List of Christian denominations

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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 denominations 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.

1 Catholicism
- 1.1 The Catholic Church: Churches in communion with the bishop of Rome
- 1.2 Churches claiming to be Catholic having broken communion with Rome
2 Eastern Orthodoxy
- 2.1 The Orthodox Church (aka, Eastern Orthodox Church)
  - 2.1.1 Western-Rite Orthodox Churches
- 2.2 Other Eastern Orthodox Churches
3 Assyrian Church of the East
4 Oriental Orthodoxy
- 4.1 Oriental Orthodox Communion
5 Anglican / Episcopal Church
- 5.1 Anglican Communion
- 5.2 Independent Anglican and Continuing Anglican Movement Churches
6 Protestantism
7 Society of Friends (Quakers)
8 Church of Christ, Scientist
9 Messianic Judaism
10 Restorationism
11 Nontrinitarian Christianity
- 11.1 Unitarianism and Universalism
12 Religious movements related to Christianity
13 Ethnic or syncretic religions incorporating elements of Christianity
14 Christianism
15 See also
16 External links

[edit] Catholicism

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

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

The Latin Church, is the largest and most familiar of the 23 self-governing churches that make up The Catholic Church. It is commonly refered to as "the Roman Catholic Church", though people often mistake that for a reference to the whole church in communion with Rome. All of the following are considered to be particular churches of the Catholic Church. The derogotory term, uniate, has been used to refer to the Eastern Catholic Churches in some circles.

Armenian Catholic Church
Belarusian Catholic Church
Bulgarian Catholic Church
Byzantine Catholic Church
Chaldean Catholic Church
Coptic Catholic Church
Croatian Greek Catholic Church
Ethiopian Catholic Church
Georgian Catholic Church
Greek Catholic Church
Hungarian Greek Catholic Church
Italo-Albanian Catholic Church
Latin Church
- Febronianism
- Gallicanism - (In the past, Catholics in France and Germany have claimed a measure of ecclesial independence from Rome.)
Maronite Catholic Church
Melkite Catholic Church
Romanian Catholic Church
Russian Catholic Church
Ruthenian Catholic Church
Slovak Greek Catholic Church
Syrian Catholic Church
Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
Syro-Malankara Catholic Church
Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church

[edit] Churches claiming to be Catholic having broken communion with Rome

[edit] Eastern Orthodoxy

[edit] The Orthodox Church (aka, Eastern Orthodox Church)

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

[edit] Western-Rite Orthodox Churches

[edit] Other Eastern Orthodox Churches

from Ukrainian Orthodox Church:

[edit] Assyrian Church of the East

The Assyrian Church of the East was formed in 33 AD 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 aggreements with the Catholic and Orthodox churches have resolved this debate permanently, clearing the way for reunion.

Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East (Assyrian Orthodox Church)
- Chaldean Syrian Church of the East (in India)

[edit] 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.

[edit] Oriental Orthodox Communion

Armenian Apostolic Church
Coptic Orthodox Church
Ethiopian Orthodox Church
Eritrean Orthodox Church
Indian Orthodox Church ("Malankara Syrian")
Syrian Orthodox Church ("Jacobite Syrian")

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.

[edit] Anglican / Episcopal Church

[edit] Anglican Communion

[edit] Independent Anglican and Continuing Anglican Movement Churches

[edit] Protestantism

[edit] Protestants before Luther

Note: These are late-Mediaeval groups that Protestants have identified as their spiritual forebears. In some respects, however, their beliefs were distinct from 16th-century Protestantism. The historical influence of these groups on the Reformation (if any) is a point of contention. Most began out of a following for the priest named Jan Hus.

[edit] Lutheranism

[edit] Presbyterian and Reformed Churches

Note: These are denominations that follow Calvinist theology.

[edit] Presbyterianism

[edit] Reformed / Congregationalist Churches

[edit] Anabaptists

[edit] Methodists

Main article: World Methodist Council#Members

[edit] Pietists and Holiness Churches

[edit] 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

[edit] 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.

The Spiritual Baptist Archdiocese of New York, Inc.

[edit] Brethren Denominations

[edit] Apostolic Churches - Irvingites

Catholic Apostolic Church
- Restored Apostolic Mission Church
- New Apostolic Church
  - United Apostolic Church

[edit] Pentecostalism

[edit] Oneness Pentecostalism

Note: Genealogically, Oneness Pentecostalism can be grouped with other Pentecostals, but doctrinally, it can be listed as a Nontrinitarian denomination.

[edit] Charismatics

[edit] Neo-Charismatic Churches

[edit] United and uniting churches

[edit] Other Protestant Denominations

Associated Gospel Churches of Canada

Canadian Evangelical Christian Churches

Church of Christ, Instrumental (Kelleyites)
Christian City Church ("CCC" or "C3i")
Christian Conventions (aka Two by Twos, The Truth, The Way) and its offshoot Cooneyites
City Harvest Church
Eternal Grace
Evangelical Covenant Church of America ("Swedish Evangelical Mission Covenant")
Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA)
Fellowship of Fundamental Bible Churches
Grace Movement Churches
Great Commission Association
Greater Grace World Outreach
Hope Church Singapore
Indian Shakers
Jesus Movement
- The Family International (formerly the Children of God, the Family of Love and the Family)
Metropolitan Community Churches
New Life Evangelic Church
New Frontiers (formerly New Frontiers International)
Schwenkfelder Church

[edit] Society of Friends (Quakers)

Note: Although, historically speaking, the Society of Friends can be listed as a Protestant demonination, this is sometimes contested and many Quakers today consider their faith to be a distinct, non-Protestant form of Christianity.

Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)

[edit] Church of Christ, Scientist

Church of Christ, Scientist Christian Scientists

[edit] Messianic Judaism

Chosen People Ministries Chosen People Ministries's website
Jews for Jesus Jews for Jesus website
Messianic Bureau International (MBI) MBI's website
Messianic Jewish Alliance of America (MJAA), founded in 1915, is the largest association of Messianic Jews in the world MJAA's website
Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations (UMJC) UMJC's website
Messianic Believers in Yeshua

[edit] 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.