Thermodolian Christianity: Difference between revisions
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Thermodolia Christianity is a | Thermodolia Christianity is a 880 million member christian denomination originating in [[Former Nations of Thermodolia#2nd Republic|Thermodolia]], it is currently the largest christian denomination in [[thermodolia]]. The denomination started when the Thermodolian Orthodox Church, Thermodolian Syriac Church, and the Church of St James all merged to become the Thermodolian Christian Church in 1189, this merger is called the Union of the Three Churches. | ||
Its largest church is the Thermodolian Christian Church with a membership of 809,207,495; the other 76,645,447 Thermodolian Christians belong to several different groups. Thermodolia Christianity considers itself to be a Catholic Church. | |||
=History= | =History= | ||
Line 5: | Line 7: | ||
=Beliefs= | =Beliefs= | ||
{{Main|Thermodolian Rite}} | {{Main|Thermodolian Rite}} | ||
As a result of the Union of the Three Churches Thermodolian Christianity is more orthodox in nature. And as such Thermodolian Christianity is non-Chaldean and follows the Eastern Orthodox views of the Holy Spirt and original sin. | |||
===Holy Days=== | ===Holy Days=== | ||
Holy Days are grouped into two forms | Holy Days are grouped into two forms: Major Holy days and Minor holy days. Major Holy days are celebrated by nearly all Thermodolian Christians while minor holy days are specific to each church. Furthermore Major Holy Days are holy days which celebrate major events and feasts of the denomination, these days are also considered to be holy days of obligation by the majority of Thermodolian Christians. Currently there are a total of 13 Major Holy Days. | ||
These 13 Days are: | These 13 Days are: | ||
*Feast of the Circumcision of Christ, held 1 January | *Feast of the Circumcision of Christ, held 1 January | ||
*Feast of Mary the Mother of God, held 16 January | |||
*Feast of Mary the Mother of God, held | *Epiphany, held 19 January | ||
*Good Friday, held the Friday before | *Clean Monday, held 48 days before Pascha | ||
*Easter, its held on the same day as the | *Good Friday, held the Friday before Paschal Sunday | ||
*Feast of the Ascension of Jesus Christ, held | *Pascha (Easter), its held on the same day as the Eastern Christians | ||
*Pentecost, held | *Feast of the Ascension of Jesus Christ, held 39 days after Pascha | ||
* | *Trinity Sunday (Pentecost), held 49 days after Pascha | ||
*All Saints Day, held the Sunday after Trinity Sunday | |||
*Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, held 29 June | *Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, held 29 June | ||
*Assumption of Mary, held 15 August | *Assumption of Mary, held 15 August | ||
*Feast of the Conception Mary by Saint Anne, held 8 December | |||
*Feast of the | |||
*Christmas, held 25 December | *Christmas, held 25 December | ||
Minor Holy Days are days which cover all other holy days that are not considered major. These range from lesser events to saints feast days to days which are not considered to be major. Unlike the Major days the Minor days can be numerous in number. | Minor Holy Days are days which cover all other holy days that are not considered major. These range from lesser events to saints feast days to days which are not considered to be major. Unlike the Major days the Minor days can be numerous in number and can depend greatly on the church. Attendance on these days also depends on the church. | ||
Some Minor Days are: | Some Minor Days are: | ||
Line 32: | Line 34: | ||
*Saturday of Souls, held the Saturday after All Saints Day | *Saturday of Souls, held the Saturday after All Saints Day | ||
*Feast of the Annunciation, 25 March | *Feast of the Annunciation, 25 March | ||
* | *Feast of St Mæn Šæva, 28 April | ||
=Thermodolian Christian Church= | =Thermodolian Christian Church= | ||
Line 38: | Line 40: | ||
==Church Leadership== | ==Church Leadership== | ||
=== | ===Patriarch=== | ||
The Patriarch is the leader of the church and is elected by a college that is composed of National Bishops, High Archbishops, male Director Generals of the Religious Orders, and male Director Generals for the Regions of the Religious Orders. The Patriarch is elected for life or until they resign. | |||
===National Bishop=== | ===National Bishop=== | ||
