Written by Ronald J. Gordon ~
Published June, 1998 ~ Last Updated, June, 2000 ©
This document may be reproduced for educational purposes as long
as full acknowledgement is credited to the author.
[This article originally published on the Church
of the Brethren Network.
NOTE: Grace Brethren Churches share this history from the beginning until 1883.
Much thanks to COB-NET for permission to reprint here.]
Discover notable events that have significantly influenced the Church of the Brethren, whether they be denominational happenings or external non-Brethren events. This instrument does not attempt to be an exhaustive compilation of all historical occurrences regarding our denomination, for space limitations preclude the incorporation of vast amounts of data, which could also be garnered from other works, online or in printed hardcopy form. A sample of both can be found in our Bibliography. Hopefully this listing will give you a very quick chronological perspective of our history in relation to the greater time frame of world history, and a better appreciation of how each circumstance may have influenced the Church of the Brethren. In many cases, these events will have also affected other Brethren Groups.
One of the most difficult tasks was deciding at what year to begin this chronology, for how can one faithfully determine or interpret which events that preceded our founding moment in 1708, would later influence our denomination and which events would not. We begin this timeline with Czech religious leader and university professor John Hus for this reason: faced with a growing displeasure over the ecclesiastical practices and theological interpretations of the medieval Church, Hus was willing to "count the cost" (Luke 14:28) of challenging the authority of the Church, and bare the obvious consequence of refusing to recant his beliefs. This closely models the determination of the early Brethren, to follow Anabaptist and Pietist convictions that would also challenge the authority of the Church, and be in direct violation of the expressed will of church and state authorities. This scripture from the Gospel of Luke was given to our early Brethren just prior to their birth moment, to remind them that choices, good and bad, have consequences. Follow our timeline and observe the results of their many choices.
| Addition: | Last Updated: 06/27/2000 | Revision: |
| Religious Non-COB |
COB Related |
Notable COB |
Memorable COB |
Historical Marker |
War Related |
| Date | Historical Activity |
| 1415 | John Hus forcefully questions Papal authority, calls for reform, tricked into capture, refused to recant, not allowed to defend himself, burned at the stake on July 6 |
| 1492 | Christopher Columbus expedition arrives in the New World from Spain on October 12 |
| 1517 | Martin Luther nails 95 Arguments citing abuses of Papal authority to the Wittenberg church door on October 31 |
| 1525 | Anabaptism begins on January 21 in Zurich, Switzerland, when Conrad Grebel, Felix Mantz and Georg Blaurock baptize themselves after breaking with former colleague Ulrich Zwingli |
| 1555 | Peace of Augsburg permits German nobility to determine the religion of their own district |
| 1563 | Heidelberg Catechism, the most ecumenical of the Reformed Faith, basically a teaching instrument of 129 questions and answers, later divided into 52 sections, one for each Sunday (many early Brethren were of the Reformed Faith) |
| 1605 | True Christianity by Lutheran pastor Johann Arndt forcefully calls for believers to model Christ in their daily life, the first German Pietist literary work to challenge the spiritual shortcomings of Lutheran orthodoxy ... Arndt is regarded as the "theological father of German Lutheran Pietism" |
| 1607 | Jamestown Colony in Virginia founded on May 13 when expeditions of James I arrived from Great Britain and established the first permanent settlement in America |
| 1611 | King James Bible published after being authorized by James I in 1604 |
| 1616- 1648 |
Thirty Year's War between Catholic (Holy League) and Protestant (Evangelical Union) forces, starting in Czechoslovakia with the 'Defenestration of Prague' when the Archbishop of Prague ordered the destruction of a Protestant church, the king ignored the protests and appeals from the masses, in a typical Bohemian custom of throwing renegade officials out of a window, the people seized two of the kings royal governors, and threw them out of a palace window. |
| 1648 | Peace of Westphalia ends the Thirty Years' War, and grants toleration to Reformed Faith |
