Defunct groups
54-700: The Old Order German Baptist Brethren , also called Petitioners , are a small group of very conservative Schwarzenau Brethren . The history of the Old Order German Baptist Brethren dates back to 1708, when the Schwarzenau Brethren were formed in Berleburg under the leadership of Alexander Mack . Soon they moved to Pennsylvania to escape religious persecution in Europe. In the 19th century many of them moved west with
108-661: A Calvinistic firm affirmation of eternal security became the National Fellowship of Brethren Churches, since renamed Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches (FGBC). It is commonly called the Grace Brethren Church, and is headquartered in Winona Lake, Indiana . In 1992, because of doctrinal disagreements within the FGBC (primarily related to the connection between water baptism and church membership),
162-456: A mechanism for unifying the interpretation and application of Biblical teachings. There are several religious groups named Brethren that are not related to the Schwarzenau Brethren movement. The Moravian Brethren, Hutterian Brethren and Swiss Brethren are not related to the Schwarzenau Brethren, except as inspirational examples. The Plymouth Brethren arose in England and Ireland early in
216-651: A member has a conversion experience , he or she begins taking part in the experience meeting and then requests baptism . The Old Order River Brethren continue the practice of plain dress . Several factions of the River Brethren withdrew in the middle of the 19th century, including the Yorker Brethren and the United Zion Church, while the main body took the name Brethren in Christ, by which
270-683: A mill and started a textile-manufacturing workshop in an effort to make the community economically self-sufficient. The Eckerlins and Mack left Ephrata in September to establish Mahanaim ( Dunkard's Bottom, Virginia ) on the New River in western Virginia. In 1814 the Society was incorporated as the Seventh Day Baptists or Seventh Day German Baptist Church. Several branches were established, some of which still exist. A group called
324-784: A printer by trade, printed a Bible in German, the first published in a European language in North America. Many members of the Schwarzenau Brethren came from the Southwest of Germany, the same region where the Pennsylvania German dialect originated. Because they settled in Pennsylvania among other Germans, who mainly came from the Palatinate and adjacent regions, they took part in the dialect leveling , that
378-518: A variant of universal salvation that foretold that after the judgment and harsh punishment described in the New Testament, God's love would one day restore all souls to God. Brethren typically kept this teaching to themselves, and it was largely abandoned by the late nineteenth century. They were among the first to take Christian universalism to America when they emigrated there. The church leaders are ministers, teachers, and deacons, though
432-652: Is a group within the Latter Day Saint movement and is not related to the Schwarzenau Brethren. Schwarzenau Brethren (German Baptists), an Anabaptist tradition, are not to be confused with non-Anabaptist groups such as Primitive , Separate , Southern , Particular , who are categorized as Baptists . Although both Anabaptists and Baptists agree on rudimentary doctrines such as believer's baptism and separation of church and state, they would have conflicting views in other areas, such as non-resistance , separation from worldly entertainment, literal interpretation of
486-485: Is heard within their doors. The law of kindness is in their mouths; no sourness or moroseness, disgraces their religion; and whatsoever they believe their Savior commands, they practice without requiring or regarding what others do. The beliefs of the Schwarzenau Brethren include triple or trine immersion baptism , which provides that the candidate kneel in water and be immersed, face first, three times in
540-482: Is now Lancaster County, Pennsylvania . While celibate, the community also welcomed believing families; they lived nearby and participated in joint worship. The monastic features and celibacy were gradually abandoned after the American Revolution. In 1745, brothers Samuel, Israel and Gabriel Eckerlin protested against Beissel's leadership after Beissel condemned them for having planted an orchard, built
594-490: Is one of the early leaders who promoted trine immersion. The first confessional statement of this group was formulated around 1780. As of 2010 there are four bodies of River Brethren in about 300 congregations: Common to the Radical Piestic tradition, the River Brethren hold experience meetings, in which "members [are seen] testifying of God's work in their lives in bringing them to salvation and daily living." When
SECTION 10