Each nation with a large presence of members of the Thermodolian Christian Church gets a National Bishop, as do regions. Which are groups of nations that have smaller membership numbers not enough to warrent their own National Bishop. | |||
===High Archbishop=== | |||
Within a nation or a region there is a High Archbishop who leads a province. That province could be a region of a nation with a large number of members of the church or it could be a independent nation that was grouped into a region. | |||
=== | ===Archbishop=== | ||
=== | ===Bishop=== | ||
=== | ===Rector=== | ||
===Assistant | ===Assistant Rector=== | ||
==Traditions== | ==Traditions== | ||
==List of | ==List of Leaders of the Church == | ||
====== Archbishops: ====== | |||
# Grand Synod 1189-1194 | |||
# St Mæn Šæva (First Archbishop, Former leader of the Grand Synod) 1194-1219 | |||
# Ôràkr Gœnâ (Former Bishop of Centralton) 1219-1235 | |||
# Jacob Gurœ (Former Bishop of Trén City) 1235-1253 | |||
# Dár Vênśæ (Former Bishop of Thermodolia City) 1253-1262 | |||
# Dœn Fôgûse (Former Archbishop of Thermodolia City) 1262-1273 | |||
# St Fròn Græn (Former Bishop of Thermodolia City) 1273-1283 | |||
====== Patriarchs: ====== | |||
# St Fròn I (Born Fròn Græn, Former Archbishop of Thermodolia Christian Church) 1283-1298 | |||
# James I (Born Hôthæ Gathæ, Former Archbishop of Thœdæn) 1298-1303 | |||
# Isaias (Born Gàrnth Thòrgsæ, Former Archbishop of Thermodolia) 1303-1324 | |||
# Thomas I 1324-1339 | |||
# Zebadiah I 1339-1369 | |||
# Matthew I (Born Dâræ Gondeá, Former Archbishop of Thermodolia City) 1354-1369 | |||
# John I 1369-1386 | |||
# Zebadiah II 1386-1401 | |||
# Paul I 1401-1405 | |||
# Gregory I 1405 | |||
# St James II (Born Jacob Semôth, Former Archbishop of Thœdæn) 1405-1411 | |||
# Bartholomew I 1411-1429 | |||
# Zebadiah III 1429-1442 | |||
# Fròn II 1442-1453 | |||
# Thomas II 1453-1459 | |||
# Zephaniah 1459-1478 | |||
# James III 1478-1494 | |||
# John II 1494-1503 | |||
# Matthew II 1503-1525 | |||
# Zebadiah IV 1525-1543 | |||
# Bartholomew II 1543-1558 | |||
# Thomas III 1558-1577 | |||
# Paul II 1577-1596 | |||
# Thomas IV 1596-1605 | |||
# Thomas V 1605-1624 | |||
# Paul III 1624-1640 | |||
# Thomas VI 1640-1652 | |||
# Matthew III 1652-1663 | |||
# Timothy I 1663-1665 | |||
# Timothy II 1665-1677 | |||
# Stephen 1677-1689 | |||
# Nicholas I 1689-1701 | |||
# Thomas VII 1701-1720 | |||
# Narcissus I (Born James Sægôth, Former National Bishop of Thermodolia) 1720-1728 | |||
# Matthew IV (Born John Sæns, Former National Bishop of Thermodolia) 1728-1748 | |||
# Narcissus II (Born Dæ Fânś, Former High Archbishop for the Province of Fânœu) 1748-1773 | |||
# Pius I (Born George Śænœ, Former National Bishop of Thermodolia) 1773-1794 | |||
# Narcissus III (Born Dan Śumæ, Former National Bishop of Thermodolia) 1794-1798 | |||
# Matthew V (Born John Sæc, Former High Archbishop for the Province of the Capitol) 1798-1824 | |||
# Thomas VIII (Born Aaron Dénæ, Former High Archbishop for the Province of Fânœu) 1824-1832 | |||
# Pius II (Born Luke Nævus, Former High Archbishop for the Province of Deæ) 1832-1845 | |||
# Bartholomew III (Born John Dæn, Former High Archbishop for the Province of the Capitol) 1845-1862 | |||
# John III (Born John Eślæn, Former National Bishop of Thermodolia) 1862-1873 | |||
# Thomas IX (Born James Ethî, Former Minister General of the Society of St Thomas) 1873-2 April 1885 | |||
# Paul IV (Born Andrew Gârnéth, Former High Archbishop for the Province of Southern Thermodolia) 12 April 1885-1 November 1890 | |||
# Thomas X (Born George Ebśe, Former High Archbishop for the Province of Thodésca) 11 November 1890-7 February 1902 | |||
# Matthew VI (Born John Bænœ, Former High Archbishop for the Province of Eléca) 17 February 1902-2 July 1920 | |||
# Bartholomew IV (Born Jacob Fênœ, Former Superior General of the Friars of St John the Baptist) 10 July 1920-2 April 1934 | |||
# Paul V (Born Edward Bæns, Former National Bishop of Thermodolia) 12 April 1934-2 May 1955 | |||
# Matthew VII (Born John Curry, Former High Archbishop of the Province of Southern England) 12 May 1955-20 February 1960 | |||
# James IV (Born Matthew Rœndś, Former High Archbishop of the Province of the Capitol) 1 March 1960-1 July 1964 | |||
# Thomas XI (Born Jai Gubon, Former National Bishop of Growana) 12 July 1964-1 August 1987 | |||
# Gregory II (Born Alex Rena, Former National Bishop of Karún) 12 August 1987-22 February 1993 | |||
# Thomas XII (Born Frank Richards, Former National Bishop of the USA) 3 March 1993-10 June 2001 | |||
# James V (Born Reginald Upswind, Former National Bishop of Polata City) 20 June 2001-1 June 2010 (resigned) | |||
# Nicholas II (Born Raymond Oubo, Former Director General of Africa for the Society of Mary. Age: 79) 10 June 2010- | |||
==Religious Orders== | ==Religious Orders== | ||
