Brethren Groups Javascript Menu by Deluxe-Menu.comvar dmWorkPath = "../deluxe/menu/"; div.white19 { background-color: #FFFFFF; background-image: url(../bg/whte019.jpg); margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%; }div.dvbody { padding-left: 1.5em; padding-right: 1.5em; }div.dvTier1 { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; padding-left: 2em; padding-right: 0; }div.linkheader { background-color: #FFFFFF; background-image: url(../bg/whte019.jpg); color: #000000; font-size: 80%; font-family: Times New Roman, Serif; line-height: 110%; margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: .5em; padding-left: 1.5em; padding-right: 1.5em; }P.body { color: #000000; font-size: 100%; text-align: left; line-height: 120%; text-indent: 1.5em; margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: 0em; }P.quote { color: #000000; font-size: 80%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; text-align: left; line-height: 120%; margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-left: 40px; margin-right: 30px; }H1.nongroups { color: #900000; font-size: 240%; text-align: center; margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: 0em; }H1.puzzle { color: #900000; font-size: 200%; margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: 0em; }H2.topic { color: #000000; font-size: 110%; text-align: left; line-height: 120%; margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: 0em; }UL.ULTier1 { font-size: 100%; text-align: left; line-height: 120%; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; margin-left: 40px; }UL.ULTier2 { font-size: 100%; text-align: left; line-height: 120%; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; margin-left: 60px; }     chwarzenau Brethren ~ 1708
Group Names:Schwarzenau Brethren, Schwarzenau Täufer, Neue Täufer, German Baptist, German Baptist Brethren, Church of the Brethren, Ashland Brethren, Progressive Brethren, Brethren Church, Dunkard Brethren, Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, Conservative Grace Brethen Church International, Fraternity of German Baptists, Hoffman Brethren, Old German Baptist Brethren, Old 'Order' German Baptist Brethren, Tunkers, Tunkards, Dunkers, DunkardsAcronyms:COB = Church of the BrethrenBC = The Brethren ChurchDB = Dunkard BrethrenOGBB = Old German Baptist BrethrenOOGB = Old Order German Baptist ChurchFGBC = Fellowship of Grace Brethren ChurchesCGBCI = Conservative Grace Brethen Church InternationalMonikers:The names tunker, dunkers, and dunkards have been applied to many Brethren sub-groups because of their common practice of immersing or 'dunking' baptismal candidates. (see also theBrethren in Christ below)Although modern Germans principally use the transitive verbtauchen (plunge, immerse) or eintauchen (dive into), the obsolete tunken was the moniker applied to the early Brethren.The later substitution of the 'D' for the 'T' thus renderingdunken is most probably a New World innovation, which itself,later evolved into dunkard, and backward also into tunkard.Early members had no distinctive name but commonly referred to themselves as Brüder (Brethren) and occasionally as Taufgesinnten (baptist-minded). Outsiders started calling them Taüfer (Baptists) or Neue Täufer (New Baptists) to distinguish them from older Anabaptists bodies such as the Mennonites and Amish or Swiss Brethren. They were the Schwarzenau Taüfer or the Schwarzenau Baptists or the Schwarzenau Brethren. They later migrated through the New World using the label German Baptist so as to distinguish themselves from English Baptist groups. During the early part of the 19th Century when Brethren, who ordinarily met for worship and fellowship in private homes, started building meeting houses for their growing congregations, it became necessary to process legal papers with reference to a legal group name. The Annual Meeting of 1836 was petitioned by members to oblige them with some kind of legal denominational name to which was issued the first sanctioned label: “Fraternity of German Baptists.” There is still one church in North Carolina that reflects this decision, the Fraternity Church of the Brethren. The word Fraternity may have found acceptance in legal documents but there was a gradual move to include the word Brethren since this is the name that they had used of themselves from the earliest period. Some congregations started using the new unofficial label of German Baptist Brethren."So the Mumma Church took that new name (German Baptist Brethren). Why the Marsh and Sharpsburg churches used the old name isn't known (German Baptist)."A Century of Faithful Service: The Sharpsburg Church of the Brethren, 1899-1999, p. 6. (This was a commemorative local church publication. The Mumma Church is also known as