Church of the Brethren

The Church of the Brethren is an Anabaptist Christian

Church of the Brethren
denomination in the Schwarzenau Brethren tradition (German:
Schwarzenauer Neutäufer "Schwarzenau New Baptists") that
was organized in 1708 by Alexander Mack in Schwarzenau,
Germany during the Radical Pietist revival.[1] The
denomination holds the New Testament as its only creed.
Historically, the church has taken a strong stance for
nonresistance or Christian pacifism—it is one of the three
historic peace churches, alongside the Mennonites and
Quakers. Distinctive practices include believer's baptism by
The Church of the Brethren references
forward trine immersion; a threefold love feast consisting of
feet washing, a fellowship meal, and communion; anointing the Crucifixion of Jesus with a Latin
for healing; and the holy kiss. Its headquarters are in Elgin, cross, unity with the circle motif, and
Illinois, United States. biblical references to water and baptism
with the wave.
The first Brethren congregation was established in the United
Classification Protestant
States in 1723. These church bodies became commonly
known as "Dunkards" or "Dunkers", and more formally as Orientation Evangelical
German Baptist Brethren. The Church of the Brethren Anabaptist
represents the largest denomination descended from the Theology Non-creedal
Schwarzenau Brethren, adopting this name in 1908. In 1926
there was an exodus of some conservative members of the Structure Congregationalist
Church of the Brethren, who formed the Dunkard Brethren with districts that
Church.[2] meet together in
an Annual

History Conference
Distinct fellowships The Church of
the Brethren, Inc.
Early history (ministry and
administration),
The history of the Schwarzenau Brethren began in 1708 when Bethany
a group of eight Christians organized themselves under the Theological
leadership of Alexander Mack (1679–1735) into a church and
Seminary,
baptized one another in Schwarzenau, Germany, now part of
Brethren Benefit
Bad Berleburg in North Rhine-Westphalia. Five men and
three women gathered at the Eder, a small river that flows Trust (retirement
through Schwarzenau, to perform baptism as an outward fund), On Earth
symbol of their new faith. One of the members of the group Peace (peace
first baptized Mack, who then, in turn, baptized the other initiative)
seven. Associations Brethren World
Assembly,
They believed that the established European churches –
Catholic, Lutheran, and Reformed – were missing the point of Christian
true Christianity as taught by Jesus in the Sermon on the Churches
Mount, and as revealed in the New Testament and Together,
exemplified by the Early Church. After searching for a church Christian
that taught New Testament discipleship and finding none in Peacemaker
their area, they committed to follow the commands and Teams, Church
example of Jesus in their daily lives regardless of the cost. World Service,
They rejected established state churches, including infant Historic Peace
baptism, existing Eucharistic practices, and the use of physical
Churches,
coercion against other humans. The founding Brethren were
initially influenced by Radical Pietist understandings of an Leadership
invisible, nondenominational church of awakened Christians Conference on
who would fellowship together in purity and love, awaiting Civil Rights,
Christ's return; yet they embraced an Anabaptist National Council
understanding of the church as a disciplined faith community of Churches,
that enforced Christian standards of discipleship upon those World Council of
who chose to join their fellowship. The eight founding Churches
members referred to themselves as "brethren," and New
Region United States
Baptists (German: Neue Täufer). The name alluded to the use
of the name Täufer (Baptists) by the Mennonites. They (headquarters)
suffered persecution for their stand, much as the earlier and Puerto Rico,
Anabaptists had. with groups in
Brazil; the
The Brethren soon moved to seek religious freedom in Dominican
America. They founded the first American congregation on Republic; Haiti;
Christmas Day 1723 in Germantown, Pennsylvania, then a Nigeria and Oku,
village outside Philadelphia.[3] They became known as
Cameroon;
German Baptist Brethren (although this name was not
Spain; and South
officially recognized until 1836, when the Annual Meeting
called itself "The Fraternity of German Baptist Brethren"). In Sudan; also
1871, the denomination adopted the name, "The German present in
Baptist Brethren Church." Until the early 20th century, Ecuador (United
Brethren were colloquially called Tunkers or Dunkers (from Andean Indian
the German for immersionists). Mission) and
India having (two
In 1728, Conrad Beissel, a Brethren minister at Conestoga Brethren
(Lancaster County, Pa.) renounced his association with the
denominations
Brethren and formed his own group in Ephrata, Pennsylvania.
and the Church
They came to be known as the Ephrata Cloister. Beissel
practiced a mystical form of Christianity. He encouraged of North India).
celibacy, a vegetarian diet, and recognition of Saturday as the Headquarters Elgin, Illinois,
Sabbath. United States
Founder Alexander Mack
Division in the 1880s and the
Schwarzenau
After the Beissel split, the Brethren split several times because Brethren
of doctrinal differences.[4] The most traditionalist members Origin 1708
emphasized consistency, obedience, and the order of the
Schwarzenau,
Brethren. They opposed the use of musical instruments,
Germany
Sunday schools, revival meetings, and worldly amusements.
They promoted plain dress, plain living, and church discipline. Branched from Schwarzenau
The progressives in the church focused on grace and Brethren in the
United States
acceptance. They promoted higher education, salaried Separations Dunkard
ministers, Sunday schools, and revivalism. The majority of Brethren Church
Brethren held a position between the two extremes. (1926)