#1732772827045648-528: Is placed on exegesis of the Bible. Several of the groups maintain a larger "Doctrinal Statement" or treatise, but only for the purpose of clarifying their Biblical position. Most Brethren groups maintain that the Bible is the sole authority and will revise their statement of faith if they perceive any difference between it and sound Biblical doctrine. Some of the Old Order groups incorporate church authority as
702-546: The American Revolution , as different groups sought their own ways. The first separatists became the Seventh Day Dunkers, whose distinctive principle was that they believed that Saturday was true Sabbath . They were founded by German immigrant Johann Conrad Beissel (1690–1768). In 1732, Beissel led establishment of a semi-monastic community with a convent and a monastery at Ephrata in what
756-612: The Church of God or "New Dunkers" withdrew in 1848. They disbanded in August 1962. The Old Order Schwarzenau Brethren opposed 19th-century Brethren adoption of innovations in the United States such as revival meetings, Sunday Schools, and foreign missionary work. Stressing church discipline, Annual Meeting authority, and the preservation of the "ancient order" of church ordinances, worship, and simple unfashionable dress, they formed
810-624: The Conservative Grace Brethren Churches, International (CGBCI) was formed. It has no centralized headquarters at this time. The paradigmatic conservative Schwarzenau Brethren denomination remains the Dunkard Brethren Church , in that they have preserved the distinctives of plain dress and headcovering while widely using modern conveniences. The Dunkard Brethren Church withdrew from the Church of
864-613: The Dunkard Brethren Church and the Old Brethren Church ) who preserve traditional theological distinctives while allowing for the usage of modern conveniences, and mainline groups (such as the Church of the Brethren and the Brethren Church ) who are assimilated into popular culture and society. In German-speaking Europe , the Brethren became known as Neue Täufer ( New Baptists ) , in distinction from
918-769: The Old Brethren German Baptists , a similar horse and buggy group that split off from the Old German Baptist Brethren and formed in 1939. Schwarzenau Brethren Defunct groups The Schwarzenau Brethren , the German Baptist Brethren , Dunkers , Dunkard Brethren , Tunkers , or sometimes simply called the German Baptists , are an Anabaptist group that dissented from Roman Catholic , Lutheran and Reformed European state churches during
972-607: The Old German Baptist Brethren (OGBB) in 1881. In 1882 the Progressives, who stressed outreach evangelism and objected to plain, distinctive dress and strong Annual Meeting authority, formed The Brethren Church , at the time of H. R. Holsinger. The largest body continued as German Baptist Brethren until 1908, when they adopted the title Church of the Brethren . Both the Brethren Church and
1026-439: The Old German Baptist Brethren in 1921, when members of the latter began to adopt automobiles. Though similar to the Old German Baptist Brethren in faith and practice, the Old Order German Baptist Brethren represent those who desired to maintain a strict adherence to tradition, such as the use of horse and buggy for transportation. They also do not use electricity nor telephones but do allow tractors for field work. The Beliefs of
1080-611: The Radical Pietist movement among German colonists in Pennsylvania . In the 17th century, Mennonite refugees from Switzerland had settled their homes near the Susquehanna River in the northeastern United States. Their religious guides, Jacob and John Engle, joined with the revival, and their followers were often known by their locality: a group of brethren from north of Marietta, Pennsylvania , on
1134-685: The Roman Catholic , Lutheran and Reformed churches were taking extreme liberties with the true, pure message of Christianity as revealed in the New Testament. As they began to have the New Testament available in German and read it for themselves, they rejected the established state church liturgies and sacraments, including infant baptism and Eucharistic practices in favor of following plain New Testament practices. The founding Brethren were broadly influenced by Radical Pietism understandings of an invisible church of awakened Christians who would fellowship together in purity and love, reaching out to
SECTION 20
#17327728270451188-529: The 17th and 18th centuries. German Baptist Brethren emerged in some German-speaking states in western and southwestern parts of the Holy Roman Empire as a result of the Radical Pietist revival movement of the late 17th and early 18th centuries, where people began to read and study their Bibles on their own- rather than just being told what to believe and do. Hopeful of the imminent return of Christ and desiring to follow Jesus in their daily life,