Line 59: | Line 135: | ||
=Other Thermodolian Christian Churches= | =Other Thermodolian Christian Churches= | ||
Besides the Thermodolian Christian Church there are other independent churches in the thermodolian christian denomination. Most of these, except the Thermodolian High Christian Church which broke off in 1452, split during the Thermodolian Christian Reformation during the late 1600s. | Besides the Thermodolian Christian Church there are other independent churches in the thermodolian christian denomination. Most of these, except the Thermodolian High Christian Church which broke off in 1452, split during the Thermodolian Christian Reformation during the late 1600s. | ||
===Thermodolian Orthodox Christian Church=== | |||
The Thermodolian Orthodox Christian Church is the youngest and second largest of the Thermodolian christian churches with 34,992,247 members. The church split in 2022 from the mother church over doctrinal differences as the TOCC believed that the TCC was getting too liberal and worldly and was straying from the true path. | |||
As such they believe that gay marriage should not be sanctioned by the church and that many other social issues should be forbidden. The TOCC however still allows priests to marry and the church still has a hierarchal structure with Patriarch Thomas I as the head of the church and overseeing bishops and rectors under him. | |||
===Thermodolian High Christian Church=== | ===Thermodolian High Christian Church=== | ||
The Thermodolian High Christian Church is the second largest of the Thermodolian christian churches with | The Thermodolian High Christian Church is the second largest of the Thermodolian christian churches with 21,262,342 members. The church split in 1452 from the mother church over the use of vernacular in the church instead of keeping with the High Thermodolian language as the language of the church. | ||
The Thermodolian High Christian Church also split in regards to leadership, the THCC believed that there should not be a | The Thermodolian High Christian Church also split in regards to leadership, the THCC believed that there should not be a Patriarch and that an Archbishop should lead the church and be Primus inter pares. | ||
The THCC is currently lead by Archbishop | The THCC is currently lead by Archbishop Timothy IV | ||
===Reformed Thermodolian Church=== | ===Reformed Thermodolian Church=== | ||
The Reformed Thermodolian Church, or unofficially Fæntism after its founder, is a branch of Thermodolian Christianity that follows the teachings and tradtions that where set down by its founder Rasemon Fænt. The followers of Reformism or Fæntism, of which there are | The Reformed Thermodolian Church, or unofficially Fæntism after its founder, is a branch of Thermodolian Christianity that follows the teachings and tradtions that where set down by its founder Rasemon Fænt. The followers of Reformism or Fæntism, of which there are 10,916,804 members, are called Fæntists or Reformists, though most followers prefer reformist as to them Fæntist sounds cult like and that they are worshiping Rasemon Fænt. They are led by a Grand Synod of whom a bishop is elected to preside overall functions. That presiding Bishop is Bishop Marcus Gæn. | ||
===Evangelical Thermodolian Christian Church=== | ===Evangelical Thermodolian Christian Church=== | ||
Evangelical Thermodolian Christian Church or ETCC is the youngest and fastest growing church and has | Evangelical Thermodolian Christian Church or ETCC is the second youngest and fastest growing church and has 6,105,501 members. Its made up of semi-independent churches which follow a collective leadership committee. It was founded in the late 19th century | ||
===The True Thermodolian Church=== | ===The True Thermodolian Church=== | ||