| 1669 | Johannes Naas born at Nordheim, Germany, early Brethren leader who was tortured by solders for not accepting position in royal guards of the Prussian army because of his conviction that Christ was the only King |
| 1670? | Pietism flourishes in Germany, Lutheran theologian Philip Jacob Spener circulates Pious Desires in 1675 |
| 1679 | Alexander Mack born at Schriesheim in the Palatinate district of Germany, son of a miller, influenced heavily by Pietism through Ernst Christoph Hochmann, sells property seeking refuge from religious persecution, organizes a Gemeinde or congregation of believers, the Schwarzenau Brethren (Neu-Täufer) on principles of Anabaptism and Pietism, emigrates to America from Rotterdam in 1729 on the ship Allen |
| 1683 | Mennonite families traveling from Krefeld, Germany, to Philadelphia found Germantown, accepting William Penn's offer of freedom to refugees fleeing religious persecution |
| 1690? | Conrad Beissel born at Eberbach, Germany, emigrated to America, joined and split with Brethren, established his own experiment in communal mysticism with cloistered dwellings, at Ephrata, Pennsylvania |
| 1695 | Christoph Sauer I born at Ladenburg, Germany, emigrates to America, establishes German publishing company in Philadelphia, which rivals competition printing in English |
| 1702 | Ernst Christoph Hochmann, leader of Separatist wing of Pietism, writes confession of faith in Detmold castle as part of discharge agreement ... this document almost became a creed for the non-creedal Brethren |
| 1706 | Watershed year as Ernst Hochmann preached in the Palatinate district, the Elector (ruler) imprisoned or expelled most radical Pietists from his district, Alexander Mack family sold property and moved to small village of Schwarzenau (black meadow) in Wittgenstein district, a safe haven of for refugees of religious persecution |
| 1708 | Schwarzenau Brethren organized when eight believers under the leadership of Alexander Mack following principles of Anabaptism and Pietism, baptize themselves publicly and defiantly in the nearby Eder River, after "Counting the Cost" (Luke 14:28) of the ecclesiastical consequences of their politically illegal action ... labeled the Schwarzenau Neu-Täufer (new baptists), to be distinguished from older Anabaptists groups, such as the Mennonites |
| 1711 | Extension community of Schwarzenau Brethren formed with public, and illegal, baptisms in the Marienborn district, with leaders Peter Becker and Johannes Naas, many from this community later moved to the Mennonite haven of Krefeld on the Rhine in 1715 to escape persecution for their beliefs |
| 1719 | Schwarzenau Brethren first arrive in colonial America at Philadelphia from Krefeld congregation under the leadership of Elder Peter Becker, following a disheartening experience of a member 'marrying outside the faith' and the objections that it caused between members of the Krefeld congregation |
| 1720 | Brethren publish first hymnal near Schwarzenau at Berleberg, later seek refuge from religious persecution by migrating to Holland where Anna Margaretha Mack (wife of Alexander) dies |
| 1723 | The first Brethren congregation in America established at Germantown (near Philadelphia) with public baptisms in the nearby Wissahickon Creek on Christmas day, December 25 ... although Schwarzenau Brethren had arrived a few years earlier, no permanent congregation had been formed |
| 1728 | Conrad Beissel renounces affiliation with the Brethren, "gives back their baptism" with his own rebaptism while serving as leader of the Conestoga congregation, refused any further attempts at reconciliation |
| 1729 | Alexander Mack with other Brethren emigrate to America from Rotterdam on the ship Allen to Germantown, Martin Urner of Coventry congregation becomes first Brethren elder in America |
| 1732 | Conrad Beissel moves to Ephrata along the Cocalico Creek, where he establishes an experiment in communal living in cloistered dwellings emphasizing celibacy, mysticism, and separation from the world's evil influences ... the Ephrata community gradually began to fall apart following his death in 1768, the few remaining dwellers incorporated the Seventh Day German Baptist Church in 1814 which survived until 1934 ... the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission assumed ownership of the grounds and buildings in 1941 with a program of careful restoration of the buildings |