1242-619: The 1923 Church of the Brethren Annual Conference. Variations on the Card were used by both the Old German Baptist Brethren and the Church of the Brethren. This is an early version that was widely circulated: Be it known unto all men, The 1923 version, influenced by both increasing formalism and by the Fundamentalist-modernist controversy of the 1910s differed in both tone and content: This version
1296-670: The 19th century. The United Brethren originated in 18th-century Pennsylvania with William Otterbein and Martin Boehm. The River Brethren movement adopted the view of trine immersion and most other Anabaptist beliefs and practices from the Schwarzenau Brethren. Today, the Old Order River Brethren are very similar to the Old Brethren —both being part of the Anabaptist tradition. The Apostolic United Brethren
1350-811: The Brethren World Assembly: Church of the Brethren , Conservative Grace Brethren Churches, International , Dunkard Brethren Church , Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches , Old German Baptist Brethren , and The Brethren Church . The first Assembly was held in Pennsylvania in 1992. They met at Elizabethtown College and celebrated the 250th anniversary of the first known Brethren Annual Meeting in 1742. That first meeting gathered near Conestoga in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania . The second Assembly met in 1998 at Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, Virginia . The third Assembly
1404-546: The Brethren in 1926 because of what some believed was a gradual drift away from apostolic standards. In 2019, after years of disagreement over New Testament standards of personal morality, some conservative congregations who were leaving the Church of the Brethren chose to form a new denomination called the Covenant Brethren Church. This fellowship has member congregations in Africa and Guatemala as well as
1458-410: The Brethren style cape (Triangular, loose in front and back), aprons and tied white head coverings. In spite of the name, Old Order German Baptist Brethren do not use the German language anymore, neither a German dialect in everyday life nor Standard German for Bible and church as Old Order Amish and many Old Order Mennonites do, because they had already given up the use of the German language when
1512-795: The Brethren to take refuge in Friesland , the Netherlands. In 1719 Peter Becker brought a group to Pennsylvania . In 1720 forty Brethren families settled in Surhuisterveen in Friesland. They settled among the Mennonites and remained there until 1729, when all but a handful emigrated to America, in three separate groups from 1719 to 1733. Peter Becker organized the first American congregation at Germantown, Pennsylvania , on December 25, 1723. In 1743 Christoph Sauer, an early pastor and
1566-584: The Christian salutation, do not oppose war, and do not formally adhere to plain dress or modesty. Only the Conservative Grace Brethren Churches have retained a published use of the motto, "The Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible". In the progressive and liberal Church of the Brethren, significant emphasis is placed on social action issues. In the Brethren (Ashland) and Grace Brethren groups, significant emphasis
1620-435: The Church of the Brethren would be considered as mainline Schwarzaneu Brethren fellowships today. The Dunkard Brethren Church , a conservative Schwarzenau Brethren denomination, maintains traditional theological beliefs and practices (such as plain dress and headcovering), while widely using modern conveniences. It was formed when conservative Schwarzenau Brethren withdrew from the Church of the Brethren in 1926 and established
1674-821: The Dunkard Brethren Church. As such, the Dunkard Brethren Church would fall in between Old Order Brethren (such as the Old Brethren German Baptist ) and mainline Brethren denominations (such as The Brethren Church ). In 1913 and 1915 the Old Brethren , centered in Salida, California , Dayton, Ohio and Camden, Indiana , withdrew from the Old German Baptist Brethren (OGBB). In 1921, the Old Order German Baptist Brethren , centered in Dayton, Ohio broke with
Old Order German Baptist Brethren - Misplaced Pages Continue
1728-704: The English Baptist groups with whom they had no formal ties. In the United States , they became popularly known as "Dunkers", "Dunkard Brethren", or "Tunkers", terms that stem from the German verb tunken ( Pennsylvania German : dunke ), ' to dip, to immerse ' . The Schwarzenau Brethren were first organized in 1708 under the leadership of Alexander Mack (1679–1735) in the Schwarzenau , Wittgenstein community of modern-day Bad Berleburg , North Rhine-Westphalia , Germany . They believed that
