Remember the Boston Church of Christ? Its story isn’t just about bricks and mortar. It’s about ambition and controversy. Right here on Pleasant Street stands a building with a complex past. The Boston Church of Christ began not in Boston but far away in Gainesville Florida. It started as Crossroads Church of Christ in 1971 under Chuck Lucas. Kip McKean a young man involved in Campus Advance joined Lucas. He learned discipleship from Lucas using Robert E Coleman’s “Master Plan of Evangelism”.
In 1976 McKean and others were sent to other Churches of Christ near universities. McKean’s aggressive discipleship caused controversy. His methods were questioned. However his approach led to explosive growth. He moved to Lexington Massachusetts in 1979. The Lexington Church of Christ exploded from 30 to over 1000 members. By 1983 it became the Boston Church of Christ.
The Boston Church of Christ’s rapid growth continued. It spread across the US and the world. The leadership believed churches should be named after their city. So they became the Stockholm Church of Christ or the Dallas-Ft Worth Church of Christ. They aimed for one church per city. By 1997 the International Churches of Christ had congregations in 115 countries. Membership reached 143000. But this rapid expansion brought problems. Thousands left due to the church’s controlling nature.
The Boston Church of Christ used a “control system”. Members focused all their energy on recruiting. Former members described it as all-consuming. Leaving the church meant being shunned. The church’s discipleship was total. Members’ lives were regulated from church attendance to personal relationships. This hierarchical structure wasn’t welcomed by everyone.
While the Boston Church of Christ agreed with other Churches of Christ on core beliefs like baptism the differences were significant. The Boston Church of Christ believed discipleship was essential for salvation. Faith alone wasn’t enough. This strict discipleship and control led to accusations of abuse. Excessive control manipulation and demands for unquestioning submission were common complaints. Kip McKean’s leadership was absolute. His decisions shaped every aspect of the church.
In the 1990s the International Churches of Christ faced a crisis. Membership declined sharply. McKean stepped down and confessed to arrogance. The church attempted to reform itself. It apologized for past mistakes. It shifted from a top-down hierarchy to voluntary cooperation. It stressed the importance of grace and rejected the idea of being “the one true church”.
Today the Boston Church of Christ continues. Its history serves as a cautionary tale. It shows the complexities of religious growth and the potential dangers of unchecked authority. Standing before this building you’re not just looking at a church. You’re looking at a testament to both remarkable growth and profound internal struggles.