In 1869 and 1880, a group of Brethren in the Miami Valley of Congregations 2,600
Ohio submitted a petition to Annual Conference to stop Members 600,000
liberalization and return to traditional Brethren practices,
Aid organization Brethren Disaster
which they identified with the "primitive" apostolic faith. On
both occasions, a more moderate petition was submitted to the Ministries,
delegates. Both times, the Miami Valley group found the Brethren Service
rewording unacceptable. Center, Brethren
Volunteer
In 1881, they resubmitted their petition to Annual Conference, Service,
and it was rejected for violating technical procedure. In Children's
November 1881, traditionalist Brethren led by the Miami
Disaster
Valley group met and formally split from the Church of the
Services, Heifer
Brethren to form the Old German Baptist Brethren. They held
their first annual meeting in 1882. International,
SERRV
At the same time, Henry Holsinger, a leader of the International
progressives in the church, published writings that some Nursing homes 21 (Fellowship of
Brethren considered slanderous and schismatic. As a result, he
Brethren Homes)
was disfellowshipped from the 1882 annual meeting of the
Brethren. He met with other progressives on June 6 and 7, Tertiary institutions Six colleges and
1883, and together they formed the Brethren Church.[5] universities
(Bridgewater
The remaining middle group—called "conservatives"— College,
retained the name German Baptist Brethren. At the Annual Elizabethtown
Conference of 1908 at Des Moines, Iowa, the name was
College, Juniata
officially changed to the Church of the Brethren. The Annual
College,
Conference justified the name change by citing the
predominant use of English in the church, the fact that the Manchester
name "German Baptist" frustrated mission work, and that it University,
would disassociate the denomination from the Old German McPherson
Baptist Brethren.[6] College, and
University of La
Verne), one
20th century seminary
(Bethany
During the early 20th century, the Church of the Brethren
Theological
invested heavily in foreign missions in India, China, and other
nations. They also embraced the American temperance Seminary), see
movement. also Brethren
Colleges Abroad
The denomination's two-hundred year old peace position was
Official website brethren.org (htt
tested when delegates at the Goshen Conference in Goshen,
p://www.brethren.
Indiana, adopted the 1918 Statement on War and Violence (htt
p://www.brethren.org/ac/statements/1918war.html) nine org/)
months after the United States entered the war to address the
issue of conscientious objectors. In July of that year, leaders of the conference were threatened with
punishment by the US government under the Sedition Act. The church leaders agreed not to retract the
statement, but to withdraw it from circulation.[7]
Discipline for violating church teachings during the church's
first two hundred years ranged from setting members "back"
from communion to disfellowshipping them as members to,
in rare cases, "avoidance" (or shunning). These practices
gradually subsided as the earlier emphasis upon unity of
practice (the "order of the Brethren") gave way during the
1920s and 1930s to an emphasis upon individual moral
autonomy. Martin Grove Brumbaugh—a Brethren minister
and historian who became governor of Pennsylvania in 1915
—played a leading role in disseminating a more progressive
vision of Brethren history and practice. His questionable
claim that "no force in religion" had been a Brethren The first Brethren church built in America, in
teaching since their founding reinforced his calls to relax Germantown near Philadelphia.
[8]
church discipline. These changes led to an exodus of many
conservative Brethren in the 1920s, who organized the
Dunkard Brethren Church, which continues to uphold the Brethren practices of plain dress and
headcovering.[9][10]

