Citizendia

The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination originating from the Schwarzenau Brethren organized in 1708 by eight people led by Alexander Mack, a miller, in Schwarzenau (Bad Berleburg), Germany. Denominationalism|List of Christian denominations|Church (disambiguation A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name structure and doctrine within The Schwarzenau ( German Baptist) Brethren, originated in Germany, the outcome of one of many Pietistic movements of the 17th century Year 1708 ( MDCCVIII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Alexander Mack may refer to Alexander Mack founder of the Church of the Brethren Alexander Mack (Medal of Honor recipient, Civil War For other uses see Miller (disambiguation A miller usually refers to a person who operates a mill, a machine to grind a Cereal Bad Berleburg (earlier also Berlenburg is a town in the district of Siegen-Wittgenstein, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. The Brethren movement began as a melding of Pietist and Anabaptist ideas. Pietism was a movement within Lutheranism, lasting from the late 17th century to the mid-18th century and later Anabaptists ( Greek ανα (again twice + βαπτιζω (baptize thus "re-baptizers" are Christians of the Radical Reformation The first of its churches in America was established in 1723. A church building is a Building or Structure whose primary purpose is to facilitate the meeting of a church. The Americas are the lands of the Western hemisphere or New World, consisting of the Continents of North America and South America Year 1723 ( MDCCXXIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a These churches became commonly known as German Baptist Brethren. The denomination holds the New Testament as its only creed. A creed is a statement of Belief — usually Religious belief — or Faith often recited as part of a religious service Historically the church has taken a strong stance for non-resistance or pacifism. Nonresistance (or non-resistance) discourages physical resistance to an enemy and is a subdivision of Nonviolence. Distinctive practices include believers baptism by trine immersion; a threefold Love Feast consisting of feet washing, a fellowship meal, and communion; anointing for healing; and the holy kiss. Believer's baptism (occasionally called credobaptism, from the Latin word credo) is the Christian practice of Baptism as this is understood by Foot washing or washing of feet is a religious Rite observed as an ordinance by several Christian denominations. The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or Lord's Supper and other names is a Christian Sacrament by which in a common interpretation those The holy kiss is a traditional Christian Greeting. The term comes from the New Testament, where it appears five times

The Church of the Brethren represents the largest body descending from Mack's Schwarzenau Brethren church. The Schwarzenau ( German Baptist) Brethren, originated in Germany, the outcome of one of many Pietistic movements of the 17th century The German Baptist Brethren suffered major division in the early 1880s, creating the Old German Baptist Brethren, the Brethren Church, and the majority adopting the name Church of the Brethren in 1908. Events and Trends Technology Development and commercial production of Electric lighting Development and commercial production of gasoline-powered Old German Baptist Brethren (OGBB descend from a pietist movement in Schwarzenau, Germany, in 1708 when Alexander Mack founded a fellowship The Brethren Church is one of several groups that traces its origins back to the Schwarzenau Brethren of Germany. Year 1908 ( MCMVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year It has 127,526 members, 1,010 congregations and 39 fellowships as of June, 2007 [1]. There are six liberal arts colleges and one seminary (Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Indiana) related to the Church of the Brethren. Bethany Theological Seminary is the Graduate school and academy for theological education for the Church of the Brethren. Richmond (ˈrɪtʃmənd is a city in Wayne Township, Wayne County, in east central Indiana, which borders Ohio. General offices and the Brethren Press are located in Elgin, Illinois. Elgin (ˈɛldʒɨn is a city. (645 km northwest of Chicago on the Fox River.

The church's most famous minister is Olympic athlete Bob Richards. The Olympic Games is an international Multi-sport event established for both summer and winter games The Rev Robert "Bob" Eugene Richards (born February 20 1926, in Champaign Illinois) known as the "Vaulting Vicar" or the "Pole

In 1948 the Church of the Brethren joined the World Council of Churches as a charter member and was a forming member of the National Council of Churches in 1950. Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The World Council of Churches ( WCC) is an international The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (usually identified as National Council of Churches, or NCC) is an association of 35 Christian Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Contents

Beliefs

Non-creedalism

The Brethren state that they have "no creed but the New Testament. A creed is a statement of Belief — usually Religious belief — or Faith often recited as part of a religious service " If there is a single part of the New Testament that is most pointed to as a guide for member's life it is The Sermon on the Mount. In the Gospel of St Matthew, the Sermon on the Mount is a compilation of Jesus' sayings epitomizing his moral teaching. The early Brethren were very meticulous in applying the New Testament to every situation. For example, they baptize in a forward direction because "we are baptized into his death," and at the moment of his death, Jesus' head fell forward. Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE)

When disagreements arise as to the correct interpretation of New Testament passages, the final authority for settling such disputes is the Annual Conference. The minutes of Annual Conference give a clear picture of what matters have been in dispute and how Brethren interpret the New Testament.

