Campbell continued his ministerial practices despite the Synod's disciplinary actions. Both his conflict with the Presbyterians and his desire for a united church led him to organize the Christian Association of Washington. This organization's main purpose was promoting It was Campbell's understanding that the Christian Association of Washington would instigate a religious reformation. In this, Campbell was only partially correct.
Christian Association of Washington and beyond
The Christian Association of Washington consisted of Thomas Campbell and 21 of his associates. During their second meeting, the committee …show more content…
It is here that Thomas Campbell writes his argument calling for the unification of the catholic church. The Address begins with the following:
"To all that love our Lord Jesus Christ, in sincerity, throughout all the Churches, the following Address is most respectfully submitted. Dearly Beloved Brethren, That it is the grand design and native tendency of our holy religion to reconcile and unite men to God, and to each other, in truth and love, to the glory of God, and their own present and eternal good, will not, we presume, be denied, by and of the subjects of Christianity."
He continues, "Are not such the visible effects of our sad divisions, even in this otherwise happy country. Say, dear brethren, are not these things so? Is it not then your incumbent duty to endeavor, by all Scriptural means, to have those evils remedied. Who will say that it is not?" …show more content…
Where they are liable to none of those objections, we have nothing against them. It is the abuse and not the lawful use of such compilations that we oppose. As such, Thomas Campbell employed a highly developed rhetoric in the Declaration and Address clearly influenced by Common Sense Hermeneutics