Apostolic Christian Church (Nazarene)

The Federation of Evangelical Baptist congregations (formerly Evangelical communities called Taufgesinnter II ( ETG), Fröhlichianer, short collar ETG or Neutäufer ) is an Evangelical Free Church and at the same umbrella organization for all affiliated European local churches evangelical Baptist churches. It is organized as an association, which has its headquarters at the respective Secretariat. His organs are the National Conference, the National Board and the Auditors.

History

The Community of Protestant Taufgesinnter was founded by Pastor Samuel Heinrich Fröhlich. This worked in the first third of the 19th century in Leutwil, but fell out with the church authorities due to theological differences. Through his sermons, however, many people felt touched, which meant that several hundred outside the regional church structures came to listen to him. In 1832 he baptized 38 of them on their faith. The subsequent joint administration of the Eucharist on Pentecost of the same year is now considered as the birth of ETGs.

By the end of his life ( 1857), there were already more than 30 ETGs, which spread over the whole of Switzerland, Alsace and Southern Germany. But even after his death, the ETGs but spread more and more, though hardly in Switzerland and Germany, but in France, Eastern Europe (especially Hungary) and North and South America. At the same time ETGs, however, had to contend with the fact that they had a relatively loose organization. To regular national and international Oldest meetings were to agree in the most important theological questions organized. In addition, we visited with each other regularly. In other evangelical free churches but no contact was maintained.

At the beginning of the 20th century there was a dispute among the communities. In the U.S., a more stringent direction had emerged, which forbade its members with the remark that as a Christian you should not be compared with the "world", wearing a new beard fashion. However, the greater part of ETGs was not such a closer view and did not want to submit to this. When in 1905 the stricter part decided at a meeting in Basel, no longer recognize those who did not share their stricter view, the ETGs split. The spin-off called Evangelical communities Taufgesinnter II, today Evangelical Baptist churches. Although various attempts have been made to unite again, but all proved unsuccessful. Between the stricter and more open direction today there are neither relations nor cooperation.

The Second World War and the consequent resultant interruption of international relations, the estranged communities. In certain theological issues, there were different views now, but it was now, however, open to other denominations. It also played a major role that the ETGs were still subordinate to any organization. In order to coordinate the communities and especially the various established institutions now better, including the Federation of Evangelical Baptist congregations was founded in 1984 in Bern. Members can be all European local congregations of ETG.

Works, facilities and Ecumenism

Plants and facilities in Germany and Switzerland who are close to the federal government ETG, but work as independent clubs, are the Evangelical Missionary Service (EMD ) in Weinfelden and Ludwigsburg, the cooperative " HELP " in Zurich, the Evangelical Freizeitheim CREDO in Wilderswil and the Evangelical Freizeitheim " Lindewiese " in Überlingen on Lake Constance. Moreover, the Confederation ETG in Liestal works with the training and conference center Bee Mountain (ATB) together at Basel. Member ETG is the covenant of the Association of Evangelical Free Churches and communities in Switzerland. Many local churches are also a member of the Swiss Evangelical Alliance.

Member communities

The member municipalities of the Federal ETG located in Germany ( 10 ), Switzerland (22 ) and France ( 3).

Communities in Germany, there are in Marburg -Biedenkopf (municipality Breidenbach ) Oppelsbohm (municipality Berglen ) Scheppach (municipality Bretz field), Karlsruhe -Durlach, Ludwigsburg, Neuhütten (municipality Wüstenrot ) Siegelsbach, Spaichingen and Bambergen ( city of Überlingen ).

Communities in Switzerland is available in Au (municipality Wädenswil ) Bachenbülach, Basel, Bern, Bischofszell, Chaindon, this bei Buren, alder TG, Erlenbach ZH, Grub AR, Hombrechtikon, gable (municipality Langnau im Emmental ), Mettmenstetten, Pfäffikon, Zürich, ZH Ruti, streaks, Staefa and Zurich.

Membership

For 1950, for which at that time itself, so call end "Old Mennonite " that lead no membership statistics, a number of members 1000-2000 considered; in Switzerland, there should be about four times as many.

The BETG gives its current membership number itself with a total of 2,500.