| 1735 | Alexander Mack died February 19 at the age of fifty-five, body was later moved to Germantown in 1894 ... legacy remains as spiritual visionary, organizer of the Schwarzenau Brethren, and compassionate leader who unsuccessfully attempted to reconcile differences with Conrad Beissel |
| 1735 | Jonathan Edwards revival preaching initiated the Great Awakening from 1735-1745 |
| 1738 | Christoph Sauer I and son establish German publishing company in Germantown, which rivaled English competition (especially Benjamin Franklin) in nearby Philadelphia, first published book was a hymnal set in German type and printed the next year (1739) for Conrad Beissel's members at the Ephrata community |
| 1742 | First Annual Meeting convened by Martin Urner and George Adman Martin (possibly at Coventry) over the question of Brethren distinctiveness, following similar meetings of Moravian leader Count Zinzendorf who called for the universal coalition of all German sects in America |
| 1755 | Brethren expand their congregations and several families migrate south through Virginia, later into North Carolina, and west into Morrison's Cove in western Pennsylvania where Brethren with the name Mack still reside |
| 1775- 1783 |
Revolutionary
War begins April 19 in Lexington and Concord, following a British
policy of mercantilism toward their own interests, and economically
punishing Americans for non-support, boycotts, and rebellious acts with
coercive regulatory legislation, designed to control and mute
opposition: Militia Act (October, 1775) -- PA legislature forced young men to drill or face imprisonment Stamp Act (March, 1765) -- first direct tax on colonies to support the British military Towsend Acts (June, 1769) -- tax for support of British administration over the colonies Intolerable Acts (March, 1774) -- vengeful response to the Boston Tea Party |
| 1778 | Christopher Sauer II arrested, family property confiscated and sold at public auction because his pacifist beliefs enjoined him from taking oaths (renouncing King George III and swearing allegiance to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania) |
| 1778 | Brethren hold the first "recorded" Annual Meeting |
| 1795 | Stonelick becomes the first Brethren congregation in Ohio |
| 1800 + | Industrial Revolution spreads to America from Great Britain following James Watts' improvements to the Newcomen steam engine, allowing innovations and greater production in manufactured goods to heavily influence the Brethren's mostly rural sub-culture, that enjoyed isolation as a means of ensuring adherence to beliefs |
| 1804 | First 'dress' question presented to Annual Meeting |
| 1834 | Primitive Christianity published by Peter Nead |
| 1847 | First US Postage stamp issued July 1 with picture of Benjamin Franklin (5 cent) |
| 1848 | Baptismal procedure
formalized into written form (giving lasting influence into the next
century) that also included church discipline. Candidates were asked to
declare their acceptance of non-resistance, non-swearing,
non-conformity, accept Matthew 18 as the basis for resolving grievances,
and promise to "hear the church" in similar matters which also
implied subordinating their personal will to the congregation (because
it was guided by the Holy Spirit) - & - Annual Meeting becomes delegated with no more than two representatives from each congregation |
| 1850 | Brethren migrated from Indiana to the Northwest Territories and settled in Oregon |
| 1851 | The monthly Gospel Visitor first published by Henry Kurtz from a spring house on a farm in Ohio |
| 1854 | First Brethren minister on the western coast when Daniel Leedy settles in the Oregon territory |
| 1861- 1865 |
Civil War or War between the States begins when Confederate armies launch cannon fire on Union troops in Fort Sumter at Charleston, S.C., on April 12, following the secession of South Carolina in December, 1860 |
| 1866 | Annual Meeting institutes many new procedures for dealing with business, especially the channeling of questions from congregations through their respective district before forwarding to the yearly meeting |
| 1867 | Brethren Encyclopedia first printed by Henry Kurtz |
| 1869 | East-West Railroads Meet as the eastward building Central Pacific joins their tracks with the westward building Union Pacific, on May 10 at Promontory Point, Utah |
| 1869 | Miami Valley Petition containing Old Order grievances submitted to Annual Meeting, a compromise response with several modifications was unsatisfactory, and this started the Old Order movement |