During the 1940s and 1950s, acts of global Christian service flourished and energized the denomination.
Service work was centered at the Brethren Service Center (http://www.brethren.org/brethrenservicecenter/)
in New Windsor, Md., after Brethren purchased a former college campus there for that purpose. Many
Brethren joined Brethren Volunteer Service (http://www.brethren.org/bvs/) and Heifers for Relief, which
incorporated independently in 1953 and eventually became Heifer International. The Brethren helped
establish the Christian Rural Overseas Program (CROP), which was originally housed at Bethany Biblical
Seminary, the Brethren seminary in Oak Brook, Illinois. Well-known leaders of the Brethren Service
initiatives included Dan West and M.R. (Michael Robert) Zigler (https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Zigler,_
Michael_Robert_(1891-1985)).

From the end of the Second World War to the present,

Brethren have continued to be active in service and
missions around the world. Differences have also
remained, with Brethren individuals, churches, and
districts disagreeing about issues including Biblical
authority, ordination of women, homosexuality,
climate change, and ecumenism.

The 1958 Annual Conference in Des Moines, Iowa,

Nappanee First Brethren Church, Indiana, United
decided that trine immersion would not be required of
States.
all members, allowed ordination of women, opened
love feast to members of any church, and permitted
bread and cup communion outside of love feast.

At the Annual Conference in Ocean Grove, New Jersey, the next year, a group of conservative Brethren
responded by forming the Brethren Revival Fellowship (BRF). The BRF describes itself as "a loyal
concern movement within the Church of the Brethren." The BRF advocates simple dress, Biblical
inerrancy, church discipline, and an evangelical understanding of faith. It has been critical of the
denomination's involvement in political and social causes, as well as its association with the World Council
of Churches and the National Council of Churches.

Progressive-leaning groups have also grown. Groups including the Womaen's Caucus, Voices for an Open
Spirit, Open Table Cooperative, and Brethren-Mennonite Council on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and
Transgender Interests advocate changes to church doctrine and practice. Proposed changes have include
giving the denomination a gender-neutral name,
allowing LGBT Brethren to be ordained as ministers
and get married, and increasing the political and social
mission of the church.

Although a divide exists within the church on these

issues, the official position of the church is that the
Bible is the Word of God, and that covenant
relationships between homosexuals are
unacceptable. [11][12] However, the church also affirms
"unity in diversity", which generally allows for church
districts and congregations to set doctrine.[13]
Church of the Brethren, Bellefontaine, Ohio, United
21st century States.

In July 2019, the Association of Brethren Churches,

since renamed the Covenant Brethren Church (CBC), organized as a movement to explore separation from
the Church of the Brethren.[14][15] The CBC began with a vision cast in July 2019, as Church of the
Brethren leaders from thirteen districts gathered in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, to pray, discern, and
discuss a new vision for Brethren in the 21st Century. A temporary executive board was called, and sub-
teams were tasked with working at various aspects of the vision. Subsequent, steadily growing gatherings
of Brethren from across the United States met in Winchester and Woodstock, Virginia and widely affirmed
these developments.

On November 16, 2019, at the Antioch Church in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, the assembled group
was first called The Covenant Brethren Church, and moved toward establishing an office in north-central
West Virginia. A Statement of Faith and by-laws are in development for this new movement. The CBC has
stated that it fully affirms biblical authority, the sanctity of marriage as expressed in Genesis 2 and affirmed
by Jesus Christ in Matthew 19, the sanctity of human life from conception, and the historical New
Testament ideals and practices held by the Brethren since 1708.