the Antietam Battlefield Church.) The words German Baptist “Brethren” became so widely used in normal conversation that the Annual Meeting officially adopted it in 1871, the second official sanctioning of a denominational label. Variations of Tunker and Dunker have also been used by several Brethren groups beside this Schwarzenau body (see Brethren In Christ below). In fact, a 1926 splinter group from the Church of the Brethren actually uses the label Dunkard Brethren.The short definition of Tunker or Dunker applies more properly to groups associated with the method of baptism through immersion.National Offices:Church of the Brethren, 1451 Dundee Avenue, Elgin, IL 60120The Brethren Church, 524 College, Avenue, Ashland, Ohio 44805Old German Baptist Brethren ???Old Order German Baptist Church ???Dunkard Brethren ???Fellowship of Grace Brethren ???Conservative Grace Brethen Church International ???Origin:Established 1708 near Schwarzenau, Germany, by Alexander Mack whofounded a community of eight believers through adult baptism. They were heavily influenced by Pietism, and Anabaptist conventions froman earlier century. Schwarzenau Brethren often experienced religiouspersecution, and found refuge among Mennonites, an older persecutedAnabaptist group who had establish havens over many years, such as Krefeld (Germany) and Germantown (Pennsylvania). Brethren were alsoinfluenced by them, and many beliefs and practices remain similar into the modern era. Following a resurgence of persecution, splintergroups evolved and the Mack party emigrated in 1729 to Pennsylvaniain the wake of co-worker Peter Becker's earlier group in 1719. Thefirst American congregation was founded near Germantown with adultbaptisms on Christmas Day, 1723. Enjoying their new world freedomfrom religious persecution, Brethren gradually began spreading out from the Philadelphia area and established many new congregations.Development:Brethren in the new world were at first a loose knit confederation of settlements. Regular visitation and affirmations of their common faith and practices maintained a sense of community. These early Brethren were successful in creating a subculture that insulated them from most secular influences. Many were farmers or worked in occupations related to agriculture. At that time in history, farms were nearly self-sustaining. With only horses or mules to pull their machiniery, farmers had little need to interact with the outside world. Most farm families wore homemade clothing. Brethren generally intermarried which contributed to sustaining their unique subculture. One of the first significant challenges to the new world Brethren was a theological conflict with an Elder of the Conestoga congregation. He had his own special beliefs and ways of doing things that led to direct confrontations with the Founding leaders of the Brethren at Germantown. Ephrata CloisterJohann Conrad Beissel, head Elder of the Conestoga congregation, renounces his Brethren affiliation in 1728 and later establishes his own communal living experiment with a Cloister near Ephrata in 1732. During his lifetime, Ephrata Cloister community flourished, but after his death in 1768, most residents gradually began moving away. In 1814, the few remaining dwellers incorporated themselves as the Seventh Day German Baptist Church which survived until 1934. With its future in limbo, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission assumed complete ownership of the grounds in 1941, instituting a program of research, historical interpretation, and restoration. Snow Hill Nunnery expansion project begins around 1764.Salemville groups leaves Snow Hill for Bedford County. Meeting house constructed in 1848.Three-way division in 1881-1882Old German Baptist Brethren (OGBB), representing the more conservative wing as in dress, custom, and worship could not tolerate modern innovations of the Nineteenth century and left the church in 1881. Minor schisms followed this group with the Old Order German Baptist Brethren breaking away in 1921.Progressive Brethren representing the more progressive wing desired modern innovations of the Nineteen Century and especially stressed a greater emphasis on evangelism. They left the main body of Brethren in 1882 to form the Brethren Church (BC) which experienced its own schism in 1939 with the departure of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches (GB). The central and largest group of moderates (then called Conservatives) realizing after two full centuries that few members speak German or embrace the former sub-culture, later adopted the denominational title Church of the Brethren (COB) in 1908. Dunkard Brethren (DB) 1926A more conservative group leaves the Church of the Brethren. Minor divisions follow the DB in 1948 and 1949.Chart:Major divisions of the Schwarzenau Brethren are represented in the following chart, which does not include a number of minor Brethren groups known as: Hostetler, Honite, Shoemaker, Landisites, Mooreites, Bowman, Leedy, Thurmanites, Freewill, and New Testament Brethren.  