CHRISTIAN CONNECTION, a denomination of Chris tians in North America formed by secession, under James O'Kelly of members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in North Carolina in 1793. The predisposing cause was the desire to be free from the "bondage of creed." Some of O'Kelly's followers joined the Disciples of Christ (q.v.). Their form of church gov ernment is Congregational ; they take the Bible as the sole rule of faith and practice, and while adopting immersion as the proper mode of baptism, freely welcome Christians of every sect to their communion. Their position is curiously akin to that outlined by William Chillingworth (q.v.) in his famous work The Religion of Protestants (1637-1638).