Brethren in Christ Church

The Brethren in Christ or brothers in Christ are a Protestant church in North America. They are represented as Anabaptist Church International in the Mennonite World Conference. The Brethren in Christ are also known as River Brethren or Mennonites River.

The history of the Brethren in Christ began in 1778 in the Mennonite settlements along the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania. This made ​​the most of them from Germany and Switzerland Mennonites on the ideas of the coming also from Germany Schwarzenau Brethren (also Tunker or English Dunkards ). With them pietistic approaches came into the communities, which is why the River Mennonites away more and more from the other Mennonite congregations. As a form of baptism finally alone believers' baptism was approved by immersion (immersion). A first profession of faith of the new church in 1780 written. During the American Civil War, the name Brethren in Christ established. The name has been linked to the first Baptist churches in Switzerland, who also called themselves brothers in Christ. As one of the founders of the young church is the Mennonite pastor Jacob Engle. On the threshold of the 20th century approaches of John Wesley input found in the theology of the Brethren in Christ. Sacraments are baptism today (as believer's baptism ) and the Lord's Supper ( as a memorial ). Like other Mennonite churches support the Brethren in Christ after the example of the Sermon on non-violence. Internationally, the church is committed in addition to the Mennonite World Conference in the Brethren in Christ World Hunger Fund and the Mennonite Central Committee.

Worldwide profess today about 80,000 people to the Church of the Brethren in Christ. Of these, about 20,000 live in the U.S.. In addition to the Brethren in Christ there are still other churches or community organizations that rely on the River Mennonites. The Church can not (Greek for brothers in Christ ) to be confused with the new religious group of Christadelphians However, the other historical roots.