Short videos about WHO WE ARE

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Continuing the work of Jesus

WHO are the Brethren?

Alexander Mack and others gathered for Bible study.

There flamed within their hearts a desire to return to a simple faith in complete obedience to Jesus Christ. They desired to recreate a church that exemplified God’s original intentions. So they looked to Jesus, and Jesus alone, to be their guide for faith and practice.

And so, in 1708, ignoring the law of the land, eight men and women baptized one another in the Eder River. They chose to do so "To Follow in Jesus’ Steps” They “had a burning desire to take Jesus very seriously.” And the Church of the Brethren was born.

​This message tells more of the story, our ROOTS as it were.

Peacefully

According to Wikipedia, the Brethren Are one of the historic peace churches along with the Quakers, the Mennonites, and the Amish.

Being a peace church Includes way much more than just being against war. Being a peace church has to include a more layered approach to peace. Peace begins within and extends ever outward.

If there is to be peace in the world, there must be peace in the nations.
If there is to be peace in the nations, there must be peace in the cities.
If there is to be peace in the cities, there must be peace between neighbors.
If there is to be peace between neighbors, there must be peace in the home.
If there is to be peace in the home, there must be peace in the heart
(Lao Tzu).

​This video brings a message of what historically makes the Brethren so different as we explore “being a peace church”. Watch and listen to hear more about who the Brethren are.

Simply

We CAN live a simple and balanced life in a crazy, complicated, consumeristic world.

We CAN replace our anxiety-filled, fast-paced life with a simpler, nonmaterialistic existence. It requires not only the outward physical discipline of careful and deliberate spending. But also, the inward spiritual discipline of finding joy in the simpler things in life.

And though we are very much a part of the world, we try not to conform to the ways of the world. We seek to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. That we may discern the will of God What is good and acceptable and perfect. Simple living guides our lives, how we conduct our businesses, how we raise our families, how we spend our leisure time, and how we care for God’s creation.

​This video is a message on “Simple Living”. How the Brethren traditionally lived it, and how we live it out today.

Together

WHO or WHAT are the Brethren?

Being Brethren is a vocation, a way of life. It means participation in an intricate web of hospitality, living at the intersection of human need and God's grace, inhabiting a community where men and women who don't fit are welcomed, where neglected children are noticed, where the stories of Jesus are told, and people who have no stories find that they do have stories, stories that are part of the Jesus story.

For the Brethren, the church was not a building, a meeting, or an institution, but community and fellowship. Relationships with others were to be marked by love, unity, reconciliation, and mutual aid. We still use terms like brother and sister to express the family-like relationship we strive for. Our ordinance of Love Feast, the washing of feet, the shared meal, and the bread and cup, symbolize this tight-knit relationship. It is the Brethren’s way. It is the way of Jesus.

​This video tells us more about community and WHO the Brethren are.

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Beliefs

Brethren uphold freedom of religious choice; living out Jesus’ teaching in both word and deed; the benefit of close fellowship; all members as ministers; basing values on the New Testament rather than society; health for the whole person; honesty in all of life; simple living; nonviolent resolution of conflict, and service to the world. Our vision for serving others has helped seed organizations such as Church World Service, On Earth Peace, Heifer International, and Brethren Volunteer Service. Comprised of 118,000 members in approximately 1,000 congregations, we are one of the three historic peace churches, along with the Mennonites and the Society of Friends (Quakers).

Brethren encourage the spiritual practices of baptism for those seeking to follow Jesus; anointing for those who need healing; laying on of hands for those engaging in special missions; and love feast meals for those who want to follow Jesus’ example of foot washing, eating together and sharing bread and cup communion.

Additional Background

We take our name from a New Testament word “Brethren,” a word that describes communities of men, women, and children given over to living in Jesus’ way of compassion.

The Church of the Brethren began out of German Pietism in 1708, with the desire of reformers to more fully follow the teachings and example of Jesus.

We subscribe to no formal creed or rules, but see the New Testament as our guide to faith and practice.
We affirm many basic beliefs of other major denominations as we seek to encourage partnership with Christians and persons of good will through local, state, national and world religious councils.
​We are partnered with autonomous Church of the Brethren groups in other parts of the world, including the Ekklesiyar’ Yan’uwa a Nigeria, a church that now has more members than the Church of the Brethren in the United States.

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