The Church of the Brethren Leadership Team responded to these developments with a statement expressing
concerns with the CBC's direction and said division was "not a path forward."[16] The Church of the
Brethren, meanwhile, has been moving forward with a "Compelling Vision Statement"[17] process
designed to create a direction for the denomination that will aid in unifying it and moving it forward.

Statistics
According to a denomination census released in 2020, it has 11 member denominations in 11 countries,
approximately 2,600 churches and 600,000 baptized members.[18]

The Church of the Brethren in the United States—like many other mainline churches—has experienced a
steady decline in membership since the middle of the 20th century. Despite the overall decline, growth has
occurred in some areas through church planting, evangelism, and outreach. It has also spread into other
countries including the Dominican Republic (where it is called "Iglesia de los Hermanos"), Haiti (as
"Eglise des Frères Haitiens"), Brazil, and Spain.

In Nigeria, the Church of the Brethren is literally known as "Church of the Children of the Same Mother"
(Hausa: Ekklesiyar Yan'uwa a Nigeria, or EYN). Mission work began in Nigeria in 1923. The membership
of EYN, which must be renewed annually, reached 148,000 members in 2002,[19] surpassing the
membership of the US-based church.[20] In 1965, the Brethren missionaries working in Ecuador since
1945, merged the churches they
planted with those of the United
Andean Indian Mission, to form the
United Evangelical Church, now
United Evangelical Methodist Church
of Ecuador. In a similar way, in 1970,
the mission in India merged with the
Anglicans, Baptists, Disciples of
Christ and Presbyterians to form the
Church of North India, though some
congregations have seceded since the
merger. A map of the worldwide scope of the Church of the Brethren:
Headquarters of the Church (United States)
As of 2019 it was reported on the
church's yearbook that US Current overseas missions (Brazil; the Dominican Republic;
membership had dropped below Haiti; Nigeria and Oku, Cameroon; Spain, and Southern Sudan)
100,000[21] and as of 2020 Churches that are the result of mergers with other Protestant
membership dropped around missions (Ecuador's United Andean Indian Mission and the Church
[22] of North India; a single Indian church still belongs to the Church of
91,000.
the Brethren)
Foreign missions that have closed (Argentina, China, Denmark
Beliefs and Sweden, France and Switzerland, Indonesia, Niger, and Turkey)

Noncreedalism

The Brethren have "no creed", but embrace the entire New
Testament as their "rule of faith and practice". If a single part of the
New Testament is most pointed to as a guide for members' lives, it
is the Sermon on the Mount. 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' Former Brethren church (Betesda) in
head fell forward. Malmö, Scania, Sweden.

When disagreements arise regarding the correct interpretation of

New Testament passages or general congregation issues, local congregations go to their regional district
conference for resolution. If necessary, 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. However, some congregations accept or even encourage
individual interpretation of the Bible and their faith.

In keeping with egalitarianism and respect for the individual, evangelism in the Church of the Brethren is
practiced by personal demonstration of faith via good works in the world community, and by
nonconfrontational witnessing.

Brethren espouse the basic beliefs of Christianity, such as the divinity of Christ. They emphasize peace,
simplicity, the equality of believers, and consistent obedience to Christ, and community discernment of
scripture. Community, both within and without the church, is promoted, and Brethren often describe
themselves in terms of what they do, rather than what they believe, which is consistent with their notion of
a lived faith. Brethren also affirm that "faith without works is dead", and are heavily involved in disaster
relief and other charitable works.

Peace

The Church of the Brethren is one of the historic peace churches, which includes Quakers, Amish,
Apostolic and Mennonite churches. This is because two of the Brethren's fundamental beliefs are
nonviolent resolution of conflict and nonresistance to evil, which they combine with antiwar and peace
efforts around the world. The church's commitment to love the enemy and use nonviolence is summarized
in its phrase, "all war is sin" (Annual Conference, 1935), and the fact that many Brethren have refused to
engage in military service.