1782-578: The OGBB. Attempts in 1929–1930 to reunite the Old Brethren and OGBB were unsuccessful. The Old Brethren subsequently divided into two groups, the Old Order of which took the name of Old Brethren German Baptists and was centered in Camden, Indiana and Missouri. After 1996, a small conservative group calling themselves The German Baptist Brethren split from the OGBB. The most recent split came in 2009, with
1836-511: The Old Order German Baptists are in many ways similar to the Old German Baptist Brethren , the group from which they emerged. The Old Order German Baptists use tractors and other motorized equipment in their farming, while the Old Brethren German Baptists , a similar horse and buggy group, farm with horses. Men wear suspenders, dark denim and workshirts. Beards are encouraged but not required. Women wear long dresses with
1890-512: The River Brethren developed a conviction that trine (triple, in allusion to the Trinity ) immersion, foot washing, adherence to plain dress , the wearing of a headcovering by women and teetotalism was the scriptural form of religion . They oppose war , alcohol , tobacco , and worldly pleasures. Nevertheless, they maintained their identity and did not join the Dunker movement. Jacob Engle
1944-610: The Scripture as their only guide, in matters both of faith and practice...such Christians I have never seen as they are: so averse are they to all sin, and to many things that other Christians esteem lawful, that they not only refuse to swear, go to war, etc. but are so afraid of doing any thing contrary to the commands of Christ, that no temptation would prevail upon them ever to sue any person at law, for either name, character, estate, or any debt, be it ever so just. They are industrious, sober, temperate, kind, charitable people; envying not
1998-531: The Sermon on the Mount, etc. In addition, Schwarzenau Brethren are not to be confused with a recent, small, renewal movement of "Plain," or "Covered" Baptists, who share many comparable beliefs and practices with the historic German Baptists, but are of different origins. River Brethren The River Brethren are a group of historically related Anabaptist Christian denominations originating in 1770, during
2052-530: The US states of Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia. Unlike the Dunkard Brethren Church that formed in 1926, the Covenant Brethren Church encourages but does not universally practice traditional Brethren distinctives such as the veiling or nonresistance (nonparticipation in the military). Other associated churches which associate with the term German Baptist include: As of 2003, six Brethren bodies meet together in
2106-468: The Word, baptize, assist deacons in anointing, solemnize marriages, and officiate at communion. Deacons serve the church by reading Scripture, leading in song and prayer, arranging for visitation to members or their families during illness or crisis, and often function in the capacity of stewards. The first schism from the general body of German Baptist Brethren occurred in 1728. There were more divisions after
2160-595: The binding standard for congregational practices. Founding and early Schwarzenau Brethren were also in fellowship with other Anabaptists such as the Mennonites and the River Brethren , and influenced by their writings. As with many other Anabaptist traditions, the Schwarzenau Brethren are divided into Old Order groups (such as the Old Brethren German Baptist ) who practice a lifestyle without certain elements of modern technology, Conservative groups (such as
2214-576: The east side of the Susquehanna River came to be known as the River Brethren . The initial spiritual leader of the brethren was Martin Boehm , evangelical preacher, who was excluded from the Mennonite Church. He later became bishop of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ . The River Brethren distanced themselves from Boehm and the United Brethren movement. Influenced by the Schwarzenau Brethren (named Dunkers ),
Old Order German Baptist Brethren - Misplaced Pages Continue
2268-459: The establishment of the Old German Baptist Brethren, New Conference , parishioners who left the OGBB. In 1939 the "Progressive" Brethren Church experienced another schism. Those seeking an open position to the issue of eternal security maintained the name Brethren Church , with headquarters in Ashland, Ohio (the traditional Anabaptist doctrine has been conditional security ). Those supporting
2322-567: The first split of conservatives from the main body occurred in the early 1880s. In the early 1970s there were only about 20 families left in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren church, according to some estimates. As of 2000 the group had 125 members and a total population of 281 in 3 congregations in Ohio. These Congregations are found in the area of Covington , Gettysburg and Arcanum . They have meeting houses south east of Covington, near Versailles and west of Pleasant Hill. Some members far from
