Oak Park’s roots are with the “Restoration Movement”, also called the “Reformation of the 19th Century” or the “Stone Campbell Movement”. This was part of the renewal of the Church that took place in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, sweeping England, Scotland, Wales and the American frontier.
Our ancestors in the faith believed that disunity was a terrible hindrance to the mission of Christ. Human traditions, theologies and creeds divided believers, making their witness to the Good News of Jesus Christ as Lord, Saviour and friend inaccessible to most people.
The Restoration Movement abandoned hierarchies and practiced an open table of fellowship based only on the acknowledgement of Jesus Christ as Lord; whomever God considers a son or daughter, we also regard as a brother or sister.
We try hard to follow the precept “we have no creed by Christ, no book but the Bible”, endeavouring to practice unity with a view to accomplishing the mission of Christ.
Oak Park Church of Christ began as Parkhill Church of Christ in the Mission district of Southwest Calgary in the late 1940′s. The congregation grew and built its current facility in Cedarbrae in 1988.
Our mission is “To honour and glorify God by making more and better disciples.” We want to be a safe place for real people. We come with our diverse backgrounds, with all the bits and pieces that make us who we are, to grow and mature in Christ.
With no denominational hierarchy, our members come from a wide variety of traditions: Catholics, Presbyterians, Baptists, Mennonites, Pentecostals – you name it! Together we have found rich and supportive relationships in being a community of Christ, and also deep meaning and significance in doing the work of Christ in our community, city and in many places around the world.
Our history is rich, deep and exciting. In many ways, Oak Park is still writing the first page while we continue to hope and trust in God’s faithful leadership. Come, help us complete the chapter!