| 1870 | The Pilgrim first published by Henry and John Brumbaugh at James Creek, Pennsylvania |
| 1871 | The denominational label German Baptist Brethren is 'officially' accepted by Annual Meeting, although the term had been used unofficially for many years |
| 1872 | The Brethren's Tune and Hymn Book is the first Brethren hymnal to incorporate musical notes along with the verse text |
| 1873 | First organ installed in a Brethren church in the Philadelphia congregation, a radical move since most congregations did not even approve of a piano inside a church |
| 1875 | Ordinary grape juice is permitted for the communion service by Annual Meeting, instead of the regular fermented wine |
| 1876 | First Brethren overseas missionary, Christian Hope, send to Denmark, by the Northern Illinois District Conference. He and Daniel Fry traveled to Denmark in 1877-78 to organize the first overseas Brethren Church. This is significant because overseas church planting became the major focus of the Church of the Brethren from 1880 (with the creation of the Foreign and Domestic Mission Board) until after World War II (when the mission focus of the Brethren changed to socio-political action) |
| 1876 | Telephone invented when Alexander Graham Bell hears the voice of Watson his assistant on March 10 |
| 1877 | Brethren's Church Extension Union organized at Meyersdale, Pennsylvania, the first but unofficial Brethren mission agency, later renamed to Brethren's Work of Evangelism |
| 1879 | Mount Morris College in Illinois and Ashland College in Ohio, open for their first semester of classes |
| 1880 | Miami Valley Petition is resubmitted by Old Order group to Annual
Meeting, is rejected by delegates who also decide to use majority
rule at each yearly meeting instead of consensus vote This petition requested strict adherence to diminishing values that had formerly been a watermark of Brethren culture: simplicity, distinctive clothing, non-conformity with outside worldliness. Miami Valley Ohio elders further declared their unwillingness to accept additional progressive innovations. Petition was accepted by local district conference, however, Standing Committee entered a moderated 'substitute' petition to Annual Meeting, that contained statements, such as "while we are conservative we are also progressive" that were entirely unacceptable to the Miami Valley elders. |
| 1881 | Miami Valley Petition resubmitted by disappointed Old Order group "directly" to Annual Meeting, was rejected because it did not first receive approval from the local district conference ... Old Order group met in November and decided to break from the authority of Annual Meeting, calling themselves the "Old" German Baptist Brethren |
| 1882 | Old German Baptist Brethren held their first Annual Meeting near Brookville, Ohio, established The Vindicator as official voice of publication |
| 1882 | Progressive leader Henry Holsinger, publisher of The Progressive Christian having been reprimanded by the 1882 Annual Meeting to refrain from 'slanderous and schismatic articles' is disfellowshiped from Annual Meeting |
| 1883 | The
Brethren Church founded in Dayton, Ohio, by Henry Holsinger and
other Progressive sympathizers, official voice of publication The
Progressive Christian is renamed Brethren Evangelist
[The "Fellowship of Grace Brethren
Churches" comes out of this "Brethren Church." |
| 1883 | Brethren's Publishing Company formed through the merger of Primitive Christian and Brethren at Work, and then began issuing Gospel Messenger which was adopted by Annual Meeting, this same year, as the official denominational voice, even though it continued as a privately owned company |
| 1883 | First congregation of the German Baptist Brethren organized in southern California at Covina |
| 1885 | Mutual Aid Association is organized in April by the Northeast district of Kansas |
| 1888 | McPherson
College first opens for classes (officially organized the previous
year) - & - Name change requested of German Baptist Brethren as thirteen queries come to Annual Meeting |
| 1889 | Johnstown Flood kills 2,209 people on May 31, including Brethren families and a few congregations |
| 1889 | Bridgewater College evolves from the Spring Creek Normal School in Virginia |
| 1889 | Pilot was the
first weekly Brethren youth magazine, renamed to The Inglenook in
1900, many recipe submissions were later compiled and distributed as The
Inglenook Cook Book in 1901. - & - Tobacco users may not be seated as Annual Meeting delegates |
| 1890 | First "women
