Who We Are

Our Heritage
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Our congregation is part of a church movement known as the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). We are the oldest denomination with roots in this country. The pioneers of our church were also pioneers of the United States. Our beginnings are traced to Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio in the early 1800s.

The thirst for freedom and self-rule that led to the American revolution also led many in frontier America to seek a new approach to faith. Many wished to reform existing denominations and to unify them into one Christian Church based on a simple New Testament design.  Along with a simple life-style, frontier Americans also lived by their own ingenuity. They wanted practical, down-to-earth religion to help them cope with and understand a harsh life.  As individuals, they felt they could read and interpret the Bible themselves and build faith upon reason.

These early characteristics of our movement are prevalent today.  We see them present in our life and witness together in a variety of ways.

In Worship:
Prayer and devotion are a Christian's greatest strength! There are no set doctrines, uniform rules, or "official" patterns of worship established by the church. Each individual disciple is given the freedom and responsibility to find the way of faith and answers that suit him or her best. Likewise, each individual congregation governs itself, establishes policies, and develops its own way of worship.

In Service:
God has given each Christian unique gifts and talents. The church offers many and varied opportunities to put them to use locally, nationally and world-wide.

In Fellowship:
Church members join together in many ways - sharing each other's joys and sorrows; and helping each other follow Christ's way in every area of daily life.

About our symbol

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Our Beliefs
Disciples seek to increase respect, understanding, and co-operation among believers of all denominations. Attempting to hold true to the teachings of Jesus and the practices of the early church, we strive for a faith which is socially relevant to the era in which we live, intellectually sound, emotionally satisfying, and spiritually disciplined.

No attempt is made to impose a creed, formal doctrines or traditional interpretations upon members. There is no attempt to force religious ideas or theological concepts into a mold to which Disciples must assent. In doctrinal matters, members are accorded the freedom of private interpretation and the right to individual judgment, guided by the Spirit.

Disciples are united and yoked by essential belief in the central theme of the New Testament: Jesus Christ is the son of the Savior of humankind. On all other matters, Disciples recognize the right of members to complete freedom of opinion. "In essential - unity; In non essentials - Liberty; In all things - charity."

There does seem to be a common ground of understanding which is accepted by most members of the Christian church. The following list includes some of our core teachings:

• WE BELIEVE:
  • There is one God, creator and Sustainer of the universe, who loves us and saves us through Jesus Christ, His Son.
    
  • In the dignity of humankind, and our divine calling to be children of God.
    
  • God, through Christ, is able to save all who turn to Him in faith and fully obey His Gospel.
    
  • Salvation is a process of growth in knowledge and grace. Conversion is the voluntary turning of mind and heart, through faith, repentance, confession and baptism, to the way of Jesus Christ, and in no way depends upon visions, voices, or special experiences.
    
  • No official creed or theology except the confession: "Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God." (Matt 16:16)
    
• WE UPLIFT:
  The Bible as God's Word. We look to the New Testament as our role of faith and practice, and stress the right of private interpretation of the Scriptures and individual freedom in matters of opinion.
  
• WE ENCOURAGE:
  The New Testament name for followers of Christ as "Disciples."
  
• WE PRACTICE:
  The New Testament Sacraments
  
  • Baptism: Matthew 3:13, Acts 2:38. We practice Baptism by immersion as the New Testament symbol of complete surrender and identification with the drama of death, burial, and resurrection to the new being. (Romans 6:4,5)
    
  • The Lord's Supper: Acts 2:46. Observed weekly as a memorial and as a continuing fellowship in the Spirit. We do not believe in a restricted communion, but hold that all believers in Christ are invited to partake.
    
  • Ministries: No essential difference is recognized between clergy and lay folks. Any member may administer any ordinance. Each individual has access to God without the necessity of priest or minister to serve as intermediary. All may approach God directly, expressing praise and adoration, and seeking forgiveness. This conviction is called "the priesthood of all believers."
    