Brethren espouse the basic beliefs of Christianity, such as the divinity of Christ. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Divinity and divine (sometimes 'the Divinity' or 'the Divine' are broadly applied but loosely defined terms used variously within different faiths and belief systems — Christ is the English term for the Greek ( Khristós) meaning "the anointed " They emphasize peace, simplicity, the equality of believers, and consistent obedience to Christ. Peace, in the modern usage is a concept defined by the ideal state of relationship as absence of hostility at the international level that of a War. Simple living (or voluntary simplicity) is a lifestyle individuals choose to minimize the 'more-is-better' pursuit of Wealth and consumption.

They also believe that "faith without works is dead", and have been heavily involved in disaster relief and other charitable work. Brethren often describe themselves in terms of what they do rather than what they believe.

Peace

Image:BrethrenEncyclopedia.jpg
Alexander Mack Seal

The Church of the Brethren is one of the historic peace churches. Peace churches are Christian churches groups or communities advocating Christian pacifism. Its position is summarized in the phrase, "all war is sin" (Annual Conference, 1935). Year 1935 ( MCMXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Many Brethren have declined to engage in military service. Some have been imprisoned for that stance.

During the Second World War, Brethren worked with the government to create a system of alternative service, which would allow conscientious objectors to serve their nation and humanity through non-violent service. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Alternative service has evolved into "Brethren Volunteer Service," a church agency that places many young people and some older persons in volunteer human service jobs, usually for a one-year term.

Despite the church's official peace stance there are many members of the Church of the Brethren that do not agree with pacifism. This was made particularly evident when, during the Second World War 80% of the men in the Church of the Brethren entered active duty in the military. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Active duty refers to a full-time occupation as part a military force as opposed to reserve duty. Another 10% served as noncombatants in the military with only 10% taking Conscientious objector status. Non-combatant is a military and legal term describing Civilians not engaged in combat A conscientious objector (CO is an individual who on religious moral or ethical grounds refuses to participate as a combatant in war or in some cases to take any role that would support

Priesthood of all Believers

Brethren follow a non-hierarchical pattern of church life. In the past, most congregations were served by multiple "free" ministers, who supported themselves through other occupations. Today, most congregations have paid pastors, but their function is still somewhat limited, with the laity still taking a very active role in ministerial work. A pastor is an official person within a Protestant group of people and related to the positions of Priest or Bishop within the Anglican, Roman Catholic In religious organizations the laity comprises all persons who are not Clergy.

Simplicity

Brethren have been urged (and in earlier times compelled) to live a relatively simple life-style. At various points in their history, Brethren have been discouraged from attending carnivals, swearing oaths, driving motorized vehicles, attending secular colleges, joining secret societies, filing lawsuits, gambling, and using tobacco or alcoholic beverages. Secret society is a term used to describe a variety of organizations Tobacco is an Agricultural product recognized as an addictive drug processed from the fresh Leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana.

Simplicity was once very noticeable in Brethren dress and grooming. Men would wear black coats with no collar, and hooks instead of buttons (often referred to as a 'Brethren Suit'). They would wear beards, but no mustaches. For the Swedish heavy metal band see Mustasch. A moustache (or mustache) is Facial hair grown on the upper Lip. The mustache was seen as a sign of belonging to the military. For the Swedish heavy metal band see Mustasch. A moustache (or mustache) is Facial hair grown on the upper Lip. A military is an Organization authorized by its Nation to use force usually including use of Weapons in defending its Country (or by attacking Also, the beards were cut in a manner to avoid interference with the kiss of peace. The holy kiss is a traditional Christian Greeting. The term comes from the New Testament, where it appears five times

In addition, they wore broad-brimmed black hats. Women would wear long dresses in dull colors, and a "prayer covering". Today, the "Brethren Suit" still is worn in the most conservative congregations, although some men dress in a simple style by wearing a collared shirt in a single color without a tie, while women in these congregations may continue to practice the use of a prayer covering. The traditional Brethren dress is very similar to the clothing of the present-day Amish. The Amish (ˈɑːmɪʃ are members of an Anabaptist Christian denomination best known for Simple living, Plain dress and resisting modern conveniences

Most Brethren were well-acculturated by the second half of the twentieth century. Today, many members of the church take simplicity to mean living a more ecologically friendly lifestyle by consuming less and being aware of the effect of their choices on the earth and other people (see simple living). Simple living (or voluntary simplicity) is a lifestyle individuals choose to minimize the 'more-is-better' pursuit of Wealth and consumption.

