The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is, perhaps, the least well known Mainline Protestant denomination in North America. It is often referred to as The Disciples of Christ or The Christian Church, or more simply as The Disciples. It has made significant contributions to Christianity worldwide through participation in worldwide missionary movement and through participation in ecumenical conversations, designed to recognize the oneness of the whole church despite all the differences within it. The Christian Church was a charter participant in the formation of both the World Council of Churches and the Federal Council of Churches (now the National Council of Churches.)

The Disciples began in the early 19th century on the American frontier during the second Great Awakening, under the leadership of Britons Thomas and Alexander Campbell (in the western frontiers of Pennsylvania and Virginia) and Barton W. Stone of Kentucky. While Stone and the Campbells were originally Presbyterians, their frustrations over the divisive way Christianity was being practiced on the American frontier led to two fresh movements that celebrated the unity of all Christians and the freedom of all followers of Jesus to seek Him through the study of the Bible. Neither movement sought to create yet another denomination, rather they sought to unite Christians in a simpler faith. The two movements united in 1832.

The Disciples' congregationally-governed local churches invite people to practice a simple faith that proclaims Jesus Christ and celebrates the freedom as Jesus' disciples to explore God's call to his people to love and to serve.

At the end of 2005 there are about 723,000 members in approximately 3,700 congregations in North America.