pastor" in any Brethren denomination, Mary Sterling (BC) is
ordained at Masontown, Pennsylvania on August 10, graduated from
Monongahela College, later taught at Ashland College, and president of
Sisters' Society of Christian Endeavor (SSCE), who were also
instrumental in her call to the ministry - & - First fully supported pastors hired by a few congregations during the early 1890s |
| 1892 | Unfermented grape juice prescribed for the communion service |
| 1893 | General Missionary
and Tract Committee (GM&TC) created from the merger of General
Church Erection and Missionary Committee and the Book and Tract
Committee. GM&TC became the first 'denominational' owners of the
Brethren's Publishing Company which later became known as Brethren
Publishing House and then Brethren Press - & - Sunday School Song Book and Missionary Hymn Book approved to supplement Brethren Hymnal |
| 1894 | Out-of-door pools and
tanks approved for baptism. - & - Members permitted to have photographs taken. - & - Missionary Visitor begins publication |
| 1895 | Manchester College was incorporated from the former Roanoke Classical Seminary (UB) founded in 1860 and moved to North Manchester, Indiana, in 1889, and acquired by the Church of the Brethren in 1902. |
| 1895 | First Brethren
missionaries to India, Wilbur & Mary Emmert Stover and Bertha Ryan,
established a mission center at Bulsar in January, within fifty years
there were more than twenty congregations and over 8,000 members - & - Lifting offerings during worship service is accepted - & - Individual saucers tolerated at communion instead of eating from a common bowl |
| 1896 | Restrictions against Sunday School relaxed |
| 1897 | Brethren Publishing House formed (April 1) after General Missionary and Tract Committee members developed a plan to raise money to purchase their own stock from the former Brethren's Publishing Company, and transfer ownership to the denomination. After more than forty years of unofficial private Brethren publications, the German Baptist Brethren finally have their own publishing company |
| 1897 | College congregations permitted to baptize students without the consent of the home congregation |
| 1898 | Annual Meeting minutes revised to eliminate obsolete or redundant rulings |
| 1899 | A History of the German Baptist Brethren in Europe and America published by Martin Grove Brumbaugh, who would later be elected governor of Pennsylvania. This was revolutionary for the Brethren whose Anabaptist heritage of Two Kingdom theology eschewed participation in government |
| 1900 | Elizabethtown College opens for classes after several years of organizing |
| 1901 | The Inglenook Cook Book publishes numerous recipes that were originally submitted to the first weekly Brethren youth magazine. It was called Pilot when first issued in 1889. |
| 1905 | Bethany Bible School opens for classes October 3, later renamed Bethany Theological Seminary |
| 1906 | Missionary work started in mainland China by the General Missionary and Tract Committee, two years later Franklin & Anna Crumpacker and George & Blanche Hilton and Emma Horning would leave for service |
| 1908 | Church of the Brethren is the new denominational label of the former German Baptism Brethren, officially adopted at it's bicentennial celebration on June 9 at the Des Moines, Iowa, Annual Conference. In the wake of the 1880 schism's of the Progressive Brethren Church and the Old German Baptist Brethren, this change now reflected the need of the very large central group to establish their own identity. The General Missionary and Tract Committee also became known as the General Mission Board |
| 1910 | Blue Ridge College is created from the former Maryland Collegiate Institute, two years later the campus moves to New Windsor, Maryland, later purchased in 1944 by the Brethren Service Commission |
| 1911 | Traditional
"garb" of the Brethren is no longer enforced as a test of
membership. Wording of committee report to Annual Meeting, specifically
section 9 ("until they see the beauty of making a larger sacrifice
for Christ") implies that disciplinary action will be muted, with
the traditional plain attire becoming optional. This change allowed
congregations to establish their own standards of permissiveness, and
contributed to a denominational lack of uniformity - & - Congregations may pay a minister a full-time salary while still retaining non-salaried ministers - & - Peace advocates succeed in lobbying Annual Conference to establish a Peace Committee |
| 1914- 1917 |