Ordinances

The Brethren avoid the use of the term "sacraments," preferring the term "ordinances. " This refers to the symbolic actions ordered by Jesus Christ and practiced by the early church. The Brethren ordinances are:

Anointing for healing

A supplicant is administered a small amount of oil on his forehead. This page is about candidates for degrees and humble petitioners for information on the computing term see Supplicant (computer. This is followed by the laying on of hands and a prayer for wholeness. This is not to be confused with extreme unction (last rites), since healing is prayed for and expected. Anointing of the Sick is the ritual anointing of a sick person and is a Sacrament of the Catholic Church. Healing is explicitly stated to include emotional and spiritual, as well as physical healing.

Anointing and laying on of hands have also been used for other purposes, such as consecrating someone for missions or other special service. The laying on of hands is a religious practice found throughout the world in varying forms

Believer's Baptism

The Brethren believe that baptism is an outward sign of an inward experience of salvation. Hence, baptism is not performed until one is able to understand and accept the message of the gospel, typically at about age thirteen. In Christianity, baptism ( Greek, "immersing" "performing Ablutions " is the ritual act with the use of water by which one is admitted In the early years of the denomination, the age at baptism was generally older. The mode of baptism is trine (three times) immersion in a forward direction, followed by laying on of hands for the impartation of the Holy Spirit. In mainstream Christianity, the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is one of the three entities of the Holy Trinity which make up the single substance

In the early years of the church, people coming into the Church of the Brethren from other denominations were expected to be re-baptized. Today, most congregations will receive members by reaffirmation of faith or by letter of transfer from another congregation or denomination.

Love Feast

Main article: John 13

The Brethren love feast is a conscious imitation of Jesus' last supper with his disciples. The Gospel of John (literally According to John; Greek, Κατὰ Ἰωάννην Kata Iōannēn) is the fourth Gospel in the canon Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) In the Christian Gospels the Last Supper (also called the Lord's Supper or Mystical Supper) was the last meal Jesus shared with his It begins with foot washing symbolizing humility and service. Foot washing or washing of feet is a religious Rite observed as an ordinance by several Christian denominations. They then share a meal, symbolizing fellowship. Finally, they share the bread and cup communion, symbolizing participation in Christ's suffering and death. The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or Lord's Supper and other names is a Christian Sacrament by which in a common interpretation those Christ is the English term for the Greek ( Khristós) meaning "the anointed " There may also be hymns and a sermon, as well as a preliminary time of self-examination. A sermon is an oration by a Prophet or member of the Clergy. Sermons address a Biblical, theological, or religious topic

Congregations typically hold love feast on Maundy Thursday and again about six months later. In the Christian Liturgical calendar, Maundy Thursday (also known as Holy Thursday) is the feast or holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter Some congregations also have bread-and-cup communion periodically during regular worship services.

Changes over time

Early

The group of Christians who organized themselves into a church at Schwarzenau, Germany in 1708 originally referred to themselves as the Neuen Täufer (New Baptists). Year 1708 ( MDCCVIII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a The name aluded to the use of the name Täufer (Baptists) by the Mennonites.

After the reorganization of the church in America in 1723, they were known as German Baptists (although this name was not officially recognized until 1836, when the Annual Meeting called itself "The Fraternity of German Baptists"). Year 1723 ( MDCCXXIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Year 1836 ( MDCCCXXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap In 1871, the denomination adopted the name, "The German Baptist Brethren Church," and Brethren were more colloquially as Dunkers or Tunkers (from the German for immersionists). Year 1871 ( MDCCCLXXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common

In 1728, Conrad Beissel, a Brethren minister at Conestoga (Lancaster County, PA) renounced his association with the Brethren and formed his own group at Ephrata, Pennsylvania. Year 1728 ( MDCCXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Johann Conrad Beissel ( March 1, 1691 - July 6, 1768) was the German -born religious leader who in 1732 founded the They came to be known as the Ephrata Cloister. The Ephrata Cloister or Ephrata Community was a religious community, established in 1732 by Johann Conrad Beissel at Ephrata, in Beissel practiced a mystical form of Christianity. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings He encouraged celibacy and a vegetarian diet. Celibacy refers to the lack of participation in Sexual intercourse. Vegetarianism is the practice of a diet that excludes Meat (including game and slaughter by-products Fish (including Shellfish and other sea

The Great Schism

After the Beissel split, all later splits in the church were based on doctrinal differences[2]. The more conservative members emphasized consistency and obedience. They opposed the use of musical instruments, Sunday Schools, and worldly amusements. " Sunday school " is the generic name for many different types of Religious education pursued on Sundays by various denominations They promoted plain dress, simple lifestyle, and church discipline. The progressives in the church focused on grace and acceptance. They promoted higher education, salaried ministers, Sunday Schools, and revivalism. " Sunday school " is the generic name for many different types of Religious education pursued on Sundays by various denominations Revival in a Christian context generally refers to a specific period of spiritual renewal in the life of the Church The majority of Brethren held a moderate position between the two extremes.

