Church of ChristOria, Apulia
Crucifixion at Calvary: three crosses on a rocky hill, stormy sky and rays of divine light
Church of ChristOria, Apulia

“I am the way, the truth, and the life.No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6

Founded on the cross. Guided by the Word. A community seeking to follow Christ according to the Scriptures, aware that every reading requires discernment and humility.

Three crosses in silhouette on Calvary against a fiery sunset and dark clouds

“But we preach Christ crucified: the power of God and the wisdom of God.”

1 Corinthians 1:23-24

Three pillars of our faith

We draw inspiration from the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement of the 1800s: a school of reading, not a second Bible. It invites us to let Scripture correct habits and divisions. We do not claim to have “solved” the faith: we seek to live with consistency what we understand, here in Oria.

Scripture as authority

We believe the Bible is the final authority for faith and practice: inspired by God, useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. We do not elevate human traditions, councils, or confessional documents as authorities alongside the Word. This summary is not a creed to sign: these are conclusions inspired by the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement, which we continually submit to Scripture, aware that even “Scripture alone” always passes through a hermeneutic. Where the Bible speaks clearly we seek to obey; where it is silent on details of practice, we leave room for the freedom of the local church.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
(2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Christ alone

Jesus is the only Foundation and Savior: the incarnate Son of God, who died for our sins and rose on the third day. Only through Him do we have access to the Father and the promise of eternal life. The church belongs to Christ and bears His name: it does not depend on hierarchies or external structures, but on its living Head. We seek to be simply Christians, disciples of Jesus who let the Word guide faith and practice, without elevating any human name beside His.

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
(1 Corinthians 3:11)
Unity of believers

We seek unity in Christ without reducing it to “those who read as we do.” We recognize other Christians even where practice diverges, knowing that our own stream has also produced divisions. We do not claim to exhaust the church of Christ by ourselves: unity is a horizon, not a boast. For this reason we do not participate in institutional ecumenism: we believe unity is built by examining Scripture together, not through interdenominational assemblies or joint statements that could place the Word in the background.

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
(John 17:20-21)

What we believe

This is our public summary of the faith: shared conclusions from studying the Scriptures. We do not pretend to have no clear lines; we do not elevate them to a text to sign or an authority beside the Bible. It remains open to being corrected by the Word.

The Bible
God's inspired authority for faith and Christian life.

We believe that all Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.

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Trinity
One eternal God revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

We believe in one living God, Creator of all things, holy, just, and merciful, revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

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Jesus Christ
Son of God, crucified and risen, the only mediator between God and humanity.

Jesus Christ is the incarnate Son of God: conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, lived without sin, died on the cross for our sins, and rose on the third day.

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Salvation
By grace, through obedient faith: God saves; we receive His promise.

We believe in grace alone: no one earns forgiveness. Salvation is God's gift. We do not mean “grace alone” as inward faith only, without a public response: we mean grace alone received in obedient faith, of which baptism is a part. When Paul in Ephesians 2 excludes “works,” he means human merit (whatever would claim to buy or earn salvation), not every response of faith.

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Baptism
Immersion of those who believe with awareness: we do not baptize infants.

We practice baptism by immersion of those who believe with awareness: those who hear the Gospel, repent of their sins, confess Jesus as Lord, and are immersed in water. We do not practice infant baptism, because a child cannot yet believe or respond personally to Christ: in the New Testament, faith precedes baptism.

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The church
The body of Christ, with pastors called to shepherd the flock according to Scripture.

The church is the body of Christ: a people called out of the world to worship God, grow in faith, and proclaim the Gospel.

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Monumental cross on rock, low angle, golden light breaking through storm clouds

Our worship

We praise God with all our heart

Every Sunday we gather to pray, hear the Word, celebrate the Lord's Supper, and praise God together. In our worship we sometimes also use musical instruments to accompany the songs: an expression of joy that unites the hearts of believers.

Discover our worship
Bible study
Prayer
The Lord's Supper
Songs, sometimes with instruments
Solitary cross on a hill at dawn, golden rays cutting through the clouds

You are welcome among us

Whether you are searching for answers about faith or looking for a place to feel at home, we look forward to meeting you in Oria. No special dress code: we welcome you as you are.

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