The Brethren in Christ Church (often abbreviated BIC) is an Anabaptist Christian denomination with roots in the Mennonite church, pietism, and Wesleyan holiness. They have also been known as River Brethren and River Mennonites. Anabaptists (Greek ανα (again) +βαπτιζω (baptize), thus, re-baptizers[1], German: Wiedertäufer) are Christians of the Radical Reformation. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      A Christian () is a... The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptist denominations named after and influenced by the teachings and tradition of Menno Simons (1496-1561). ... Pietism was a movement within Lutheranism, lasting from the late-17th century to the mid-18th century. ... Holiness is the state of being holy, that is, set apart for the worship or service of God or gods. ...

Background

The BIC Church began about 1778 in Pennsylvania. It loosely shares an early connection with the United Brethren back to 1767. The Brethren in Christ trace their denomination back to a group of Mennonites who lived just north of Marietta, Pennsylvania on the east side of the Susquehanna River. As they met to study the Bible and to experience God, the people of this group (who became known as the River Brethren) developed a conviction that believer's baptism (trine immersion) was the scriptural form of baptism. The River Brethren of the 18th century also held to a firm reliance on the centricity of Scripture. As their Pietist lifestyles and their beliefs regarding baptism continued to develop, they began to distance themselves from other Anabaptist denominations such as the Mennonites and German Baptists, of which groups they had previously been a part. Jacob Engle is noted as one of the early leaders (sometimes considered the "founder" of the BIC Church) who promoted this position. The first confessional statement of this group was formulated around 1780. 1778 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 280 miles (455 km)  - Length 160 miles (255 km)  - % water 2. ... 1767 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Marietta is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. ... The Susquehanna River, originally Sasquesahanough as per the 1612 John Smith map, is a river in the northeastern United States. ... Baptism in early Christian art. ... Pietism was a movement, in the Lutheran Church, lasting from the late-17th century to the mid-18th Century. ... Anabaptists (Greek ανα (again) +βαπτιζω (baptize), thus, re-baptizers[1], German: Wiedertäufer) are Christians of the Radical Reformation. ... The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptist denominations based on the teachings and tradition of Menno Simons. ... German Baptist or German Baptists can mean any one of the following: German Baptist Brethren Old German Baptist Brethren Old Order German Baptist Brethren Old Order River Brethren Schwarzenau Brethren Dunkard Brethren Church of the Brethren The Brethren Church Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches Conservative Grace Brethren Churches, International The... 1780 was a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...

During the American Civil War, when required by the Union government of the United States to register as a body that held non-resistance values, the name Brethren in Christ was adopted. River Brethren remained the popular usage into the 20th century for the American members of the denomination while "Dunkers" was the popular moniker given to the Canadian denomination members until the 1930's. The denomination still holds strongly to its pursuit of peace, but within the denomination there are many different interpretations of how this peaceful lifestyle should be lived out. Many live out pacifism, while others do not view Christ's call to peace as an antiwar statement, but as a call to live peacefully on an interpersonal level. The history of the denomination is rife with stories of conscientious objection. Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederacy) Commanders Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties 110,000 killed in action, 360,000 total dead, 275,200 wounded 93,000 killed in action, 258,000 total... The concept of Non-resistance is based on a reading of the first half of Matthew 5:39, part of the Sermon on the Mount, which says, But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999... Year 1930 (MCMXXX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Pacifism is the opposition to war or violence as a means of settling disputes. ... A conscientious objector is an individual whose personal beliefs are incompatible with military service, or sometimes with any role in the armed forces. ...

About the turn of the century, the Brethren in Christ embraced the teachings of Wesleyan holiness. Members of the Brethren in Christ Church founded Messiah College in 1909 (Grantham, Pennsylvania), and the Niagara Christian Collegiate (a Canadian preparatory school) in 1932(Ontario, Canada). Messiah College is a Christian liberal arts college in the rolling hills of south central Pennsylvania. ... Year 1909 (MCMIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Grantham, Pennsylvania is a small college town based and run off of the income of the private Christian liberal arts college, Messiah College. ... Year 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1932 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Motto: Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet (Loyal she began, loyal she remains) Other Canadian provinces and territories Capital Toronto Largest city Toronto Lieutenant Governor James K. Bartleman Premier Dalton McGuinty (Liberal) Area 1,076,395 km² (4th)  - Land 917,741 km²  - Water 158,654 km² (14. ...

