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Old German Baptist Brethren (OGBB) descend from a pietist movement in Schwarzenau, Germany, in 1708, when Alexander Mack founded a fellowship with 7 other believers. They are one of several Brethren groups that trace themselves to that original founding body. These emerged from the German Reformed and Lutheran Churches, and are historically known as German Baptists rather than English Baptists. Other names by which they are sometimes identified are Dunkers, Dunkards, Tunkers, and Täufer, all relating to their practice of baptism by immersion. They are part of the post-reformation Anabaptists (which include, among others, the Amish and Mennonites), who rejected baptism of infants as a biblically valid form of baptism. Because of persecution, many German Baptists emigrated to America with the greatest influx being in the 1719 and 1729. Image File history File links Portal. ... Pietism was a movement within Lutheranism, lasting from the late-17th century to the mid-18th century. ... Schwarzenau may refer to: Austria Schwarzenau (Lower Austria), a municipality in the Zwettl district in Lower Austria; Schwarzenau (Tirol), a village in the municipality of Achenkirch in the Schwaz district in Tirol; Germany Schwarzenau (Bad Berleburg), a borough of Bad Berleburg in North Rhine-Westphalia; Schwarzenau (Schwarzach am Main), a... (1679-1735) The son of a German miller, born in the town of Schriesheim, Germany, in 1679. ... Baptist churches are part of a Christian movement often regarded as an Evangelical, Protestant denomination. ... Anabaptists (re-baptizers, from Greek ana and baptizo; in German: Wiedertäufer) are Christians of the so-called radical wing of the Protestant Reformation. ... This article is about Old Order Amish, but also refers to other Amish sects. ... The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptist denominations based on the teachings and tradition of Menno Simons. ...

History

The first American congregation was founded near Germantown, Pennsylvania, in 1719. Originally known as NeuTäufer (new Baptists), in America they used the name "German Baptist" and officially adopted the title German Baptist Brethren at their Annual Meeting in 1871. The Old German Baptist Brethren represent a conservative faction that would not tolerate certain modern innovations of the 19th century. In 1881, they broke away from the main body in order to maintain older customs, dress, and forms of worship. OGBB are noted for several ordinances like believer's baptism by trine immersion, feet washing, the love feast, communion of the bread and cup, the holy kiss, and anointing of the sick with oil. Baptism is by trine forward-immersion in water. They hold an Annual Meeting associated with Pentecost, and cooperate in publishing a monthly periodical called The Vindicator. According to The Directory of Officials (2008), the Old German Baptist Brethren had 6,299 members in 56 churches at the end of 2007. The largest concentration of congregations is in Ohio (16), followed by Indiana (9), California (4), Kansas (5), Pennsylvania (5), Virginia (4), Washington (3), Florida (2), Wisconsin (2), Georgia (1), Michigan (1), Missouri (1), Montana (1), Oregon (1) and West Virginia (1). Almost 54% of the members live in Ohio (1,965) and Indiana (1,414). Germantown was originally the Borough of Germantown, a town in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, and is today a neighborhood in the Northwest Philadelphia section of the city of Philadelphia, about six miles northwest from the center of the city. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Feet washing is a religious rite observed as an ordinance by several Christian denominations. ... The Agape feast was the Eucharistic celebration of the early Christians. ... The Holy Kiss is a punk rock band from San Francisco, California whose members include Matty Rue Morgue (vox, slide guitar), who, channels the grit and grace of Tom Waits through the body of a modern-day Lestat. ...

From 1881 to 1883, a large division occurred over several matters including Sunday Schools, higher education, plain dress, revivalism, and church discipline. The split resulted in three denominational organizations: the Old German Baptist Brethren, The Brethren Church and the Church of the Brethren. Church discipline is a response of an ecclesiastical body to some perceived wrong, whether in action or in doctrine. ... The Brethren Church is one of several groups that traces its origins back to the Schwarzenau Brethren of Germany. ... 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 · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      The Church of the Brethren is...

The advance of modernity is connected to two early 20th century divisions among the Old German Baptists. In 1913 a group broke away in Indiana and formed the Old Brethren. In 1915, another congregation of Old Brethren was organized in California. The issue which is often given as the cause for the division was the acceptance of the telephone by the Old German Baptist, but generally the Old Brethren wanted a more uniform adherence to annual meeting decisions and wanted to uphold the old order form of annual meeting which was simpler than had developed among the Old German Baptist. After 1930, they placed less stress on annual meeting authority than did the parent body, believing it to be more for edification and teaching. Moral persuasion rather than legislative decisions of annual meeting is the basis for adherence to the church's order. Their membership, among 3 congregations (California, Indiana, and Ohio), in 2000 was 250. As the original Old German Baptist Brethren body became more accepting of automobiles, another group withdrew in 1921 to become the Old Order German Baptist Brethren. They do not use automobiles, electric power or telephones. In 2000, the Old Orders numbered 125 from one congregation in Ohio. Two other minor divisions occurred in the 1990s resulting in 3 congregations of 185 total members. Currently, they do not officially support use of the internet, although its use is common in some areas. The Old Order German Baptist Brethren are a small group of Brethren that split from the Old German Baptist Brethren (OGBB) in 1921. ...

There are several different Brethren groups that are not related to the Schwarzenau movement, such as the Plymouth Brethren that arose in England and Ireland early in the 19th century through the labors of Edward Cronin and John Nelson Darby. However, the teachings of Darby, called Dispensationalism, have been influential among many in the OGBB. For the Jim Roberts religious movement, see The Brethren (cult). ... The Brethren are a Christian Evangelical movement that began in Dublin, London, Plymouth, and the continent of Europe in the late 1820s. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... For other persons named John Darby, see John Darby (disambiguation). ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      A current...