2376-399: The founding Brethren abandoned State churches and officially formed a new church in 1708. They thereby attempted to translate the New Testament idea of brotherly love into concrete congregational ordinances for all the members. The Brethren rejected some Radical Pietists’ focus on emotionalism and direct revelation, and emphasized early ("Apostolic" or "primitive") New Testament Christianity as
2430-454: The frontier, to Ohio, Indiana and beyond. In 1860s and 1870s the traditionalists among the Brethren opposed the adoption of innovations such as revival meetings, Sunday schools , and foreign missionary work. Stressing church discipline, Annual Meeting authority, and the preservation of the "old order" of church ordinances, worship, and dress, they formed the Old German Baptist Brethren in 1881. The Old Order German Baptist Brethren split from
2484-453: The great, nor despising the mean, they read much, they sing and pray much, they are constant attendants upon the worship of God, their dwelling houses are all houses of prayer. They walk in the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless both in public and private. They bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. No noise of rudeness, shameless mirth, loud vain laughter
2538-549: The lost and hurting in Jesus' name and working together as equal brethren while awaiting Christ's return. A notable influence was Ernst Christopher Hochmann von Hochenau, a traveling Pietist minister. While living in Schriesheim , his home town, Mack invited Hochmann to come and minister there. Like others who influenced the Brethren, Hochmann considered the pure church to be spiritual, and did not believe that an organized church
2592-449: The meeting houses meet in private homes, like the Amish. Since their formation in 1881 and until the early 1900s the Old German Baptist Brethren were often referred to as Old Order German Baptist Brethren. Since the formation of the Old Order German Baptist Brethren in 1921 this then misleading name fell mostly out of usage, but in some few cases it persists until today. The Old Order German Baptist Brethren should also not be confused with
2646-457: The name of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit ; the New Testament as the infallible guide in spiritual matters; communion service celebrated in the evening, accompanied by the love feast ; the ceremony of the washing of feet ; the salutation of the holy kiss ; prayer and anointing with oil over the sick; and nonresistance . See also The Brethren Card . Some of the early Schwarzenau Brethren believed in universal restoration ,
2700-405: The name of these servant positions may differ slightly in the various branches. The official role of elder, while no longer recognized in many congregations, was formerly the most respected position in the church and performed the overseeing function that other churches may call Bishop. Ministers and deacons are elected by the members of the congregation in which they hold membership. Ministers preach
2754-414: Was held by Grace College in Winona Lake, Indiana , in 2003. The Assembly represents some 600,000 members around the world. Brethren are noncreedal, but have summarized their beliefs in a variety of ways for the purpose of evangelical outreach. One such statement, developed and distributed during the late nineteenth century was the Brethren's Card . A later version was endorsed for general distribution by
SECTION 50
#17327728270452808-482: Was necessary. By 1708, the date of the first Brethren baptisms, Mack had rejected this position in favor of forming a separate church with visible rules and ordinances—including threefold baptism of repentant adults by immersion, a Love Feast (that combined communion with feetwashing and an evening meal), anointing, and church discipline according to Matthew 18 culminating in use of the "ban" against members who fall into sin and refuse to repent. Religious persecution drove
2862-406: Was officially circulated by the Church of the Brethren in its publications until the middle part of the twentieth century, and it continues to be issued through the efforts of Brethren Revival Fellowship. The teachings of some other groups are similar to this, but can differ widely in emphasis and scope. For example, the Grace Brethren are varied on the requirement of trine immersion, do not practice
2916-604: Was the cradle of Pennsylvania German. Their language therefore was or soon became what today is called Pennsylvania Dutch or sometimes Pennsylvania German. In 1782 the Brethren forbade slaveholding by its members. In 1871 these Brethren adopted the title German Baptist Brethren at their Annual Meeting. The group continued to expand and from Pennsylvania, they migrated chiefly westward. By 1908 they were most numerous in Pennsylvania , Maryland , Virginia , Ohio , Indiana , Illinois , Iowa , Missouri , Nebraska , Kansas , North Dakota Arkansas , and California . [Brethren] take
#44955