Additional Information: Church of the Brethren Network - Unofficial19th Century AcculturationAlexander Mack, Honors ToAnabaptismAnnual ConferenceBethany Theological SeminaryBibliographyBrethren EncyclopediaBrethren CardBrethren In AmericaBulletin BoardCamping MinistryChurches/DistrictsColleges Affiliated with the BrethrenEphrata CloisterEuropean Origin - Schwarzenau BrethrenFrequently Asked QuestionsGenealogy & HistoryGlossary of Brethren TerminologyMigration & Expansion of the Brethren in AmericaNineteenth Century Acculturation of the BrethrenPietismTimelineWeb Directory Church of the Brethren - OfficialAnnual ConferenceAssociation of Brethren CaregiversBrethren Benefit TrustBrethren Employees' Credit UnionBethany Theological SeminaryGeneral BoardOn Earth Peace AssemblyWashington OfficeYouth and Young Adults Conservative Grace Brethren Churches International Dunkard Brethren ChurchChurch Polity Fellowship of Grace Brethren Web SiteGrace CollegeInternational Missions Old German Baptist Brethren (Garst) Old German Baptist Brethren (Shumann) Old Order German Baptist Church The Brethren ChurchAshland Theological SeminaryAshland UniversityPeople Known As The Brethren Brethren Revival Fellowship nited Brethren ~ 1767
Group Names:United Brethren, Church of the United Brethren, United Christian Church, Evangelical United Brethren, UB, UCC, EUBNational Offices:United Brethren in Christ, 302 Lake Street, Huntington, IN 46750Origin:From the Pietist movement in the mid to late 1700's among German speaking folk in Pennsylvania. There was a fervor of spiritual awakening sweeping through Lancaster County in the 1760's. Many ofthese individuals professed the necessity of holiness and especiallythe assurance of "new birth" conversion as a real experience to beremembered. In 1767, German Reformed pastor Philip Otterbein attendedan interdenominational "Great Meeting" near Lancaster, PA. Hearingthe powerful conversion story of Mennonite speaker Martin Boehm, heembraced him, exclaiming: "Wir sind Bruder" (we are Brethren). This meeting later produced a group called the United Brethren, who tracetheir beginning to the Otterbein/Boehm meeting. There appears to beno formal structure to the United Brethren until 1800, when theyofficially organized themselves near Frederick, Maryland. In order to distinguish themselves from the Moravians who were also called United Brethren from their Latin title Unitas Fratrum, they appendedthe words "in Christ."In the late 1700's, many United Brethren congregations were formedthroughout Lancaster County, and generally bore names associated with their locality. One such congregation on the east shore of theSusquehanna River came to be called River Brethren, and would later evolve into the Brethren in Christ (see next article). Development:HoffmanitesA Pennsylvania group of United Brethren ministers and laymen under Rev. George Hoffman, broke away in the late 1860's over doctrinal issues. First known as "Hoffmanites," they later organized in 1878 as the United Christian Church. Great split of 1889Majority group known as New Constitution / Liberals merged with the Evangelical Church (another Pietist German group) in 1946 and adopted the name Evangelical United Brethren Chruch. In 1968, the EUB merged with the Methodists to form the United Methodist Church. Minority group known as Old Constitution / Radicals and led by Bishop Milton Wright (father of Wilbur and Orville Wright, see also the book, "The Bishop's Boys") retained the former title of The Church of the United Brethren in Christ. This group is stillin existence today.Still In BusinessThe Church of the United Brethren in Christ is still in business! Many people mistakenly think that the UB was absorbed into the Methodist Church and no longer exists. Notice in the above section that it was only the New Constitution group which joined the Methodists. The Old Constitution group retained their full denominational title and continue to this day with congregations, camps, and agencies. Their official headquarters is located in Huntington, Indiana.Genealogy: DePauw University Archives, Roy West Library, Greencastle, Indiana 46135 United Brethren Historical Center Huntington College, Huntington, Indiana 46750 General Commission on Archives and History United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 127, Madison, New Jersey 07040 RootsWeb: List ServerAdditional Information: Church of the United Brethren in Christ UBC: History & Heritage UBC: Fact Sheet Otterbein, Philip WilliamHuntington College Evangelical United Brethren Collection of Shenandoah University United Methodist Church History rethren In Christ ~ (1780s)
