Christian & Missionary Alliance
The Christian & Missionary Alliance (C&MA) was founded in 1887 by Albert B. Simpson, a Canadian-American pastor who emphasized a fourfold gospel: Christ as Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King. Rooted in the Keswick holiness movement, it teaches a deeper-life experience of sanctification (subsequent to justification) and divine healing as provided in the atonement. The C&MA is known for its strong missionary vision and has planted churches in over 90 countries. It holds to an Arminian-leaning soteriology with modified Calvinist elements and maintains believer's baptism as normative while not requiring a specific mode.
Theology
Christology
Soteriology
Salvation
Affirms
Fourfold gospel: Christ as Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, Coming King
Atonement & Ransom
Affirms
Christ's death as penal substitutionary atonement; healing provided in atonement
Predestination
Nuanced
God's foreknowledge and prevenient grace enable free response; no double predestination
Original Sin
Affirms
All humans inherit sinful nature; require sanctification beyond justification
Eschatology
Soul & Afterlife
Affirms
Immortal soul with conscious intermediate state; bodily resurrection at judgment
Hell
Affirms
Eternal conscious punishment for those who reject Christ; real and terrible state
Heaven
Affirms
Eternal conscious communion with God; resurrection of body; coming King establishes new creation
Second Coming
Affirms
Personal, imminent return of Christ; bodily, visible, audible manifestation
Millennium
Affirms
Premillennial: Christ returns before thousand-year reign; Israel has future role
Ecclesiology
Church Authority
Nuanced
Scripture supremacy; mixed polity with district/national oversight and congregational input
Clergy & Priesthood
Nuanced
Ordained ministers; no sacerdotal priesthood; women permitted in some ministry roles
Sacraments & Ordinances
Nuanced
Two ordinances: baptism (mode not mandated) and Lord's Supper (memorial); infant dedication
Scripture
Biblical Canon
Affirms
66-book Protestant canon; Old and New Testaments complete and sufficient
Biblical Inerrancy
Affirms
Bible is inerrant and infallible in all that it affirms; supreme authority for faith
Extra-biblical Revelation
Nuanced
Spirit continues to guide and empower; charismata continue; Scripture primary
Scripture Interpretation
John 1:1 — "The Word Was God"
Affirms
Word (Logos) is fully divine; eternal Son coexistent with God
Isaiah 7:14 — "Virgin or Young Woman"
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 prophesies virginal birth of the Messiah
Matthew 16:18 — "Upon This Rock"
Nuanced
Rock = Peter's confession of faith; church built on Jesus as foundation
Romans 9:18-21 — "God's Sovereign Choice"
Nuanced
God's sovereignty and human choice coexist; prevenient grace enables freedom
James 2:24 — "Justified by Works"
Nuanced
Faith and works inseparable; works demonstrate and perfect faith
Matthew 28:19 — "Baptize in the Name"
Affirms
Baptism administered in the Trinitarian formula; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Hebrews 1:8 — "Your Throne, O God"
Affirms
Father addresses Son as God; affirms Son's deity and eternal kingship
Revelation 20:1-6 — "The Thousand Years"
Affirms
Premillennial: literal 1000-year kingdom; Christ reigns on renewed earth
Genesis 1:1-2 — "In the Beginning"
Nuanced
Created universe ex nihilo; compatible with old earth; days not fixed-length
Mark 16:9-20 — "The Longer Ending"
Nuanced
Longer Ending (9-20) likely later addition; canonical authority debated
John 7:53–8:11 — "The Woman Caught in Adultery"
Nuanced
Passage absent early manuscripts; later interpolation; theological teaching affirmed
1 John 5:7-8 — "The Comma Johanneum"
Nuanced
Comma Johanneum (Trinity phrase) absent earliest MSS; theology elsewhere affirmed
Deuterocanonical Books — "Tobit, Wisdom, Sirach, Maccabees"
Denies
Deuterocanonical books rejected; not part of OT canon or Scripture
Shepherd of Hermas — "Early Christian Text"
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas not canonical; historical document but not Scripture
Ethics & Practice
Sabbath
Nuanced
Sunday worship; Sabbath principle honored; no strict Sabbatarianism required
Blood Transfusions
Affirms
Blood transfusions permitted; medical care affirmed; conscience respected
Military Service
Affirms
Military service permitted; just war doctrine affirmed; civic duty recognized
Holidays
Affirms
Christmas and Easter affirmed; liturgical calendar flexibility; cultural adaptability