Faith and Doctrine

The current Articles of Faith and Doctrine were adopted in 1986. They emphasize the understanding of the inspired scriptures by the illumination of the Holy Spirit, the "centrality of Christ" in the divine revelation, the necessity of holiness, nonviolence and the importance of community. God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit reveals Himself through the divine record of the Scriptures. Salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is received through the response of personal faith and repentance. Baptism (by trine immersion) and the Lord's supper are considered ordinances of the church. Foot washing, the dedication of children, prayer for the sick, laying on of hands, and anointing with oil are important accepted practices, but are not called ordinances. Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      In mainstream Christianity, the... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      Christ is the English... This article discusses the term God in the context of monotheism and henotheism. ... Baptism in early Christian art. ... The Lords Supper is a variation of the name and the service of The Last Supper or Eucharist. ... Feet washing is a religious rite observed as an ordinance by several Christian denominations. ...

Status

At the denomination's 2006 General Conference, the Brethren in Christ Church in North America (U.S. and Canada) had about 295 churches. As of 2000, The U.S. membership was over 20,000 in 216 churches. Denominational headquarters is in Grantham, Pennsylvania, next to the Grantham BIC Church and Messiah College. There are 1,100 churches in 23 countries with a worldwide membership of around 80,000. The BIC church maintains some connection to its Mennonite-influenced heritage by partnering in ministry with the Mennonite Central Committee. The church organization is divided into eight regional conferences (each represented by a bishop who sits on the Leadership Council) and one subconference. The conferences are as follows: Allegheny, Atlantic, Canadian, Great Lakes, Midwest, Pacific, Southeast, and Susquehanna; the subconference is centered around Miami, Florida and focuses on Hispanic Ministries. Messiah College in Grantham, and Niagara Christian Collegiate in Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada, are affiliated with the BIC. The church is also has affiliations with a number of camps, conference centers, and ministries, as well as Evangel Publishing House in Nappanee, Indiana, and Christian Light Bookstores in Indiana, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Grantham, Pennsylvania is a small college town based and run off of the income of the private Christian liberal arts college, Messiah College. ... Messiah College is a Christian liberal arts college in the rolling hills of south central Pennsylvania. ... Mennonite Central Committee logo. ... Nickname: Location in Miami-Dade County and the state of Florida. ...  Countries where Spanish has official status. ... Messiah College is a Christian liberal arts college in the rolling hills of south central Pennsylvania. ... Niagara Christian Community of Schools (formerly known as Niagara Christian Collegiate) (NCC) is a private school located on the Niagara River just outside of Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada. ... Location of Fort Erie in the Niagara Region Fort Erie (2001 population 28,143) is a town on the Niagara River in the Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada. ... Nappanee from above. ...

Other divisions of the River Brethren include the Old Order River Brethren (org. 1843), the United Zion Church (org. 1855), and the Calvary Holiness Church. The Calvary Holiness Church began in 1963 when the Philadelphia Brethren in Christ congregation (org. 1897) withdrew from the Brethren in Christ, rejecting perceived changes in the denomination's faith and practice. The body incorporated in 1964, and had two congregations with about 40 members in 1980. The Old Order River Brethren is a small Christian denomination with roots in the Mennonite church and German pietism. ... The United Zion Church is a small Christian denomination with roots in the Mennonite church and German pietism. ... The Calvary Holiness Church is a small Christian denomination in the pietistic and holiness tradition. ... Year 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ...

The Brethren in Christ group usually known as Christadelphians have no doctrinal or historical links with the Brethren in Christ Church. Christadelphians (From the Greek Brothers in Christ) are a Christian denomination which developed in the United Kingdom and North America in the 19th century. ...

External links

• Brethren in Christ Church - official denominational website
• Seek magazine - official publication
• Evangel Publishing House
• Brethren in Christ Historical Library and Archives - Archives of Messiah College - official website
• Messiah College - official website
• Niagara Christian Collegiate - official website
• Calvary Holiness Church - on Adherents.com
• Old Order River Brethren - unofficial website
• The Sider Institute - official website
• United Zion Church - on Adherents.com

• BIC Forum - unofficial BIC electronic forum
• BIC Blogs - unofficial listing of BIC-related Blogs
• LibraryThing.com BIC Catalog - unofficial listing of librarything.com catalog of BIC related books.

References

• Encyclopedia of American Religions, J. Gordon Melton, editor
• Handbook of Denominations in the United States, by Frank S. Mead, Samuel S. Hill, and Craig D. Atwood
• Profiles in Belief: the Religious Bodies of the United States and Canada, by Arthur Carl Piepkorn
• Religious Congregations & Membership in the United States (2000), Glenmary Research Center
• Quest for Piety and Obeidence: The Story of the Brethren in Christ, Carlton O. Wittlinger (1978)
• Two Hundred Years of Tradition and Change: The Brethren in Christ in Canada, E. Morris Sider (1988)
• Brensinger, Terry L., ed. Focusing Our Faith: Brethren in Christ Core Values. Nappanee, IN: Evangel Pub. House, 2000.