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WHO ARE THE BRETHREN?
The Church of the Brethren came into being in 1708 at Schwarzenau, Germany.
Their resolve to start a new church was a part of the pietistic movement against a highly organized state church which, they believed, did not set a high enough value upon the individual and which often suppressed the rights of the individual conscience. They were also influenced by the Anabaptist movement.
Between 1719 and 1729, the Brethren emigrated to Germantown, Pennsylvania. They found a refuge with other Plain People and have always had much in common with Mennonites and Quakers. The Brethren now have churches across the United States. Their mission work has taken them to India, China, Ecuador, and Indonesia. Since 1947 hundreds of Brethren service workers have offered help and hope to persons in almost every country of the world.
- The Living Christ is the Creed of the Church (John 1:4).
- The New Testament is the Rule of Faith and Practice (Luke 16:16; John 14:6; Matthew 5:17b; 5:21-41; Mark 2:22,27).
IDEALS
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I. Peace |
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(1) Peace with God |
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(2) Peace of God in human hearts |
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(3) Peace with our fellow man |
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(a) No war with its hate and bloodshed |
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(b) No force in religion |
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(c) No litigation in pagan courts for selfish purposes (Matthew 5:21-24, 38-44) |
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II. Temperance The body has a sacred purpose, hence must be pure, and free from all that injures it. Temperance in all that is good; and abstinence from all that is evil (Romans 12:1,2) |
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III. The Spiritual Life (The Simple Life) In contrast with the life of worldliness and luxury which has caused the downfall of peoples and nations (James 2:14-17; I Peter 3:3-5). |
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IV. Brotherhood |
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(1) No slavery. The Church of the Brethren was always against slavery. |
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(2) No caste. Equality in all human relationships |
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(3) The family spirit in worship and in life (Matthew 25:35-40) |
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V. The Good Life In contrast with religion as mere creeds and cults. The Christian religion means oneness, likeness, harmony with Christ (James 1:27) |
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VI. Integrity of Speech The Brethren have opposed both the taking of oaths, and the use of any dishonest, intemperate, or destructive patterns of speech, believing that the simple truth needs no embellishment. (Matthew 5:33-37; Ephesians 4:25-29) |
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VII. Service The Brethren belief that the Christian life must be one of fruit-bearing has led to great emphasis on service to our neighbors. Thus Brethren have taken a commanding lead in the relief of suffering everywhere; whether caused by war or by natural calamities. A Brethren man, Dan West, was the compassionate founder of the Heifer Project. Brethren have been leaders in such ministries of mercy as Church World Service, CROP, and Agriculture Missions, Inc. Believing that Jesus Christ was the "man for others" they felt that the same orientation of life is required of his disciples. |
C. PRACTICES
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I. Baptism A rite for persons who have chosen of their own volition to believe in and follow Christ, is done by trine-immersion. This is an act which symbolies cleansing from all sin, and rising into a new life; it is, in fact, an ordination into the life of servanthood as a dedicated follower of Christ. (Matthew 28:19-20; Roman 6:3-4; Acts 2:37-42; 8:35-39) |
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II. Agape, or Love Feast A service rich in drama and symbolism, patterned after the Last Supper of Jesus and the practice of the early church. It is a worshipful service involving confession of sin, prayer for healing, with the laying on of the hands of ministers and/or deacons or others. |
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III. Laying on of Hands is a symbol of the bestowing of spiritual gifts is used by Brethren at baptism, ordination to the ministry, and often the consecration of deacons and recognition of other special ministries of the church. |
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IV. Child Consecration For babies or small children who are brought to the church by their parents, often accompanied by sponsors or "church parents" for a service of dedication. This is regarded as recognition of the unique place of children as members of the family of God; not to assure them of salvation, but to express the sense of responsibility of the family and of the whole community of faith for the spiritual nurture of the children of the church. |
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St. Petersburg First Church of the Brethren 7040 38th Ave St Petersburg, FL 33710
Church Office: (727) 381-0709 |
Email Contacts:
Pastor: pastor@stpetebrethren.org Office: office@stpetebrethren.org Webmaster: admin@stpetebrethren.org
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