The True Thermodolian church | The True Thermodolian church was founded in 1823 after two churches which had split from the mother church and the Thermodolian High Christian Church years before, merged together to form one new church. Over the years several other churches merged and joined with the church. It believes that all other churches are heretical and only it is the true church of St James as such it is considered to be the leader of what is called the True Believers Movement and is therefore not in communion with any other church besides those of the True Believers Movement. At present it has 2,736,949 members and is led by Elder Mark Gaên | ||
===Independent Churches=== | ===Independent Churches=== | ||
Line 81: | Line 163: | ||
Outside of the five other churches there are several independent churches that follow the Thermodolian Christian denomination. Most of these split from either the mother church or other churches and thus where created from the late 1600s to the modern day. | Outside of the five other churches there are several independent churches that follow the Thermodolian Christian denomination. Most of these split from either the mother church or other churches and thus where created from the late 1600s to the modern day. | ||
Most of these churches are small and only have less than a few thousand. Collectively these independent churches are estimated to have a combined membership of | These churches are either in communion with the rest of Thermodolian Christianity or are members of the True Believers movement. | ||
Most of these churches are small and only have less than a few thousand. Collectively these independent churches are estimated to have a combined membership of around 631,604. Official numbers are hard to obtain due to the number and variance of these churches and their membership practices. | |||
{{Thermodolia}} | {{Thermodolia}} | ||
[[Category:Thermodolia]] | [[Category:Thermodolia]] | ||
[[Category:Religion in Thermodolia]] | [[Category:Religion in Thermodolia]] |
Latest revision as of 07:34, 16 April 2024
Thermodolia Christianity is a 880 million member christian denomination originating in Thermodolia, it is currently the largest christian denomination in thermodolia. The denomination started when the Thermodolian Orthodox Church, Thermodolian Syriac Church, and the Church of St James all merged to become the Thermodolian Christian Church in 1189, this merger is called the Union of the Three Churches.
Its largest church is the Thermodolian Christian Church with a membership of 809,207,495; the other 76,645,447 Thermodolian Christians belong to several different groups. Thermodolia Christianity considers itself to be a Catholic Church.
History
Beliefs
As a result of the Union of the Three Churches Thermodolian Christianity is more orthodox in nature. And as such Thermodolian Christianity is non-Chaldean and follows the Eastern Orthodox views of the Holy Spirt and original sin.
Holy Days
Holy Days are grouped into two forms: Major Holy days and Minor holy days. Major Holy days are celebrated by nearly all Thermodolian Christians while minor holy days are specific to each church. Furthermore Major Holy Days are holy days which celebrate major events and feasts of the denomination, these days are also considered to be holy days of obligation by the majority of Thermodolian Christians. Currently there are a total of 13 Major Holy Days.
These 13 Days are:
- Feast of the Circumcision of Christ, held 1 January
- Feast of Mary the Mother of God, held 16 January
- Epiphany, held 19 January
- Clean Monday, held 48 days before Pascha
- Good Friday, held the Friday before Paschal Sunday
- Pascha (Easter), its held on the same day as the Eastern Christians
- Feast of the Ascension of Jesus Christ, held 39 days after Pascha
- Trinity Sunday (Pentecost), held 49 days after Pascha
- All Saints Day, held the Sunday after Trinity Sunday
- Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, held 29 June
- Assumption of Mary, held 15 August
- Feast of the Conception Mary by Saint Anne, held 8 December
- Christmas, held 25 December
Minor Holy Days are days which cover all other holy days that are not considered major. These range from lesser events to saints feast days to days which are not considered to be major. Unlike the Major days the Minor days can be numerous in number and can depend greatly on the church. Attendance on these days also depends on the church.