Group Names:River Brethren, River Mennonites, United Zion Holiness, Old Order River Brethren, Yorker Brethren, Tunkers, Brethren in Christ, BICNational Offices:Brethren In Christ, 431 Grantham Road, PO Box 290, Grantham, PA 17027Origin:Began when a fervor of spiritual awakening or revival was sweepingthrough Lancaster County in the 1760's. A revival movement havingits origin in the German Methodist movement, when Otterbein andBoehm formed the United Brethren. Most groups came to be known bytheir locality, and the group north of the town of Marietta on theeast side of the Susquehanna River were called the River Brethren.United Brethren leader Martin Boehm was the spiritual leader of thisgroup until its congregation, principally of Mennonite background,began to withdraw from him because of his liberal views on baptism,and his relationships with non-Mennonite individuals.Early formation is not well documented. Details are unclear. Most information has been garnered from the memories of participants whodid not regard dates and events with importance. Jacob Engel isuniversally cited in BIC literature as one of the founders who wereconvinced that trine immersion was the Scriptural method of baptism.Sensing alienation from the United Brethren and Mennonites over thisissue, compounded by an unwillingness from several Dunker ministersto baptize outside their own circle, this group sought to establishits own identity. A tradition exists that a Dunker Elder, GeorgeMiller encouraged them to form their own group through a "mutualbaptism" as was earlier performed by the Schwarzenau Brethren. Thisgroup event is thought to have occurred in the 1780's.They were known simply as River Brethren until the Civil War, when a military draft was instituted by the Union Government, requiringthem to register in Washington as a non-resistant organization. Itis believed that on this occasion the label "Brethren in Christ"was first used in 1861, although older members continued to use theterm River Brethren well into the next century.Additional Information: Brethren In Christ Historical Sketch of the Canadian Brethren In Christ Lancaster County Historical Society (Marietta River Brethren) Messiah College River Brethren (Columbia Encyclopedia) Old Order River Brethren ennonite Brethren ~ 1860
Group Names:General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches National Offices:Mennonite Brethren Executive Secretary, 4824 E. Butler Avenue, Fresno, CA 93727-5097Origin:Birthed from the larger Mennonite Church in 1860 through a process of spiritual revival with a desire for closer fellowship, this group incorporated the title Brethren simply because of their spiritual kinship which was a outcome of meeting in small household groups for prayer and Bible study. There were two incidents which directly contributed to their breaking from the larger Mennonite body.Home CommunionMany of these small home Brethren groups wanted a more sympathetic elder of the larger Mennonite church to officiate the Lord's Supper in their private home gatherings, in accordance with Acts 2:46-47. Some wanted to meet in this manner because regular communion included people who had not made a public profession of their faith. Elders refused these requests under the presumption that it would foster spiritual pride and lead to disunity in the church. In November of 1859, feeling rejected and disheartened, some of the groups decided to observe the Lord's Supper in a private home without an Elder in attendance. EstrangementThe larger Mennonite body held meetings in order to discern the best way of handling these home groups. A few unsympathetic opponents verbally attacked the home group movement, and the latter responded to these adversaries in their defense. On January 6, 1860, a select group of members from this home movement gathered for a charter meeting which formed the Mennonite Brethren Church. A document was drafted wherein they affirmed the teachings of Menno Simons and outlined abuses they saw in many different practices of the Mennonite Church.Additional Information: General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches Historical Commission Canadian Mennonite Brethren Conference Canadian Conference Confession Church Homepages Mennonite Brethren Herald Saskatchewan Conference Of Mennonite Brethren Churches Tabor College Unrelated Brethren Groups There are many other denominations which incorporate the word Brethren in their title, but have no direct or schismatic relationship to any of the above main groups which principally originated from central Europe through German Pietism or Anabaptist influence. Each of the following articles are included purely for matters of research and topical completeness, because the exclusion thereof may invite speculation that a more direct relationship may exist. There is at least one common element that does form a bridge with the former groups; in that a small group of Christians desiring to intensify their spiritual lives through direct application of biblical principles is hindered by an insensitive, hierarchal organizational structure. lymouth Brethren ~ 1825