World War I begins when Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Habsburg (Holy Roman Empire) throne is shot by a Serbian Nationalist, this also meant an end to a royal family that had ruled Europe from 1493, including Charles V of Reformation fame |
| 1915 | Martin G. Brumbaugh inaugurated as governor of Pennsylvania, championed passage of child labor laws, first Brethren with a PhD, superintendent of Philadelphia schools, appointed first commissioner of education for Puerto Rico by President Mckinley, author of A history of the German Baptist Brethren in Europe and America |
| 1916 | Outdoor ministry gathers enthusiasm in various Church of the Brethren districts, 'summer assemblies' become the earliest form of the modern Church Camp programs that is administered by the respective district |
| 1917 | Congregations may secure full-time salaried pastors with majority support of the church council |
| 1918 | Specially convened Annual Conference in Goshen, Indiana, passes assertive statement against military service. It was later withdrawn under government pressure |
| 1920 | Musical instruments authorized for worship services on the provision that their usage does not foment congregational disruptions or misunderstandings |
| 1921 | Old Order German
Baptist Brethren created from Old German Baptist Brethren principally
over the ownership and usage of automobiles - & - General Ministerial Board (COB) created to administer the distribution of ministers |
| 1923 | First Brethren worship service in Nigeria when Stover Kulp, Albert Helser, and thirty-three Nigerians conduct an open air service under a spreading tamarind tree on March 17 near the village of Garkida |
| 1923 | Camp
Harmony becomes the first church camp to be owned by a Church of the
Brethren agency when Pennsylvania Western District purchases Harmony
Conference grounds near Johnstown - & - First publication of the Brethren Pastors Manual |
| 1925 | Hymnal - Church of the Brethren published; affectionately called the "Blue" hymnal (because of it's cover), 499 songs plus invocations, offertories, litanies, benedictions, and responsive readings |
| 1925 | Image of revolving windmill is transmitted on June 13 from Anacostia, Maryland to Washington, D.C. in the first public demonstration of a television system, developed by Charles Francis Jenkins |
| 1925 | Management of the Bethany Bible School goes directly under Annual Conference |
| 1926 | Dunkard Brethren created as a separate denomination from the Church of the Brethren when some members desiring to petition the 1925 Annual Conference are rebuffed by Standing Committee |
| 1926 | Brethren Young People's Department (BYPD) is created |
| 1927 | District Ministerial Boards granted oversight of duties previously administered by the Elders |
| 1929 | Great Depression symbolically begins with the Stock Market crash on October 29 |
| 1931 | Bethany Bible School is renamed Bethany Biblical Seminary |
| 1934 | Ephrata Cloister purchased by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission |
| 1937 | Last statement on church discipline adopted by Annual Conference |
| 1939 | Heifers For Relief Committee formed as a volunteer group to pursue a vision of Dan West to feed the world's hungering people, gained national acceptance in 1942, with the first shipment of heifers leaving for Puerto Rico on June 14, 1944 |
| 1939 | 'Old Brethren German Baptists' created near Bradford, Ohio |
| 1939 | Brethren Service Committee created to: assist 'relief and rehabilitation' of war affected people, direct 'conscientious objectors' to perform civilian service, manage volunteers in world service projects, supply food and humanitarian aid |
| 1940 | Conscientious Objectors first given recognition for beliefs and exemption from military service |
| 1941 | Church of the Brethren joins the Federal Council of Churches (later known as World Council of Churches) |
| 1942 | Heifer Project becomes an official program of the Brethren Service Committee |
| 1941- 1945 |
World War II begins for the United States when Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, December 6, begins European conflict December 11, when Hitler declares war on United States (England and France declared war on Germany two full years earlier on September 3, 1939) |
| 1944 | Brethren Service Commission acquires campus of former Blue Ridge College at New Windsor, Maryland, establishes a center of operations for world service projects, including a conference center and depot for processing clothing for overseas shipment ... also home to SERRV International and On Earth Peace Assembly |
