Church of the Brethren
Anabaptist denomination in the United States, descended from the Schwarzenau Brethren.
The Church of the Brethren is a Christian group that started within the Schwarzenau Brethren. Alexander Mack organised it in 1708 in Schwarzenau, Germany. It combined the Radical Pietist and Anabaptist movements. The group believes that the New Testament as its only creed. Historically, the church has supported nonresistance or pacifism, which is being against violence.
| Church of the Brethren | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Protestant |
| Orientation | Mainline Anabaptist |
| Theology | Non-creedal |
| Structure | Congregationalist with districts that meet together in an Annual Conference |
| Distinct fellowships | The Church of the Brethren, Inc. (ministry and administration), Bethany Theological Seminary, Brethren Benefit Trust (retirement fund), On Earth Peace (peace initiative) |
| Associations | Brethren World Assembly, Christian Churches Together, Christian Peacemaker Teams, Church World Service, Historic Peace Churches, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, National Council of Churches, World Council of Churches |
| Region | United States (headquarters) and Puerto Rico, with groups in Brazil; the Dominican Republic; Haiti; Nigeria and Oku, Cameroon; Spain; and South Sudan; also present in Ecuador (United Andean Indian Mission) and India having (two Brethren denominations and the Church of North India). |
| Founder | Alexander Mack and the Schwarzenau Brethren |
| Origin | 1708 Schwarzenau, Germany |
| Branched from | Schwarzenau Brethren in the United States |
| Separations | Dunkard Brethren (1926) |
| Congregations | 978 (2019, United States and Puerto Rico)[1] |
| Members | 98,680 (2019, United States and Puerto Rico)[1] |
| Nursing homes | 21 (Fellowship of Brethren Homes) |
| Aid organization | Brethren Disaster Ministries, Brethren Service Center, Brethren Volunteer Service, Children's Disaster Services, Heifer International, SERRV International |
| Tertiary institutions | Six colleges and universities (Bridgewater College, Elizabethtown College, Juniata College, Manchester College, McPherson College, and University of La Verne), one seminary (Bethany Theological Seminary), see also Brethren Colleges Abroad |
| Official website | brethren.org |
Distinctive practices include:
- baptism only for adults by dunking in water three times
- a love feast consisting of feet washing
- a fellowship meal, and communion
- anointing for healing and the holy kiss.
References
change- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Church of the Brethren denominational membership falls below 100,000". Church of the Brethren Newsline. January 27, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2021.