Editing Restoration Movement (section)

===Missionary society controversy===
In 1849, the first national convention was held at Cincinnati, Ohio.<ref name="Garrison & DeGroot, 1948" />{{rp |245}} Campbell had concerns that holding conventions would lead the movement into divisive denominationalism. He did not attend the gathering.<ref name="Garrison & DeGroot, 1948" />{{rp|245}} Among its actions, the convention elected Campbell its president and created the [[American Christian Missionary Society]] (ACMS).<ref name = "Garrison & DeGroot, 1948" />{{rp|247}} By the end of the century, the [[Foreign Christian Missionary Society]] and the [[Christian Woman's Board of Missions]] were also engaged in missionary activities. Forming the ACMS did not reflect a consensus of the entire movement, and these para-church organizations became a divisive issue. While there was no disagreement over the need for evangelism, many believed that missionary societies were not authorized by scripture and would compromise the autonomy of local congregations.<ref name="Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Missionary Societies Controversy">Douglas Allen Foster and Anthony L. Dunnavant, ''The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, Churches of Christ'', Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2004, {{ISBN|0-8028-3898-7}}, {{ISBN|978-0-8028-3898-8}}, 854 pages, entry on ''Missionary Societies, Controversy Over'', pp. 534-537</ref>

The ACMS was not as successful as proponents had hoped.<ref name="Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Louisville Plan">Douglas Allen Foster and Anthony L. Dunnavant, ''The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, Churches of Christ'', Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2004, {{ISBN|0-8028-3898-7}}, {{ISBN|978-0-8028-3898-8}}, 854 pages, entry on ''Louisville Plan, The'', pp. 496-497</ref> It was opposed by those who believed any extra-congregational organizations were inappropriate; hostility grew when the ACMS took a stand in 1863 favoring the [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] side during the Civil War.<ref name="Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Louisville Plan"/><ref name="Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: American Christian Missionary Society">Douglas Allen Foster and Anthony L. Dunnavant, ''The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, Churches of Christ'', Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2004, {{ISBN|0-8028-3898-7}}, {{ISBN|978-0-8028-3898-8}}, 854 pages, entry on ''American Christian Missionary Society'', pages 24-26</ref>  A convention held in [[Louisville, Kentucky]], in 1869 adopted a plan intended to address "a perceived need to reorganize the American Christian Missionary Society (ACMS) in a way that would be acceptable to more members of the Movement."<ref name="Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Louisville Plan"/>  The "Louisville Plan," as it came to be known, attempted to build on existing local and regional conventions and to "promote the harmonious cooperation of all the state and District Boards and Conventions."<ref name="Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Louisville Plan"/><ref name="Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Conventions">Douglas Allen Foster and Anthony L. Dunnavant, ''The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, Churches of Christ'', Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2004, {{ISBN|0-8028-3898-7}}, {{ISBN|978-0-8028-3898-8}}, 854 pages, entry on ''Conventions'', pp. 237-240</ref>  It established a General Christian Missionary Convention.<ref name="Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Conventions"/>  Membership was congregational rather than individual.<ref name="Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Louisville Plan"/><ref name="Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Conventions"/> Local congregations elected delegates to district meetings, which in turn elected delegates to state meetings.<ref name="Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Louisville Plan"/> States were given two delegates, plus an additional delegate for every 5,000 members.<ref name="Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Louisville Plan"/> The plan proved divisive and faced immediate opposition.<ref name="Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Louisville Plan"/><ref name="Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Conventions"/> Opponents continued to argue that any organizational structure above the local congregational level was not authorized by scripture, and there was a general concern that the board had been given too much authority.<ref name="Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Louisville Plan"/> By 1872 the Louisville Plan had effectively failed.<ref name="Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Louisville Plan"/><ref name="Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Conventions"/> Direct contributions from individuals were sought again in 1873, individual membership was reinstated in 1881, and the name was changed back to the American Christian Missionary Society in 1895.<ref name="Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Louisville Plan"/><ref name="Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Conventions"/>