| 1945 | First nuclear bomb dropped in wartime over Hiroshima, Japan, August 6 at 8:15 a.m. (Japanese time) |
| 1946 | Church World Service created through several denominations to: "Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heal the sick, comfort the aged, shelter the homeless," they provided over 11 million pounds of food and medical supplies to war torn Europe. Later operations in peace time focused on disaster relief |
| 1947 | Church World Service, Lutheran
World Relief, and the National Catholic Welfare Program establish a
joint community hunger appeal through C.R.O.P. (Christian Rural Overseas
Program) - & - Annual deacon visit no longer an official duty |
| 1948 | Church of the Brethren joins the World Council of Churches as a charter member |
| 1948 | Brethren Volunteer Service created as a service agency to train and channel enthusiasm into "...advocating justice ...working for peace ...serving basic human needs ...maintaining the integrity of creation" |
| 1948 | Church of the Brethren Youth Fellowship (CBYF) evolves from the former Brethren Young People's Department (BYPD) |
| 1950 | Church of the Brethren participates as a founding member of the National Council of Churches |
| 1951 | The Brethren Hymnal published; affectionately called the "Red" hymnal (because of it's cover), 693 songs plus litanies, invocations, offertories, benedictions, and unison/responsive readings |
| 1952 | Selective Service Act
provides for the deferment of Conscientious Objectors through a program
of Alternative Service, to perform necessary work in a civilian setting. - & - Women permitted to receive full ordination (1949 Query) |
| 1957 | Brethren Publishing House is renamed Brethren Press |
| 1958 | 250th anniversary of Schwarzenau Brethren, with celebration ceremonies at Germantown, Pennsylvania, Schwarzenau, Germany, and Annual Conference in Des Moines, Iowa |
| 1958 | Mandatory rebaptism of
new members transferring from another Christian denomination rescinded
in favor of acceptance of a 'letter of transfer' only, stating the
individuals current good standing membership status. Prior to
this landmark decision, members desiring to join the Church of the
Brethren from another Christian denomination were required to be
rebaptized by trine immersion, even though they retained good standing
membership status in another denomination - & - Love Feast and Communion opened to members of any Christian denomination. This was a sweeping departure from the traditional service wherein only Brethren could participate. Additionally, several congregations still practiced 'examination' of its own members to determine if they were worthy to receive communion, for which a member needed to affirm harmony with God and fellow Brethren in the presence of a deacon or Elder - & - Bread and Cup 'only' communion sanctioned as an alternative to the traditional three part Love Feast which includes the meal, feetwashing, and the sacraments of bread and cup |
| 1959 | Brethren
Revival Fellowship organized at Ocean Grove, New Jersey, following
Annual Conference, as a loyal concern movement within the Church of the
Brethren. About fifty men and women gathered to discuss their mutual
feelings over the large shift in direction that the denomination had
taken at the previous Conference in 1958. These more conservative
brothers and sisters perceived the notable changes of the previous year
would undermine the traditional heritage of the denomination. Over the
next few years, they held informational meetings in various locations
around the nation and began publishing the newsletter BRF Witness in 1966. - & - Dedication of new buildings for Church of the Brethren National Offices at Elgin, Illinois, on April 9 |
| 1961 | Peace Corp established by John F. Kennedy which heavily resembles Brethren Volunteer Service |
| 1962 | Brethren Colleges Abroad is created to "encourage students to become inter-culturally competent in order to be more responsible citizens of their local and worldwide communities" |
| 1963 | Bethany Biblical Seminary relocates from Chicago to Oakbrook, Illinois, also renamed Bethany Theological Seminary |
| 1964 | Annual Conference grants official permission to remarry divorced persons |
| 1965 | The word 'gospel' is removed from the denominational publication Gospel Messenger |
| 1967 | Office of Elder is reverently discontinued by Annual Conference with grandfather clause for present office holders |