• WE BELIEVE:
  • The church is a divine institution, the body of Christ, active and visible in the world, seeking to know His will, doing His work, revealing His heart of compassion, expressing His love and concern, preaching His Gospel, building His kingdom in the hearts of humankind, and radiating His Spirit in all relationships. We believe that the local congregation is a democratic institution governed by the congregation through officers and Board, whom it elects and is responsible to no outside authority in all matters of faith and practice.
    
  • In life eternal and the final triumph of good over evil.

This Theological affirmation is the preamble to the Design of the Christian Church, and is a helpful summary of the Christian faith we commonly confess.

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Our Goals

WHAT WE ARE STRIVING TO BE AS A CONGREGATION

We are intentionally moving from a “membership model” to a “discipleship model” of church functioning.

We recognize that most people looking for a church family move through 5 circles of involvement.  
These include:

1)      Occasional Attenders
2)      Regular Attenders
3)      Members
4)      Maturing Members
5)      Core Disciples of Christ

 We have classes and resources to help you move through these 5 circles as you grow in your love and service to your Lord!

 Come join in this exciting faith journey with us!

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Our Family

AVON CHRISTIAN CHURCH IS A FAMILY

Avon Christian Church is a family church emphasizing programming for all ages.  We are very proud of our family atmosphere. Families are supposed to take care of each other and we are a family at Avon Christian Church.  We worship together, sing together, play together, eat together and travel together. 

When you enter Avon Christian Church you will be met with a warm welcome from people who will ask your name and will remember it.  They will welcome you to the church and introduce you to other church members. After you visit, our Elders will deliver a loaf of bread to your door to let you know we are glad you worshipped with us. When you become a member or a regular attendee, you will be placed on a C.A.R.E. (Caring and Reaching Everyone) team and your team leader will call you at least once a month to see how things are going and how the church can help.

We would like to invite you to become part of our Family.

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Day to Day Activities
See Ministries for additional information

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Highlights of Our Church History
Ideas for a Christian Church in Washington Township began in 1961 by Hendricks County Christian churches.  The seed for a Christian Church at Avon was first planted on January 2, 1962, at the Lizton Christian Church. A steering committee was appointed to promote plans for a church to be built in the Avon area. The committee members were Rev. James Shockley of Danville, Herbert Watts, Brownsburg, Robert Cassidy and E. P. Rivers of Plainfield.  