In 1869 and again in 1880, a group of Brethren in the Miami Valley of Ohio submitted a petition to Annual Conference pleading for a halt to liberalization and a return to traditional Brethren values. Year 1869 ( MDCCCLXIX) is a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Year 1880 ( MDCCCLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Ohio ( is a Midwestern state of the United States. As part of the Great Lakes region, Ohio has long been a cultural and geographical crossroads On each occasion, a more moderately worded substitute petition was submitted to the delegates. The rewording was totally unacceptable to the Miami Valley group. The Miami Valley, broadly refers to the land area surrounding the Great Miami River in southwest Ohio, USA, and also includes the Little Miami Mad and

In 1881, they resubmitted their petition to Annual Conference. Year 1881 ( MDCCCLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common This time it was rejected on a technicality that it had not come through a district meeting. In November of 1881, the conservatives met and formally split from the Church of the Brethren to form the Old German Baptist Brethren. Year 1881 ( MDCCCLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common They held their first annual meeting in 1882. Year 1882 ( MDCCCLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common

Meanwhile, Henry Holsinger, a leader of the progressives in the church, had published some writings that were called slanderous and schismatic. The word schism (ˈsɪzəm or /ˈskɪzəm/ from the Greek σχίσμα skhísma (from σχίζω skhízō, "to tear to split" As a result, he was disfellowshipped from the 1882 annual meeting of the Brethren. Year 1882 ( MDCCCLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common He met with other progressives on June 6 and 7, 1883, and formed the Brethren Church[3]. Year 1883 ( MDCCCLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common

At the Annual Conference of 1908 at Des Moines, Iowa, the name of the denomination was officially changed from the German Baptist Brethren to the Church of the Brethren. Year 1908 ( MCMVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year According to William Eberly, the name change was precipitated by the predominant use of English in the church and to further distance themselves from the Old German Baptist Brethren. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Old German Baptist Brethren (OGBB descend from a pietist movement in Schwarzenau, Germany, in 1708 when Alexander Mack founded a fellowship

Recent developments

Since the end of the Second World War, church and member positions on social issues have caused further divisions between congregations, districts, and individuals within the church. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Particularly difficult issues which have been the source of much debate and division include the authority of the Bible, the ordination of women, tolerance of homosexuality, and the promotion of ecumenicalism. Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin Homosexuality refers to sexual behavior with or attraction to people of the same sex or to a Homosexual orientation. Ecumenism (also oecumenism, œcumenism) refers to initiatives aimed at greater Religious unity or cooperation

At the 1958 Annual Conference in Des Moines, Iowa, trine immersion was no longer required for all members, women were given an ordination status equal to men, love feast was opened to members of any church, and bread and cup communion was permitted without having love feast. Year 1958 ( MCMLVIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In response, at the 1959 Annual Conference in Ocean Grove, New Jersey, a group of conservative and evangelical Brethren joined to form the Brethren Revival Fellowship (BRF). The year 1959 ( MCMLIX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Ocean Grove is an unincorporated community and a Census-designated place in Neptune Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey. It describes itself as a loyal concern movement within the Church of the Brethren. The BRF promotes simple dress, biblical inerrancy, church discipline, and a much more evangelical worldview than the denomination as a whole. Biblical inerrancy is the conservative evangelical doctrinal position that in its original form the Bible is totally without error and free from all contradiction Evangelicalism is a theological movement tradition and system of beliefs most closely associated with Protestant Christianity, which identifies with the Gospel It has been critical of the church's involvement in political and social causes and its involvement with the World Council of Churches and the National Council of Churches. The World Council of Churches ( WCC) is an international The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (usually identified as National Council of Churches, or NCC) is an association of 35 Christian

Promoting the more liberal ideas, including changing the name of the church because it is seen to be sexist and exclusionary of women, tolerance of homosexuals[4] (as members and as ministers), and increased social and political activity are groups such as Women's Caucus, Voices for an Open Spirit[5], and the Brethren Mennonite Council on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered Interests (BMC)[6].

