishop or archbishop? Does the congregation vote in the leadership? Are there members of the leadership who are external to the church? How do the elders or directors hold one another accountable? Is there an accountability board or similar body? What is the church’s safeguarding policy? Is there an external body to whom allegations of misconduct can be reported?
Make sure you know what it means to be a member of the church by asking for the covenant, bylaws, doctrinal standards, and rules of discipline, and asking about any membership pledges, how your data is used, and how you can leave if needed. (Note: Church membership means something different at every church, and in most cases it’s some combination of having a vote in matters of policy, receiving pastoral care, making financial commitments to the church budget, being subject to church discipline, etc.)
As you discern whether a particular church would be a good fit for you to worship, grow and serve in, consider going to a few Sunday services to see the life of the community in an everyday context. Try talking to a few people other than those standing in the lobby to find out more about the church’s focus on making disciples, pastoral care, local missions and worldwide evangelism. Ask what kind of needs there are in the church where you can make use of your own skills and gifts. One church may not have all you’re looking for, but may be a healthy body with sound teaching and faithful and open leadership. Another church may suit you better, but may not have those fundamentals in place.
Key takeaways
The three primary denominations in the Christian faith are the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church, and the Protestant denomination. The relationships among these three main branches make up much of the history of Christianity, though there are many other denominations, and some historical relationships are ignored.
How did the religious map of Europe change because of the Great Schism and the Protestant Reformation? The first major split occurred in 1054, when the Great Schism resulted in the formation of the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church. Then, in 1517, the Protestant Reformation, sparked by Martin Luther, led to a further split in Western Christianity, resulting in the establishment of new Protestant churches like Lutheranism, Calvinism, and Anglicanism.
It would help to break Protestantism down into some distinct traditions in order to compare and contrast them. For example, you could break it down to Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Baptist traditions. You can compare them on several aspects. The first thing is the doctrine of salvation. Lutherans believe in justification by faith alone. Another aspect is the doctrine of the church. Lutherans believe in the priesthood of all believers. The third aspect is the doctrine of the sacraments. Lutherans believe in two sacraments, baptism and communion. Presbyterians also believe in two sacraments, baptism and communion, but they believe that communion is symbolic. Baptists advocate for believer’s baptism by immersion and local church autonomy. In conclusion, there are several differences between the Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Baptist traditions.
Congregations that have the same heritage and denominational affiliation may understand their shared heritage and denominational identity differently. For example, two churches with the same heritage could have different interpretations of what is believed and expected based on their own traditions.
The name of a church is not the only thing to consider. The doctrines, practices, leaders, and associations also matter. To gain some understanding of how two churches differ from each other, it is best to look at their constitutions and bylaws, and to see what they are like on an ordinary day.
Frequently asked questions
What are the 7 different types of Christians?
Here is the most commonly used list of the major Christian traditions. It is important to note that this is not an exhaustive or official list, since there is no universal ecclesiastical authority that can designate any particular group of traditions as the major ones. Rather, this is a useful way of introducing the major traditions for comparative purposes, even if it mixes broad traditions (e.g., denominational families) and narrower ones (i.e., specific Protestant traditions). The seven major traditions are: Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Reformed, Baptist, and Pentecostal.
Because there is no single, universally accepted way to define a Christian denomination, the list might also include groups like Methodists, evangelicals, or Oriental Orthodox Christians.
What are the five main types of Christian churches?
Thanks for that clarification. One thing I wanted to point out is that we have to be very specific about how the denominations we have are defined as being under which religion. Sometimes there can be confusion as to whether they are Protestant, Anglican, or Pentecostal. So, by specifying that the Anglican and Pentecostal denominations fall under Protestantism, it helps us to better understand how they relate to each other.
Historically, there have been three major divisions of Christianity: Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, and Protestantism. The Protestant movement originated during the Reformation, and over the past few centuries has split into many different denominations. The largest groups include Anglicanism, Lutheranism, and Calvinism. Other important groups include Methodists, Baptists, and Pentecostals.
What are the top 10 Christian religions?
You can’t really make a top 10 list when Christianity isn’t 10 separate religions – it’s one religion with multiple traditions. So the best you can do is offer a representative sample. Here is my list of the biggest branches of Christianity: Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist Christian, Restoration, Pentecostal, Independent Evangelical Christianity.
These churches may not be ordered by their actual number of members or significance; they are merely some of the most prominent traditions. Because church membership counts fluctuate rapidly for many reasons such as organizational and name affiliation, and different reporting standards, we recommend checking with each church for current membership information.
What are the seven types of churches?
While not technically a theological term, “seven types of churches” generally refers to the following seven branches of the church: Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Reformed, Baptist, and Pentecostal. For the sake of educational purposes, we’ve chosen these seven to represent the different branches of the church. On the other hand, it can also be interpreted to refer to the literal seven churches of Revelation.
The ambiguity of “what are the denominations of christianity” lies in the lack of specificity regarding the level of detail required: do you need a comprehensive historical taxonomy, an enumeration of major existing denominations, or a condensed summary appropriate for a chalkboard presentation?
Why do estimates of the number of Christian denominations vary so widely?
The reason for the discrepancy is that there are different ways of counting religious groups, for example, by counting an organizationally independent body, a denomination, a national church, an affiliation, or a single congregation. For example, a global church can be counted as one organization or as multiple organizations, depending on whether each self-governing national church or legal entity is counted individually.
Also, names may change due to mergers and splits or re-territorialisation. Some churches might not refer to themselves by a given denomination name, but may have the same theological beliefs, organisational structures, and/or networks of affiliated churches. Therefore, any figure should be validated for accuracy and alignment with the source’s definitions, coverage, and date of publication.
Choose With Clarity and Care
The many types of Christian churches are a product of centuries of theological discussion, cultural shift, reformation, and global expansion. The Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant churches have common beliefs about Jesus Christ but disagree on issues such as the sources of authority, the sacraments, worship styles, and church polity. Different Protestant churches also have their own differences related to baptism, Communion, sanctification, and spiritual gifts.
Although these terms are helpful guides, you should still do some hands-on research of a local church. Look at its creed, observe its worship service, and ask how its leaders are held accountable. You should also check out their membership guidelines and child safety policies. Then you will be able to make a more informed decision in choosing a church that you know.