Group Names:Plymouth Brethren, Christian Brethren, Open Group, Exclusive Group, Newton Group, Raven Group, Taylor GroupNational Offices:???Origin:John Nelson Darby (1800-1882) was born in London to Irish parents when England struggled against Higher Criticism, a persuasion which questioned the truthfulness and inspiration of the Bible. Several fundamentalist movements arose to combat its effects, and the Plymouth Brethren was one of them. Darby became a priest under the Church of England and served in Ireland where he labored tirelessly to educate the peasantry in the Word of God. He grew dissatisfied with the established church and looked for affirmation from the outside. In 1827, he began meeting with similarly minded believers in Dublin, Ireland. Especially a group founded by Edward Cronin two years earlier, when he had also became dissenchanged with the established church. Although Cronin started this particular group, it would be Darby who would give them visibility.Believers in England heard of the excitement in Ireland, and Darby went to London in 1830 and later to the seaside town of Plymouth in 1832. This last group soon became the most well-known and it wasn't very long before the Brethren of Plymouth were simply referred to as Plymouth Brethren. A notable leader of this group was Samuel Tregelles who authored one of the better known critical edition of the Greek New Testament of the Nineteenth century. Development:OPEN Plymouth Brethren (moderates)Open Brethren churches are "completely" independent without any form of higher governing body. Each church observes the ecclesiastical offices of Elder and Deacon, but not salaried ministry. "Gifted Brothers" officiate worship and communion services, and "Gifted Sisters" lead private Bible studies.EXCLUSIVE Plymouth Brethren (conservative)Exclusive or Closed Brethren shun the idea of independence and maintain circles of fellowship without a higher governing body. They do not have Elders but instead utilize the talents of "leading brothers." Additional Information: PlymouthBrethren BrethrenAssembly.Com BrethrenAssembly.Org Christian Brethren BrethrenAssembly Portblair Andaman Islands BrethrenPedia  Brethren Online, FAQS Discussion Forum Emmaus College John Nelson Darby - Synopsis of the Books of the Bible John Nelson Darby - Bible Translation (CCEL) John Nelson Darby - Bible Translation (GospelCom) Kerala Brethren Victorian Web Who Are The Brethren - F.F. Bruce Who Are The Brethren - J.R. Barber utheran Brethren ~ 1900
Group Names:Church of the Lutheran Brethren in America, CLBANational Offices:Church of the Lutheran Brethren in America, 1007 Westside Drive, Box 655, Fergus Falls, MN 56538-0655Origin:During the 1890's, a widespread spiritual awakening occured in the upper midwestern states where many Lutheran congregations felt the need to be more spiritually open, read the Bible with greater earnest, and stress the importance of missions and personal salvation. This was also a period when Sunday School was thought appropriate only for children, not adults. Predictably, existing Lutheran synods looked upon this activity with disdain, so in December of 1900, five Lutheran congregations joined with each other to form a new synod.The Lutheran Brethren follow the "low church" route of no clerical robes or priestly vestments, no ritual Liturgical Service, enjoy gospel songs mixed with traditional hymns, and the unmistakable belief that salvation is a process of regeneration for individuals having reached the age of accountability, being aware of personal sin and forgiveness through God's unmerited grace in Jesus Christ. Lutheran Brethren also adhere to these confessional writings: the Apostle's Creed, Nicene and Athanasian Creeds, Augsburg Confession, and Luther's Small Catechism.Additional Information: Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America Lutheran Brethren Seminary Lutheran Brethren Schools Hillcrest Lutheran Academy“And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.”Mark 3:34-35Activity ||Information ||Churches ||Education ||Literature ||Genealogy ||History ||Greeting Cards ||Site MapEuropean Origin ||Brethren in America ||Antietam Dunkers ||Brethren Groups ||19th Century ||Voting Booth ||FAQS   |
|