During the American Revolution and the American Civil War, Brethren required their members to abstain
from military service, believing that obedience to Christ precluded such involvements. Until the early 20th
century, Brethren baptismal applicants were required to promise that they would uphold the church's
teaching about "being defenseless". 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 nonviolent service. Civilian Public Service was a result of the three historic peace
churches collaborating with the U.S. government. While the government provided tools and materials and
their work was managed by agencies such as the Soil Conservation or Forest Service, "the historic peace
churches funded all the expenses for the men, including food, administrative costs, and a tiny monthly
stipend of $2.50" (equivalent to $50 in 2022).[23] 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 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
young Brethren draftees entered active duty in the military.[24] Recent national surveys of the Brethren
suggest that only a minority of the current membership views military service as wrong.[25]

Priesthood of all believers

Brethren follow a nonhierarchical pattern of church life. In the past, most congregations were served by
multiple "free" ministers, elected by their own congregations, 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.

Simplicity

Brethren have been urged (and in earlier times compelled) to live a relatively simple lifestyle. At various
points in their history, Brethren have been prohibited or discouraged from attending fairs and carnivals,
swearing oaths, driving motorized vehicles, attending secular colleges, joining secret societies, filing
lawsuits, gambling, and using tobacco or alcoholic beverages.

Simplicity, or nonconformity as it was called until the early 20th century, was once very noticeable in
Brethren dress and grooming. Men wore black coats with no collar, and hooks instead of buttons (often
referred to as Brethren garb or dressing "in the order"). They would wear beards, but no mustaches. The
mustache was seen as a sign of the saloon or the military. Also, the beards were cut in a manner to avoid
interference with the kiss of peace. In addition, they wore broad-brimmed black hats.
Women wore long dresses in dark colors, and a white kapp—a prayer covering. Today, Brethren garb is
still 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.[10] The traditional Brethren plain dress is very similar to the clothing of the
present-day Amish. The Dunkard Brethren Church, formed in 1926 by conservative members of Church of
the Brethren, continues to preserve the traditional Brethren practice of plain dress[10] as do the Old German
Baptist Brethren who withdrew during the 1880s.

Most Brethren were well-acculturated by the second half of the 20th 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). In many respects,
twenty-first century Brethren lifestyles mirror the lifestyles of their non-Brethren neighbors.

Social issues

Like many mainline denominations, the Church of the Brethren has been debating issues related to human
sexuality. In 2002, the Michigan District licensed and ordained an openly gay pastor, making it the first
district to do so in the denomination.[26] However, in 2003, the Annual Conference voted to reject the
ordination of openly gay and lesbian pastors.

Since then, however, several congregations within the denomination have publicly announced their support
for same-sex marriage and openly LGBT clergy.[27] In 2012, the Church of the Brethren adopted a
resolution opposing same-sex marriage, but some congregations protested the resolution[28] and some voted
to begin performing same-gender marriages.[29] Some congregations also publicly welcome transgender
members.[30] In 2018, the Atlantic Northeast District rejected a proposal to terminate the credentials of
clergy who perform a same-sex marriage because the vote did not receive the necessary two-thirds
majority.[31] The Northern Ohio District did approve a policy to terminate the clergy credentials of those
pastors who perform same-sex marriage.[32] Virginia's Shenandoah District has similarly withdrawn
ordination from ministers who would perform same-sex marriages.

Official church statements oppose abortion while committing to "develop constructive, creative
alternatives".[33]

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

The person seeking anointing is administered a small amount of oil on his or her forehead. 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. Healing is explicitly stated to include emotional and
spiritual healing, 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.

Believer's baptism

The Brethren believe that believer's 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 13. 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 in the Name of the Father, and
in the name of the Son, and in the name of the Holy Spirit. This is followed by laying on of hands for the
impartation of the Holy Spirit.

