Historic Brooks Christian Church began a new era Sunday, Sept. 10, when members voted overwhelmingly to withdraw from the more liberal Disciples of Christ denomination and become an Independent Christian Church. Its pastor will be the Rev. Dr. Paul Carrier, who has served as pastor for the past two years.

“It was felt by most of the members that this would be a better fit for their conservative belief system and their perspectives on many political, social and moral issues of our time,” Carrier said. “By aligning with the Independent churches, Brooks Christian Church will become a part of the most rapidly growing Protestant body, percentage-wise, in the past decade.”

Brooks will join such area churches as Community Christian in Sharpsburg, Peachtree City Christian, Heritage Christian in Peachtree City, Fayetteville Christian, Christ’s Church at Whitewater in Fayetteville, First Christian in Tyrone, and McDonough Christian Church.While they are often called Independent Christian churches, these churches join with similar churches in Georgia to support local ministries such as Christian City, Southwest Christian Hospice, Atlanta Christian College, Woodland Christian Camp, and Jesus Place Inner City Ministry.

Additionally, 30 colleges and universities, many campus ministries like Christian Campus Fellowship at Georgia Tech, and 1,154 missionaries around the world are supported by these churches and other Christian churches nationwide.

Carrier retired in 2001 from full-time ministry and has been ministering the past five years to smaller Christian churches which cannot afford full-time ministers.Previously he was senior pastor at Christ’s Church at Whitewater for 18 years, following six years as president of Atlanta Christian College.

Carrier said that since he has served with Brooks for the past two years, he will continue for some time while the church positions itself as an Independent Christian Church.

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