Our congregation is part of the Church of the Brethren, a denomination founded in 1708 in Germany with roots in the Anabaptist and Pietist movements of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. From its beginning the Church of the Brethren has held the New Testament as central to our faith, interpreting it in community with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Brethren believe that to follow Christ is to do as Jesus did.
Core values held by the Church of the Brethren include living simply, believer’s baptism, practicing faith in community, service to others, and nonviolence. The denomination embraces issues of peace and social justice, believing that these are ways to continue the work of Jesus. The Love Feast is a central expression of our faith, re-enacting the last supper of Jesus and his disciples with time for personal spiritual examination, washing one another’s feet, a shared meal, and communion.
There are more than 1,000 Church of the Brethren congregations in thirty-eight states across the country. The denomination also has ties to churches in Nigeria, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Brazil, India, and Spain. The Church of the Brethren has a long tradition of collaborating with other churches and denominations at the local level and through organizations such as the National and World Councils of Churches.
Read more about the beliefs, practices, and history of the Church of the Brethren.
This text used with permission from Richmond Church of the Brethren