We are part of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world. Here are some distinguishing characteristics that are valued by many Disciples:

• We believe church is a sacred place where we come together to share our beliefs, doubts, joys, and struggles without fear of being rejected by others or by God.
• We believe that love, not doctrine, holds us together.
• We believe the deepest expression of our faith is found in the way we treat others.
• We believe it is important to take the Bible seriously, but not always literally.
• We believe it is important for faith to value both the mind and the heart.
• We believe Jesus shows us what God is like and what being full of God is like.
• We believe that we learn from one another’s diverse experiences and perspectives, and it’s okay if we don’t share all of the exact same beliefs.
• We believe listening to others and respecting them is a deeply spiritual act, even when we disagree. Not all claims to truth are the same, to be sure, but we believe every claim should be measured by love.
• We believe the wisdom offered from other faith traditions can complement and enrich our spiritual journeys. Our faith is defined by Jesus but not necessarily confined to Jesus.
• We believe church should be a place that welcomes those who believe in God some of the time, or none of the time, or all of the time.
• We believe all are created in the image of God and should be treated with dignity and love.
• We believe caring for the environment is a deeply spiritual act.
• We are committed to being an anti-racist church, working toward dismantling white supremacy in all its forms.
• We don’t just welcome LGBTQIA+ people, but we affirm them, and we believe God does too.
• We believe we are called to embody the same kind of profound compassion that was seen in Jesus’s life.
• We believe we are called to follow in the footsteps of Christ by being in solidarity with the oppressed and working toward justice, hope, peace, joy, and love for all.

Brentwood was founded in 1960 — a tumultuous time in the life of the United States. Courageous leaders like Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. pointed our nation toward the “beloved community” — a phrase King used to describe societies built on equality, justice, and dignity for all, regardless of race, gender, creed, or any other factor. As a church, we strive to live into this vision. We believe it’s rooted in the love of God and is at the heart of Jesus’s teachings. We’re proud to have been one of the first churches in Springfield to affirm women as ministers, deacons, and elders. Several years ago, we officially became an open and affirming church in order for LGBTQ+ individuals to know they are not simply welcomed here, but affirmed for who they are as God created them to be. We know we still have a long way to go, and we don’t always get it right, but we believe the gospel calls us to try to live more fully into the beloved community. And we’d love for you to join us on this journey.

Brentwood is part of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world. We’re often referred to as Disciples of Christ, or simply Disciples, with the idea being that our identity is not found in having all of the exact same beliefs, but rather in trying to follow the path of love expressed in the life of Christ. To borrow the words of William Sloane Coffin, “Our unity is not based on uniformity of opinion but on mutuality of love.” As described on the Disciples website:

The Disciples are a diverse group of Christ-followers across the United States and Canada. We worship in old sanctuaries, living rooms, coffee shops, and online. We love sharing a meal together. We’re called to do justice. We read and wrestle with the Bible. We believe God loves the whole world, you included. We’re doing our best to follow Jesus and we’ve made a commitment to work toward being an anti-racist church. We’re glad you’re here.

What does the red chalice logo symbolize?

In Disciples circles you’ll frequently see a red chalice with an X-shaped cross. The chalice symbolizes the central place of communion in worship for Disciples, where we gather around a table of welcome and belonging in the spirit of Christ. Here at Brentwood, we view communion as a symbol of God’s love for all people; anyone who wishes to participate is welcome, regardless of faith affiliation or creed. Love, not doctrine, holds us together. This approach also highlights the idea that we are saved by love, not by violence, and that we are called to remember Christ in the breaking of the bread by trying to be expressions of Christ’s love here and now. Similarly, the X-shaped cross is traditionally known as the cross representing the disciple Andrew, who was known for empowering everyday people to embody the kind of love expressed in Christ.

What do the three dots in Brentwood’s logo symbolize?

The three dots symbolize our commitment to building Community, Justice, and Love in the spirit of Christ. They also reference the Disciples of Christ’s vision to be a faithful, growing church, that demonstrates true community, deep Christian spirituality and a passion for justice.

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1900 E. Barataria St.
Springfield, MO 65804
(One block east of the Battlefield Mall off of Glenstone)
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