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What is the Church of the Brethren?
The Church of the Brethren is a small, Anabaptist, pacifist, protestant Christian denomination whose members in the United States are centered largely but by no means exclusively in the Mid-Atlantic states and the Midwest.
The Brethren church was founded in Germany, but members emigrated to Pennsylvania in what would become the United States in the early half of the eighteenth century.
There is no fixed creed of the church, but members attempt humbly and simply to live as their understanding of the New Testament would have them do. The denomination practices baptism of adult (in practice, often teenage) believers and love feast [a celebration of Jesus' Last Supper with a meal, footwashing, and communion of bread and "wine" (usually grape juice)].
Where Does the Name of this Website Come From?
The old slang terms "dunkard" and "dunker," meaning Brethren, come from the practice of baptism by total immersion (dunking!), hence the name of this website. It should be noted that there are many groups that use "brethren" in part of their name. Some are related to the Church of the Brethren [as in sister ("splinter") demoninations] and some are not. This author of this website uses "Brethren" and "Dunkard" to refer specifically to the Church of the Brethren, though many of the thoughts expressed may also apply to sister denominations.
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The Brethren Diaspora
This website, however, is not about what Brethren believe, but it is an attempt to acknowledge that many Brethren have moved away from areas where there is a Brethren church nearby. I would like to try to understand what that means, and perhaps to begin to make connections between individuals in what I call the "Brethren Diaspora." In the recent half century or more, the United States has become more of a transient, urban, and suburban society, and Brethren have become less "plain." Many Brethren have sought higher education outside of the Brethren colleges and job opportunities outside of traditionally "Brethren" areas. I expect that many of us "Brethren expatriates" miss the community, the culture, and the fellowship of Brethren. This may be true even if many of us have found other denominations in which to practice our faith, or even if our faith has shrunk or changed in some other way.
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Let's Tell Stories
I would appreciate hearing from other Brethren who live away from Brethren churches but who have thought about some of the issues that I raise above. What do you miss about the Brethren? Food? Music? Friendships? Worship? Summer Camp? Volunteer work? How have you coped with the distance from other Brethren? What traditions do you continue on your own or have you shared with others? How do you raise Brethren children without other Brethren around? Do you maintain links to Brethren in your home place or elsewhere? Since I live midway between Worcester and Boston, Massachusetts, I personally would be interested in hearing from Brethren who live in the eastern or central Massachusetts. But I would like to open the conversation to everybody. Here is my contact information.
George E. Clark
clageog@yahoo.com
P.O. Box 381006
Cambridge MA 02238-1006
The author of this page is a non-resident member of the Oakton (Virginia) Church of the Brethren. This page is not an official publication of the Church of the Brethren, the Dunkard Brethren, or any other Brethren denomination. The views expressed are those of the author. Photograph is the Dunkard Church on the Antietam Battlefield, Maryland, by Matthew Brady Studios, from the National Archives, image NWDNS-111-B-7200. Website launched April 18, 2003.
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