Christian denomination

=== Denominationalism ===
Denominationalism is the belief that some or all Christian groups are legitimate churches of the same religion regardless of their distinguishing labels, beliefs, and practices.<ref name="Jackson"/> The idea was first articulated by [[Independent (religion)|Independents]] within the [[Puritan]] movement. They argued that differences among Christians were inevitable, but that separation based on these differences was not necessarily [[schism (religion)|schism]]. Christians are obligated to practice their beliefs rather than remain within a church with which they disagree, but they must also recognize their imperfect knowledge and not condemn other Christians as [[apostate]] over unimportant matters.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://seminary.fresno.edu/resources/life-in-a-muddy-world-reflections-on-denominationalism |title=Life in a Muddy World: Reflections on Denominationalism |first=Bruce |last=Guenther |publisher=Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary; first published in Fall/Winter 2008 edition of In Touch Magazine. For reprint permission contact the Director of Public Relations at 1-800-251-6227 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150310144947/http://seminary.fresno.edu/resources/life-in-a-muddy-world-reflections-on-denominationalism |archive-date=10 March 2015}}</ref>

Some Christians view denominationalism as a regrettable fact. As of 2011, divisions are becoming less sharp, and there is increasing cooperation between denominations, which is known as [[ecumenism]]. Many denominations participate in the [[World Council of Churches]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=What is the World Council of Churches? – World Council of Churches |url=https://www.oikoumene.org/en/about-us |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331192837/https://www.oikoumene.org/en/about-us |archive-date=31 March 2019 |access-date=23 May 2020 |website=www.oikoumene.org |language=en}}</ref>