	In 1963, an eleven acre tract of land was purchased on West Morris Street, just east of State Road 267 as the future site of a church.
	Two years later on January 5, 1964, the first worship service was conducted in the Avon Community Building and the invitation was extended for charter members.
	Charter membership was closed on July 4, 1965, with 85 members.
	The State Association and Hendricks County Christian churches provided the guest ministers, deacons, and elders for the early services.
	The first Sunday School classes met in April of 1964 in the Avon High School. Also in April, six were baptized at the first baptismal service at the Danville Christian Church.
	Rev. Eugene Ogrod was called as the temporary minister in April 1964. In November 1964 Rev. Teal Younce from the Oaktown Christian Church was called as the first minister and was installed in services at the Danville Christian Church on January 31, 1965.
	In April 1965 a parsonage was purchased and a Building Committee was appointed in May to secure an architect and builder for a church.  Ground breaking for the first unit was held on January 23, 1966.  The first worship service was held in the church on September 4, 1966. The dedication followed on Sunday September 11, with Rev. James Shockley as guest speaker.
	Mr. Al Haverkamp, a member of the congregation, built the Chancel furniture from native walnut taken from his farm in Washington Township.
	The first Sunrise Service in our own building was held April 26, 1967 and in June our first Vacation Bible School.  The first baptism in our building was in April 1969.
	The men’s fellowship of the church finished construction of a shelter house in August 1971.
	In August 1972 we obtained the title to our own 11 acres.
	Construction of additional classrooms was started in September 1972, and was completed the following Spring and Dedicated in September 1973.
	Rev. William P. Hendricks was called in July. His first Sunday was September 4, 1977, and he was installed on September 11.
	The first All Church Camp-out at McCormick’s Creek State Park was in September 1977, with another in 1979, and there has been one each year since.
	September 10, 1978, the mortgage on the original building was burned with a Celebration ‘78.
	On October 2, 1983, the ground breaking ceremony for the fellowship hall was held.
	On August 19, 1993 Royce and Sherry Willerton of Joplin, Missouri were called as Senior Pastor and Minister of Family Programming. They arrived on November 1, their first Sunday was November 7, and they were installed on November 21.
	Avon, Pittsboro and Danville Christian Churches in 1993, assisted in the resettlement of a family from Kenya.
	In the Spring of 1994, air-conditioning and a new heating system were installed in the sanctuary; on Palm Sunday eighteen new members were added
	On March 6, 1994, a more contemporary style of worship service was initiated as a result of a congregational survey.
	A group of "Young Adults" began meeting on Sunday evenings for study and fellowship, and the CWF hosted the Regional Spring Workshop.
	Fourteen women from the church attended the CWF Quadrennial Assembly at Purdue in June.
	The Evangelism Committee was replaced by the Church Growth Team.
	In July, Chi-Rho youth and several adults went to Missouri to work with Interfaith Disaster Response to help with repairs after the flood.
	A new organ and sound system were added in September, Sunday School opening exercises were re-initiated, and a new class, "Primary Worship", for Kindergarten and 1st graders were begun.
	Celebration ‘94 was held on October 9, to observe the church’s 30th birthday
	On October 16, a second worship service from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. was started to accommodate the congregation’s growth.
	1994 closed with a record of 51 new members.
	June 16,1995 Jim Douglas, Lucy Miller, John Livingston and Wayne Wilson were honored by bestowing title of Elder Emeritus. They are the first to be so honored.
	In January 1996 a building committee was formed to plan an expansion of our facilities. Schmidt and Associates were selected as Architects.
	On May 19 the Long Range Planning Committee and architect presented their proposal to the congregation for discussion.
	A group of young people and adults went to Mexico on a mission project July 6-13.
	Plans for the first annual music festival were presented by the Fund Raising Committee.
	The first music festival was held on September 21, a day of torrential rain!
	In October a bible study group of young mothers was formed and will meet monthly. They are called Mits & Kitts (Mothers in training and kids in training to).
	Changes were made in the worship service effective November 24. New times are Worship 8:30, Sunday School 9:45 and Worship 10:45.
	A women’s retreat "Listening To Your Life" was held at Fatima Retreat House in Indianapolis on February 21-22, 1997. Rev. Claudia Grant from the Regional Office was the keynote speaker.
	Ground breaking for the new building and a stewardship dinner was held on June 1.
	The Second Annual Music Festival was held on August 23.
	Dianne Perry became our new organist September 7.
	Twelve men of the church attended the Promise Keepers Rally in Washington, D.C. October 3-4.
	On November 23 we had our first Thanksgiving Dinner in the new Worship Center.
	The first Advent Festival was held November 29 at 6:00 pm, followed by the Hanging of the Greens service at 8:00 pm in the beautifully decorated Worship Center. The first worship service followed on November 30.

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Organizational Structure

Christian Education - Supervises educational programs of the church.

Church Growth - Promotes the message of Avon Christian Church to the community.

Membership - Promotes a spirit of fellowship and assists new members in becoming included.

Property - Responsible for the upkeep, betterment and maintenance of the building and grounds.

Outreach - Promotes the mission work of Avon Christian Church and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Stewardship - Compiles the church budget and conducts the stewardship campaign.

Worship - Develops meaningful weekly worship services as well as special services

Nominating - Nominates the slate of officers for the new year.

Personnel - Hires ministers and other employees and deals with personnel needs.

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