Some Minor Days are:
- Saturday of Souls, held the Saturday after All Saints Day
- Feast of the Annunciation, 25 March
- Feast of St Mæn Šæva, 28 April
Thermodolian Christian Church
Church Leadership
Patriarch
The Patriarch is the leader of the church and is elected by a college that is composed of National Bishops, High Archbishops, male Director Generals of the Religious Orders, and male Director Generals for the Regions of the Religious Orders. The Patriarch is elected for life or until they resign.
National Bishop
Each nation with a large presence of members of the Thermodolian Christian Church gets a National Bishop, as do regions. Which are groups of nations that have smaller membership numbers not enough to warrent their own National Bishop.
High Archbishop
Within a nation or a region there is a High Archbishop who leads a province. That province could be a region of a nation with a large number of members of the church or it could be a independent nation that was grouped into a region.
Archbishop
Bishop
Rector
Assistant Rector
Traditions
List of Leaders of the Church
Archbishops:
- Grand Synod 1189-1194
- St Mæn Šæva (First Archbishop, Former leader of the Grand Synod) 1194-1219
- Ôràkr Gœnâ (Former Bishop of Centralton) 1219-1235
- Jacob Gurœ (Former Bishop of Trén City) 1235-1253
- Dár Vênśæ (Former Bishop of Thermodolia City) 1253-1262
- Dœn Fôgûse (Former Archbishop of Thermodolia City) 1262-1273
- St Fròn Græn (Former Bishop of Thermodolia City) 1273-1283
Patriarchs:
- St Fròn I (Born Fròn Græn, Former Archbishop of Thermodolia Christian Church) 1283-1298
- James I (Born Hôthæ Gathæ, Former Archbishop of Thœdæn) 1298-1303
- Isaias (Born Gàrnth Thòrgsæ, Former Archbishop of Thermodolia) 1303-1324
- Thomas I 1324-1339
- Zebadiah I 1339-1369
- Matthew I (Born Dâræ Gondeá, Former Archbishop of Thermodolia City) 1354-1369
- John I 1369-1386
- Zebadiah II 1386-1401
- Paul I 1401-1405
- Gregory I 1405
- St James II (Born Jacob Semôth, Former Archbishop of Thœdæn) 1405-1411
- Bartholomew I 1411-1429
- Zebadiah III 1429-1442
- Fròn II 1442-1453
- Thomas II 1453-1459
- Zephaniah 1459-1478
- James III 1478-1494
- John II 1494-1503
- Matthew II 1503-1525
- Zebadiah IV 1525-1543
- Bartholomew II 1543-1558
- Thomas III 1558-1577
- Paul II 1577-1596
- Thomas IV 1596-1605
- Thomas V 1605-1624
- Paul III 1624-1640
- Thomas VI 1640-1652
- Matthew III 1652-1663
- Timothy I 1663-1665
- Timothy II 1665-1677
- Stephen 1677-1689
- Nicholas I 1689-1701
- Thomas VII 1701-1720
- Narcissus I (Born James Sægôth, Former National Bishop of Thermodolia) 1720-1728
- Matthew IV (Born John Sæns, Former National Bishop of Thermodolia) 1728-1748
- Narcissus II (Born Dæ Fânś, Former High Archbishop for the Province of Fânœu) 1748-1773
- Pius I (Born George Śænœ, Former National Bishop of Thermodolia) 1773-1794
- Narcissus III (Born Dan Śumæ, Former National Bishop of Thermodolia) 1794-1798
- Matthew V (Born John Sæc, Former High Archbishop for the Province of the Capitol) 1798-1824
- Thomas VIII (Born Aaron Dénæ, Former High Archbishop for the Province of Fânœu) 1824-1832
- Pius II (Born Luke Nævus, Former High Archbishop for the Province of Deæ) 1832-1845
- Bartholomew III (Born John Dæn, Former High Archbishop for the Province of the Capitol) 1845-1862
- John III (Born John Eślæn, Former National Bishop of Thermodolia) 1862-1873
- Thomas IX (Born James Ethî, Former Minister General of the Society of St Thomas) 1873-2 April 1885
- Paul IV (Born Andrew Gârnéth, Former High Archbishop for the Province of Southern Thermodolia) 12 April 1885-1 November 1890
- Thomas X (Born George Ebśe, Former High Archbishop for the Province of Thodésca) 11 November 1890-7 February 1902
- Matthew VI (Born John Bænœ, Former High Archbishop for the Province of Eléca) 17 February 1902-2 July 1920
- Bartholomew IV (Born Jacob Fênœ, Former Superior General of the Friars of St John the Baptist) 10 July 1920-2 April 1934
- Paul V (Born Edward Bæns, Former National Bishop of Thermodolia) 12 April 1934-2 May 1955
- Matthew VII (Born John Curry, Former High Archbishop of the Province of Southern England) 12 May 1955-20 February 1960
- James IV (Born Matthew Rœndś, Former High Archbishop of the Province of the Capitol) 1 March 1960-1 July 1964
- Thomas XI (Born Jai Gubon, Former National Bishop of Growana) 12 July 1964-1 August 1987