Although a great divide exists within the church on these issues, the official position of the Church is that of "unity in diversity", which allows for decisions at the district and congregational level to determine church positions and practice.

Membership today

Although no formal splits have occurred recently, the Church of the Brethren, like many other mainline churches, has suffered a steep, steady decline in membership from about 203,000 members in 1963 to 129,340 in 2005. Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Studies were underway in 2006 to determine the reasons for this decline. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Some key things found in the report were: the Church is too prideful and needs to live more in humility, and the Church needs to remove idols, and has lost its first love for Jesus as found in Rev. II. Despite the overall decline, there has been a noteworthy growth in the church in Puerto Rico (where it is called "Iglesia de los Hermanos"), since the late 1970s. Puerto Rico (ˌpwertoˈriko officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ("Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico" {{lang-en|"Associated Free State of Puerto Rico"}} It has also spread into other countries including the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic ( Spanish: República Dominicana;) is a nation located in the Caribbean region and shares the island of Hispaniola with

In Nigeria, the Church of the Brethren is known as Ekklesiyar Yan'uwa a Nigeria, or the EYN. Nigeria, officially named the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal Constitutional republic comprising thirty-six states and one Federal Mission work began in Nigeria in 1923 and the membership of EYN, which must be renewed annually, reached 148,000 members in 2002[7], surpassing the membership of the US-based church [8].

Structure

Church of the Brethren Logo
Church of the Brethren Logo

The Brethren practice the "priesthood of all believers," and their structure is egalitarian. Some members still address each other as "Brother Smith" or "Sister Jones," for example. The practice is more common in the Eastern United States. Even the moderator of Annual Conference, the highest elected office in the church, is addressed as "Brother (or sister) Moderator. "

Ministry

The term "minister" is understood as a functional role rather than an hierarchical position of authority. In the early days, most congregations had several ministers chosen ("called" or "elected") by the members of the congregation. The concept of a professional pastor (first explicitly permitted in 1911) has slowly become the predominant model, although many congregations still have "free" (nonsalaried) ministers and plural ministry.

There have been three degrees of ministry in the Church of the Brethren:

The Brethren also select deacons in most congregations. They assist in ministerial functions, particularly by tending to the physical and spiritual needs of individual members. Often, a husband and wife will serve together as deacons.

Officers

The leading officers in the Church of the Brethren for business purposes are called moderators. Their principal function is to chair business meetings. There are congregational moderators, district moderators, and an annual conference (denominational) moderator. In recent years, the annual conference moderator has been elected a year in advance, and in the interim serves as "moderator elect. "

Geographical structure

Geographically, the church is divided into congregations, which have indistinct and often overlapping geographic boundaries. Since 1856, congregations are collected into districts (23 as of 2006), whose boundaries are clear and usually correspond with state borders or county lines. The vast majority of present congregations are located east of the Mississippi.

Each congregation also selects delegates to serve at an Annual Conference (sometimes called annual meeting), which is the final human authority in questions of faith and practice. Issues that cannot be resolved on a local level, or which have implications for the church as a whole are framed as "queries," which are submitted by a congregation to the district (since 1866), and then, if necessary, are passed on to Annual Conference. Year 1866 ( MDCCCLXVI) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Typically, a committee is formed to study the matter, and an answer is reported and adopted by a vote of the delegates at a subsequent Annual Conference.

Boards and Committees

The Brethren have numerous boards and committees (sometimes called "teams") that can be either temporary or permanent and either highly focused on one issue (e. g. evangelism) or general in scope. The most important of these are the General Board (General Brotherhood Board until 1968), which carries out the policies established by Annual Conference, and the Standing Committee and Annual Conference Council, which interprets Annual Conference decisions. Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Other Annual Conference agencies include Bethany Theological Seminary, Brethren Benefit Trust, Association of Brethren Caregivers, and On Earth Peace Assembly.

External links

Liberal arts colleges related to the Church of the Brethren

Related groups that trace their beginnings to the Schwarzenau Brethren

References

  1. ^ Church of the Brethren membership decline continues | http://www.wfn.org/2007/06/msg00057.html
  2. ^ Cob-net article
  3. ^ Brethren Church homepage
  4. ^ Statement on homosexuality
  5. ^ Voices for an Open Spirit
  6. ^ Brethren Mennonite Council on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered Interests
  7. ^ Brethren missions in Nigeria
  8. ^ Nigerian membership
Donald F Durnbaugh (1927 - 2005 was a noted historian of the Church of the Brethren who published more than 200 books articles reviews and essays on its history
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