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

Love feast

The Brethren love feast is a conscious imitation of Jesus' last supper with his disciples. It begins with foot
washing symbolizing cleansing, humility, and service. They then share a meal, which has symbolized the
eschatalogical gathering of the faithful when Christ returns, but currently emphasizes fellowship within the
faith community. Finally, they share the bread and cup communion (using unfermented red grape juice),
symbolizing participation in Christ's suffering and death. There may also be hymns and a sermon, as well
as a preliminary time of self-examination. Usually women and men sit at different tables, but in most
congregations, no onus exists on sitting together—by family, child with parent, to avoid crowding a table,
so forth. Even though the Love Feast has changed over the years -- becoming shorter, more interactive and
less somber, and providing alternatives such as hand-washing -- it retains the same three components that it
has included from the founding of the Brethren.[34]

Congregations typically hold love feast on Maundy Thursday and again on World Communion Sunday in
October. Some congregations also have bread-and-cup communion periodically during regular worship
services.

Structure
The Brethren practice the "priesthood of all believers", and their structure is egalitarian. Some members still
address each other as "Brother Sam" or "Sister Sarah", 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 both a spiritual and a functional role rather than a 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)
slowly became the predominant model, although some congregations still have "free" (nonsalaried)
ministers and plural ministry.

Historically, there have been three degrees of ministry in the Church of the Brethren:
 The first degree (now known as a licensed minister) is bestowed on those who are
considering serving as ministers. The period of licensure is a time for education and self-
examination, after which the individual either advances to ordination or returns to lay status.
The second degree minister, or ordained minister, is one who intends to continue serving in
a ministerial role, usually as a professional pastor, teacher, counselor, or administrator.
The third degree of minister, also known as an elder, served as a head minister and
supervised other ministers in a congregation. By the 1960s, many roles previously reserved
for non-salaried elders had been assigned to salaried pastors, leaving elders with little
unique ministerial function. So the Annual Conference of 1967 decided that no elders would
be elected after that time. Some congregations in the Southern Pennsylvania and Atlantic
Northeast Districts still elect elders.

The denomination ordains women as pastors and affirms them for all levels of leadership in the
church.[35][36]

The Brethren also select lay leaders as deacons as 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 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 current practice, the Annual Conference moderator is elected to a two-year term, serving for the first year
as "moderator-elect." An Annual Conference secretary, elected to a five-year term, keeps track of the flow
of business. Together, the officers "receive and process the business of Annual Conference, establish and
manage agendas ... represent the Conference at district meetings and other appropriate settings, and respond
to concerns of denominational members regarding actions and activities of Conference."[37]

Boards, committees, and agencies

Each congregation selects delegates to serve at an Annual Conference (traditionally 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. Standing Committee, a body composed of representatives from each district, processes
the business that comes to Annual Conference and makes recommendations. Often 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, although sometimes a query is returned.

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.
Several agencies are given charge of carrying out the ministries of the church under the auspices of Annual
Conference.

At the 2008 Annual Conference of the Church of the Brethren, two of these agencies—the Church of the
Brethren General Board and the Association of Brethren Caregivers—were combined into a single entity,
the Church of the Brethren, Inc., the ministry arm of which is now known as the Mission and Ministry
Board. Headquartered in Elgin, Illinois, its programs include,[38] Global Mission and Service, Brethren
Volunteer Service,[39] Youth/Young Adult Ministries, Intercultural Ministries, and Discipleship Ministries.
The Messenger periodical,[40] whose roots go back to 1851—making it one of the oldest continually
operating church periodicals in the country—is the official magazine of the church.[41]

The general secretary, typically hired for renewable five-year terms, oversees the work of the Church of the
Brethren, Inc., and is the chief ecumenical officer of the denomination. Other Annual Conference agencies
include Bethany Theological Seminary, Brethren Benefit Trust, and On Earth Peace.

Higher education institutions related to the Church of the Brethren

Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, Virginia
Elizabethtown College in Elizabethtown,
Pennsylvania
Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania
University of La Verne in La Verne, California
Manchester University in North Manchester,
Indiana Manchester University at North Manchester,
McPherson College in McPherson, Kansas Indiana.

Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond,

Indiana

References
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ISBN 978-1-4616-5884-9.
2. Lewis, James R. (March 2001). The Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religions.
Prometheus Books. p. 139. ISBN 978-1-61592-738-8.
3. Donald B. Kraybill, Concise Encyclopedia of Amish, Brethren, Hutterites, and Mennonites,
JHU Press, USA, 2010, p. 83
4. "19th Century Acculturation of the Brethren" (http://www.cob-net.org/19th.htm). Cob-net.
Retrieved November 15, 2015.
5. "Brethren Church" (https://ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Brethren_Church). Ohio History
Connection.
6. Carl F Bowman (1995). Brethren Society: The Cultural Transformation of a Peculiar People.
Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 225-232.
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8. Carl F Bowman (1995). Brethren Society: The Cultural Transformation of a Peculiar People.
Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 252-253; 356–357. See also Donald F Durnbaugh
(1997). Fruit of the Vine: A History of the Brethren 1708-1995. Brethren Press. p. 390-391.
9. "History" (https://web.archive.org/web/20220418125909/https://www.dunkardbrethrenchurc
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w.brethren.org/about/policies/2008-forbearance.pdf) (PDF). Brethren. Archived from the
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17. Compelling Vision Statement (http://www.brethren.org/ac/compelling-vision.html), Brethen
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brethren.org/genbd/global_mission/Nigeria/index.htm). Brethren.org. November 22, 2013.
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21. Newsline, Church of the Brethren (January 27, 2021). "Church of the Brethren
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021/denominational-membership-falls-below-100000/). Retrieved March 23, 2023.
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n/ceqb). bmclgbt.org. Brethren Mennonite Council. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
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February 11, 2020.

Further reading
Background and Development of Brethren Doctrines, 1650–1987, Dale R. Stoffer (1989)
Brethren Press ISBN 978-0936693224
Beliefs of the Early Brethren: 1706–1735, William G. Willoughby (1999) Brethren Press
ISBN 978-0936693514
Brethren Society: The Cultural Transformation of a Peculiar People, Carl F. Bowman (1995)
Johns Hopkins University Press ISBN 978-0801849053
Brethren Encyclopedia, Vol. I–III, Donald F. Durnbaugh, editor (1983) The Brethren
Encyclopedia Inc.
 Brethren Encyclopedia, Vol. IV, Donald F. Durnbaugh and Dale V. Ulrich, editors, Carl
Bowman, contributing editor (2006) The Brethren Encyclopedia Inc.
The Brethren in Industrial America: A Source Book on the Development of the Church of the
Brethren, 1865–1915, Roger Sappington (ed.), (1985), Brethren Press ISBN 978-
0871781116
Church of the Brethren Yesterday and Today Donald F. Durnbaugh and Carl Desportes
Bowman (1986), Brethren Press ISBN 978-0871781512
Encyclopedia of American Religions, J. Gordon Melton, editor
Fruit of the Vine, A History of the Brethren 1708–1995, Donald F. Durnbaugh (1996) Brethren
Press ISBN 978-0871780034
Handbook of Denominations, by Frank S. Mead, Samuel S. Hill, and Craig D. Atwood
Portrait of a People: The Church of the Brethren at 300, Carl Desportes Bowman (2008)
Brethren Press ISBN 978-0871780850
Profiles in Belief: the Religious Bodies of the United States and Canada, by Arthur Carl
Piepkorn
Religious Congregations & Membership in the United States (2000), Glenmary Research
Center
The Believers' Church: The History and Character of Radical Protestantism, Donald F.
Durnbaugh (1968) The Macmillan Company ISBN

External links
Official website (http://www.brethren.org/)
Church of the Brethren (https://curlie.org/Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Christianity/Deno
minations/Brethren/Church_of_the_Brethren/) at Curlie
Mallott, Floyd E. (1953). "Church of the Brethren" (https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Church
_of_the_Brethren). In Roth, John D. (ed.). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia
Online.
Church of the Brethren at Association of Religious Data Archives (http://www.thearda.com/D
enoms/D_1180.asp)

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