- Gregory II (Born Alex Rena, Former National Bishop of Karún) 12 August 1987-22 February 1993
- Thomas XII (Born Frank Richards, Former National Bishop of the USA) 3 March 1993-10 June 2001
- James V (Born Reginald Upswind, Former National Bishop of Polata City) 20 June 2001-1 June 2010 (resigned)
- Nicholas II (Born Raymond Oubo, Former Director General of Africa for the Society of Mary. Age: 79) 10 June 2010-
Religious Orders
Other Thermodolian Christian Churches
Besides the Thermodolian Christian Church there are other independent churches in the thermodolian christian denomination. Most of these, except the Thermodolian High Christian Church which broke off in 1452, split during the Thermodolian Christian Reformation during the late 1600s.
Thermodolian Orthodox Christian Church
The Thermodolian Orthodox Christian Church is the youngest and second largest of the Thermodolian christian churches with 34,992,247 members. The church split in 2022 from the mother church over doctrinal differences as the TOCC believed that the TCC was getting too liberal and worldly and was straying from the true path.
As such they believe that gay marriage should not be sanctioned by the church and that many other social issues should be forbidden. The TOCC however still allows priests to marry and the church still has a hierarchal structure with Patriarch Thomas I as the head of the church and overseeing bishops and rectors under him.
Thermodolian High Christian Church
The Thermodolian High Christian Church is the second largest of the Thermodolian christian churches with 21,262,342 members. The church split in 1452 from the mother church over the use of vernacular in the church instead of keeping with the High Thermodolian language as the language of the church.
The Thermodolian High Christian Church also split in regards to leadership, the THCC believed that there should not be a Patriarch and that an Archbishop should lead the church and be Primus inter pares.
The THCC is currently lead by Archbishop Timothy IV
Reformed Thermodolian Church
The Reformed Thermodolian Church, or unofficially Fæntism after its founder, is a branch of Thermodolian Christianity that follows the teachings and tradtions that where set down by its founder Rasemon Fænt. The followers of Reformism or Fæntism, of which there are 10,916,804 members, are called Fæntists or Reformists, though most followers prefer reformist as to them Fæntist sounds cult like and that they are worshiping Rasemon Fænt. They are led by a Grand Synod of whom a bishop is elected to preside overall functions. That presiding Bishop is Bishop Marcus Gæn.
Evangelical Thermodolian Christian Church
Evangelical Thermodolian Christian Church or ETCC is the second youngest and fastest growing church and has 6,105,501 members. Its made up of semi-independent churches which follow a collective leadership committee. It was founded in the late 19th century
The True Thermodolian Church
The True Thermodolian church was founded in 1823 after two churches which had split from the mother church and the Thermodolian High Christian Church years before, merged together to form one new church. Over the years several other churches merged and joined with the church. It believes that all other churches are heretical and only it is the true church of St James as such it is considered to be the leader of what is called the True Believers Movement and is therefore not in communion with any other church besides those of the True Believers Movement. At present it has 2,736,949 members and is led by Elder Mark Gaên
Independent Churches
Outside of the five other churches there are several independent churches that follow the Thermodolian Christian denomination. Most of these split from either the mother church or other churches and thus where created from the late 1600s to the modern day.
These churches are either in communion with the rest of Thermodolian Christianity or are members of the True Believers movement.
Most of these churches are small and only have less than a few thousand. Collectively these independent churches are estimated to have a combined membership of around 631,604. Official numbers are hard to obtain due to the number and variance of these churches and their membership practices.