The OGBB are the root of several other Brethren denominations, including the Old Order German Baptist Brethren (Petitioners), German Baptist Brethren, Church of the Brethren, Dunkard Brethren, The Brethren Church, the Old Brethren Church, the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches (FGBC), the Conservative Grace Brethren Churches, International (CGBCI) and the Brethren Reformed Church. 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 · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      The Church of the Brethren is... The Dunkard Brethren are a small group of conservative Schwarzenau Brethren churches that withdrew from the Church of the Brethren. ... The Brethren Church is one of several groups that traces its origins back to the Schwarzenau Brethren of Germany. ... The Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches is a theologically conservative fellowship of Brethren churches descended from the Schwarzenau Brethren movement of Alexander Mack of Germany. ... Conservative Grace Brethren Churches, International (CGBCI) - a recent conservative division from the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches. ... // The Brethren Reformed Church was formed in May 2007 near Dayton, Ohio. ...

Theology and worship

The theology of the Old German Baptist Brethren Church is not well documented, largely due to their lack of literary works and tightly-knit interaction. The theological position of the OGBB can be diverse, especially in geographically sparse regions. A Doctrinal Treatise was published in 1952, primarily for the sake of young men abroad in Civilian Public Service camps at the time, and it presents many doctrinal distinctives of the OGBB, but it is not a creed or formal statement of faith to which members must subscribe, as members interpret and apply some of its various points differently. When asked for a creed, most Old German Baptist Brethren claim that the New Testament is the closest thing they have to a creed. Theology finds its scholars pursuing the understanding of and providing reasoned discourse of religion, spirituality and God or the gods. ... For other uses, see Creed (disambiguation). ...

Generally, the OGBB believe in Free Will, and that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is required for salvation, to be followed by a life of literal obedience to His word (the result of that faith). When there is a question of applications for a specific issue or area of life for which Scripture has no clear mandate, the members gather once a year at their Annual Meeting and consider the issue in light of Scripture, past practices, and current contexts, then voice (or vote) on it. While the Brethren strive for unanymity in any decision, such a reality is difficult with several thousand individuals, and often the vote is decided by a very strong majority voice. If such cannot be reached, the issue is laid down (closed) or deferred until the following Annual Meeting. These decisions are kept on record as "minutes" of the Annual Meeting, and referred back to for consideration when there is any significant deviation from them. They touch on many things, including but not limited to: dress, permissible use of technology, political involvement, entertainment, and more. Free-Will is a Japanese independent record label founded in 1986. ...

Historically, the theological position of the OGBB was largely established by Peter Nead and William J. Shoup, both of whom were prolific Brethren authors and preachers. Nead, in particular, was a schooled Lutheran who converted to the Brethren and brought a refined system of teaching to the fellowship. Peter Nead (7 January 1796 - 16 March 1877) was an American preacher in the German Baptist Brethren church. ...

Some OGBB believe in baptismal regeneration, while others do not.

The OGBB are a non-resistant sect, whose young men usually file as conscientious objectors in times of war. They are not pacifists, however, in the same way as Quakers; although the OGBB is one of the historic Peace Churches. A conscientious objector is an individual whose personal beliefs are incompatible with military service, or sometimes with any role in the armed forces. ... Pacifism is opposition to the practice of war. ... The Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as Quakers, or Friends, is a religious community founded in England in the 17th century. ... Peace churches are Christian churches, groups or communities advocating pacifism. ...

The form of worship is fairly consistent from church to church, with acappella singing, kneeling in prayer, sermons by elected ministers (called the plural ministry), and provision for divided seating with women and men assembled on opposite sides of the meetinghouse. The OGBB use their own hymn book, of which most members maintain a personal copy. The hymns have been written by both OGBB members as well as many well-known authors from the 18th and 19th centuries.

References

• Anabaptist World USA, Donald B. Kraybill and C. Nelson Hostetter, (2001) Herald Press
• Roots by the River, Dr. Marcus Miller, (1973) Independently Published
• Brethren Society: The Cultural Transformation of a Peculiar People, Carl F. Bowman (1995) Johns Hopkins University Press
• Brethren Encyclopedia, Vol. I-III, Donald F. Durnbaugh, editor (1983) The Brethren Encyclopedia Inc.
• Brethren Encyclopedia, Vol. IV, Donald F. Durnbaugh and Dale V. Ulrich, editors, Carl Bowman, contributing editor (2006) The Brethren Encyclopedia Inc.
• Fruit of the Vine, A History of the Brethren 1708-1995, Donald F. Durnbaugh (1997) Brethren Press

Carl Bowman is widely recognized for his studies of Anabaptist religious groups and is perhaps the foremost expert on the social and cultural history of the Church of the Brethren. ... Donald F. Durnbaugh (1927 - 2005) was a noted historian of the Church of the Brethren who published more than 200 books, articles, reviews, and essays on its history. ... Donald F. Durnbaugh (1927 - 2005) was a noted historian of the Church of the Brethren who published more than 200 books, articles, reviews, and essays on its history. ... Carl Bowman is widely recognized for his studies of Anabaptist religious groups and is perhaps the foremost expert on the social and cultural history of the Church of the Brethren. ... Donald F. Durnbaugh (1927 - 2005) was a noted historian of the Church of the Brethren who published more than 200 books, articles, reviews, and essays on its history. ...

External links

• Pietism - an overview of Pietism, of which the Brethren Movement is a part.
• About German Baptists
• German Baptist Brethren
•   "Tunkers". Catholic Encyclopedia. (1913). New York: Robert Appleton Company.