FREE ESSAY ON BRETHREN

BRETHREN

Brethren a German Baptist religious group. They were popularly known as Dunkards, Dunkers,
or Tunkers, from the German for "to dip", referring to their method of baptizing. The
Brethren evolved from the Pietist movement in Germany. Alexander Mack, a miller who had
been influenced by both Pietism and Anabaptism, organized the first congregation in the
town of Schwarzenau, Germany in 1708.
Though the early Brethren shared many beliefs with other Protestants, issuers which
separated them from the state churches included discipleship and obedience, reinstitution
of the New Testament church, church discipline, biblicism, and nonresistance. They also
shared their faith enthusiastically with others, sending evangelists to other parts of
Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
Due to growing persecution and economic hardship, Brethren began migrating to North
America in 1719 under the leadership of Peter Becker. Most Brethren left Europe by 1740,
including Mack, who brought a group in 1729. The first congregation in the New World was
organized at Germantown, Pa., in 1723. Soon after this formation, the Germantown
congregation sent missionaries to rural areas around Philadelphia. These missionaries
preached, baptized, and started new congregations.
Their zeal, honesty, and hard work drew many new members into the Brethren faith
community through the 1700s. New congregations were formed in New Jersey, Maryland, and
Virginia. With the promise of inexpensive land, they moved into Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois, and Missouri after the Revolutionary War. By the mid-1800s Brethren had settled
in Kansas and Iowa and eventually the West Coast.
Expansion across the continent and changes due to the Industrial Revolution caused strain
and conflict among the Brethren. In the early 1880s a major schism took place resulting
in a three-way split. The largest branch after the schism was the German Baptist
Brethren, who changed their name to the Church of the Brethren in 1908.
From the Church of Brethren there have been separations into the Seventh-day Baptists,
German Baptists, Church of God, Old German Baptist Brethren, and the Brethren Church. The
local churches are united by an annual conference that elects a general board to
supervise the national church program.
During the 20th century the focus areas of Church of the Brethren have included educating
its young people by developing Sunday schools, camping and youth programs; strengthening
its emphasis on service, foreign and home missions, and peacemaking; increasing its
ecumenical involvement; and developing a new denominational structure. Today the Church
of the Brethren maintains the basic beliefs of the first Brethren and seeks to find new
ways to continue the work of Jesus in the world.
While the Church of the Brethren started in Germany, it has no congregations in Europe
today. Instead, the denomination's congregations stretch from coast to coast across North
America, with especially strong concentrations in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio,
and Indiana. In all, more than 1,000 churches can be found in 38 states and Puerto Rico.
There are also nearly 20 international churches in the Dominican Republic, and a large
sister denomination in Nigeria. 
There are four key locations in the denomination. One key location is Elgin, ILL. This
city is home to the denomination's headquarters and General Offices. It houses the main
offices of the Church of the Brethren General Board, Brethren Benefit Trust, the
Association of Brethren Caregivers, the Annual Conference, and the Brethren Employees
Credit Union.
Another key location is New Windsor, MD. This small town is the location of the Brethren
Service Center, known for hospitality and service ministries. On its grounds, a former
college campus, are the New Windsor Conference Center, Church of the Brethren Emergency
Response/Service Ministries, and other ecumenical and independent church-related
programs. The New Windsor distribution center sends goods across the US and around the
globe for many church agencies.
The Church of the Brethren Washington office, near Capital Hill, helps to give the
denomination a voice in national and international policy-making, provide interpretation
of Annual Conference statements and General Board resolutions, and keep members current
on issues.
Brethren truly span the nation and the globe, with field staff in five regions across the
US, and volunteers working at a projects in many states and countries through Brethren
Volunteer Service. Brethren also have mission workers in Nigeria, Kenya, Sudan, the
Dominican Republic, Central America, and elsewhere.
Six colleges are affiliated with the Church of the Brethren. Two of them are
Elizabethtown and Juniata are located in Pennsylvania. Others are Bridgewater (Va.)
College, Manchester College (Ind.) McPherson (Kan.) College, and the University of La
Verne (Calif.). In addition, Brethren Colleges Abroad, also located in North Manchester,
Ind., sends students overseas for study abroad programs and brings international students
to Brethren colleges.
Though the Brethren as a group have existed for nearly three hundred years, they
subscribe to no formal creed or set of rules. They simply try to do what Jesus did. Jesus
brought a message of life, love, and hope. But he offered much more than inspiring words:
He understood that people's spiritual needs also include day-to-day human ones, such as
food, health, rest, comfort, friendship, and unconditional acceptance. "I am the way, "
he told his followers. He showed them how to trust, how to care, and how to help.
Steadily, lovingly, even radically, Jesus went about saving the world by serving its
people. The brethren believe in his message, and they seek to do the same.
Whether the conflict involves warring nations, radical discord, theological disputes,
personal disagreement, or mere misunderstanding, Brethren listen conscientiously, seek
guidance in the scriptures, and work toward reconciliation. Brethren practice peaceful
living.
Brethren's longstanding commitment to peace and justice includes a deep regard for human
life and dignity. Brethren reach worldwide to help repair the ravages of poverty,
ignorance, exploitation, and catastrophic events. Along with their faith, they bring
food, books, classes, tools, and medicine. Living peacefully, to the Brethren, means
treating each person with the attentive, compassionate respect that all human beings
deserve.
Years ago, all Brethren were immediately recognizable because of their plain dress and
reserved ways. Today's Brethren live very much in the world, work in a broad range of
occupations, and make use of the latest technology.
Continually, though, they try to simplify their lives. Practicing a modest nonconformity,
they think carefully about their daily choices. The ideal of simplicity guides their
decisions: How will they conduct their business, raise their children, spend their
leisure time, tend to their natural resources? How will they use their money? How they
can live comfortably, but without excess?
For the Brethren, such considerations are not a requirement, but a privilege. As they
seek to live intentionally, responsibly, and simply, they find a deep sense of purpose
and find joy.
Whether worshiping, serving, learning, or celebrating, Brethren act in community.
Together, they study the bible to discern God's will. They make decisions as a group, and
each person's voice matters. During their traditional love feast, they gather at the
table of the Lord, and each summer at Annual Conference they convene as a denominational
family. Because Jesus urged unity, Brethren work alongside other denominations, at home
and abroad, in worldwide missions and outreach.
Their congregations welcome all who wish to share with them in another way of living: the
way of Christian discipleship, life in community, and fulfillment in service.
Bibliography
1. Keillor, Garrison "Born Among The Born Again", America Voices 3rd Edition Dolores
LaGuardia, Hans P. Guth. California; Mayfield Publishing Company 1998.
2. Eller, Vernard "Kierkegaard and Radical Discipleship: A New Perspective", Princeton,
New Jersey; Princeton University Press 1968.