Pepperdine University (/ˈpɛpərdaɪn/) is a private Christian research university affiliated with the Churches of Christ with its main campus in Los Angeles County, California, United States.
The Churches of Christ, also commonly known as the Church of Christ, is a loose association of autonomous Christian congregations located around the world. Typically, their distinguishing beliefs are that of the necessity of baptism for salvation and the prohibition of musical instruments in worship
Churches of Christ generally share the following theological beliefs and practices:[14]
Autonomous, congregational church organization without denominational oversight;[22]: 238 [23]: 124
Refusal to hold to any formal creeds or informal "doctrinal statements" or "statements of faith", stating instead a reliance on the Bible alone for doctrine and practice;[21]: 103 [22]: 238, 240 [23]: 123
Local governance[22]: 238 by a plurality of male elders;[23]: 124 [24]: 47–54
Baptism by immersion of consenting believers[22]: 238 [23]: 124 in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins;[14][21]: 103 [23]: 124
Practice of a cappella singing is the norm in worship,[25] based on New Testament passages teaching to sing for worship, with no mention of instrumental music (and also that worship in church assemblies for centuries in the early Church practiced a cappella singing).[22]: 240 [23]: 125