| 1968 | General Brotherhood Board reorganizes and drops the culturally sensitive word Brotherhood |
| 1968 | Tet Offensive - January 18 through May 20 - is the highpoint of the Viet Nam war. It was the longest period of continuous fighting with the greatest loss of human lives in the entire conflict. This became a turning point in the war, that later resulted in the United States developing a plan of gradual withdrawal from Southeast Asia. |
| 1969 | Apollo 11 landed on the Moon: 20 July 1969 UT 20:17:40 (04:17:40 p.m. EDT) |
| 1970 | Church of North India created through several denominations including the Church of the Brethren |
| 1971 | Brethren peace advocate Ted Studebaker killed by Viet Cong on April 26, while serving as a conscientious objector in Viet Nam through the Vietnam Christian Service (VNCS) |
| 1974 | On Earth Peace Assembly created at Brethren Service Center in New Windsor through Michael R. Zeigler |
| 1979 | 'Unity in Diversity' endorsed as a basic Brethren principle following Annual Conference paper on biblical inspiration and authority, viewing diversity as God's pattern in creation |
| 1983 | Human Sexuality paper issued by Annual Conference |
| 1986 | EcuNet was developed by the VXR Corporation, first 'dial-up' online service to exchange information between member denominations which includes the Church of the Brethren (did not begin as a part of the Internet) |
| 1990+ | Local Internet Service Providers (ISP) and national online services CompuServe (1979) Prodigy (1984) AOL (1985) make access to cyberspace possible for families and businesses ... although some providers had been online for a few years, it was in the early to mid-1990s that public awareness of Internet accessibility mushroomed, with businesses scrambling to get their unique 'domain names,' and the greatest number of service providers becoming available (2,700+ in 1998) |
| 1992 | Hymnal: A Worship Book published with a greater emphasis on more popular and contemporary folk tunes, but still incorporating many older favorite hymns |
| 1994 | Bethany Theological Seminary relocates from Oakbrook, Illinois to share facilities with Earlham School of Religion in Richmond, Indiana |
| 1995 | General Board investigates a process of structural, mission, and program redesign, Redesign & Steering Committee develops proposal for streamlining the functionality of the General Board and it's employees |
| 1995 | Internet discussion becomes available with a UseNet newsgroup in October, list servers COB-L / COB-YYA in November, and History & Genealogy the next year in May, 1996 |
| 1996 | Church of the Brethren Network or COB-NET, the first national COB web site goes online February 2, originally created as an independent mission project to offer Brethren flexible Internet access, Brethren specific information, church, district, camp homepages, global spiritual outreach for Jesus Christ, and free technological consultation |
| 1996 | First exposure of Annual Conference (Cincinnati, Ohio) to the World Wide Web with daily online posting's of Newsline, bulletins, daily journals, sermons, and general information through COB-NET |
| 1997 | Official General
Board web site goes online in December after working for months in
amicable cooperation with COB-NET, which had been hosting numerous
General Board program homepages - & - Brethren volunteers assist the rebuilding of Butler Chapel A.M.E. Church in Orangesburg, South Carolina, following a rash of church burnings |
| 1998 | General Board Redesign becomes effective in January after requesting approval from Annual Conference the previous year. Congregational Life Teams formed to enhance communication and resourcing between the General Board and districts and congregations |
| 1999 | Ministerial Leadership Paper accepted by Annual Conference which completes nearly ten years of study, to work towards uniform implimentation and consistency in each district, and address various minor questions such as ministers entering the Church of the Brethren from other denominations |
Grateful acknowledgements to the following works...
 |
Expressed permission granted to utilize "Chronology of Change" from BRETHREN SOCIETY - Carl F. Bowman, John Hopkins University Press, 1995, pp. 419-423. |
|
BRETHREN ENCYCLOPEDIA - Vol. 1 2 3, Brethren Press, Lakeside Press, 1984. |
|
HISTORY OF CIVILIZATION - Prentice-Hall, Vol. 2, 1967. |
"For a thousand years in thy sight
are but as yesterday when it is past,
and as a watch in the night."
Psalms 90:4