Martin Boehm, the first to introduce Methodism Mennonites
In 1715, reached the coast of another wave of Mennonites in Pennsylvania, on a boat named "Maria hope ", from Switzerland, traveled with them a successful landowner named Jacob Boehm, who upon arriving at free land in America, bought large tracts of land in South Philadelphia, where she helped settlers establish a colony of Mennonites. In the religious sense, said his son Martin Boehm, who came to be appointed minister or elder in the community.
But Martin entertained ideas more open about the sobriety and simplicity of Mennonite life. He also felt an overwhelming spiritual void in their community, which practically based their religion at work and farm work and strict moral standards and personal appearance, but away from the spiritual and evangelical Christianity to be identified.
addition coincided with two other ministers Mennonite the brothers Jacob and John Engle, who also burned with desire to show greater religious fervor and more contact and knowledge of the scriptures. The preaching of Martin, was moving toward a more fervent, near Methodist style with aggressive slogans and speeches. This affected in some way in the Engle, who were attracted by his strong personality and had in fact been baptized by Boehm.
The community to which they belonged had settled near the Susquehanna River and thus began performing baptisms there, that custom would emerge the name by which the group became known later, "the brothers River. But led by Boehm, usually those baptisms were previously introduced by the emotion and the strongest speeches of this. This caught the attention of other Mennonite ministers, who did not like the tone or the interpretations made by Boehm. ;
However, Boehm continued his work and in 1761 became superintendent Mennonite, exercising the highest authority in the local council of elders. When used to promote his personal ideas on the direction the movement should take Mennonite, their ideals were in fact based on assumptions Methodists, perhaps for some contacts that Martin had with them, years ago.
Meanwhile all that small but lively group now led by Jacob and John Engle grew, it also distanced itself came Boehm, to the point they were approaching the Dunkers or German Baptist brethren, because they saw in them much spirituality and appreciated his style to study group meetings, the pietistic style more direct. Were devoted to the study of doctrines, but did not develop or provide any change or return to the origins, in what respects doctrine.
So like the dunkers, rejected traditional faiths, but were not beyond the doctrine of the Trinity, also accepted the idea of \u200b\u200bthe immortal soul, life expectancy in the sky. On the other hand they made a curious form of baptism, practiced what is known as triple immersion, in relation to Jesus' command to baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Well established that this was the only appropriate form of baptism, also applied the confession of sins to God and man, and observance of the Lord's Supper accompanied by the ceremony known feetwashing, was a ceremonial washing of the feet between all the gathered community.
also practiced simplicity and ease in your life and dress, although by the end nineteenth century, had left strict dress of the Amish and other Mennonites. Even if they impose certain forms, such as wearing headscarves in the prayers of women.
The issue of baptism definitely separated the Dunkers (German Baptist brethren), this was about for 1780 years in which established on a more independent and organized the new church. In late 1780 he wrote a confession of faith, itself, which incurred some of the precepts and beliefs mentioned above. The first confessional statement of 1780, and subsequent, still reflect in some way Pietist and Anabaptist influences which gave rise to the movement.
is famous too, its rejection and harsh accusations against the secret societies such as Freemasonry and other secret orders such as the Illuminati and Rosicrucians, who were being introduced in the nineteenth century America, accusing them of being anti-Christian . On the other hand, were the first to religiously opposed to the use of snuff, saying that it was against biblical principles. Also like all Anabaptist groups, opposed the war, alcohol, snuff, and other worldly pleasures.
The path taken by its originator, Martin Boehm, was very different and more away even the traditional menon. In 1791, Boehm donated a large portion of land to the Methodists to build some kind of religious building. That same year he was build a great church and was called the "Boehm's Chapel." This provoked the reaction of all the elderly Mennonites, who almost immediately expelled from its ranks Boehm.
In 1800, after being expelled from the Mennonites, Boehm, along with Philip William Otterbein, a former Methodist minister, also from Lancaster wanted to reform the foundations of Methodism, by introducing certain provisions of its previous religious formation, forming the United Brethren Church in Christ, and they became the first two bishops of that movement. In 1802, Boehm joined the Methodist Episcopal Church while he was still bishop of the United Brethren. That shows he was a leading man with character, but without a clear way forward.
Meanwhile, the group led by brothers Engle, was thriving, although the organization at first was very easy and simple, when faced with a significant increase in their ranks, made necessary a reorganization, in which ecclesiastical charges were accepted as a kind of general superintendents bishops or guarding the unity of the different congregations, this happened in 1820. One of the most critical times suffered by the brotherhood of Rio, was during the American civil war, to be called up, were often accused of unpatriotic and therefore sought ways to obtain recognition as a pacifist organization, as already achieved that consideration Quakers and Amish.
steps to get this recognition occurred in 1862, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, which had headquarters. But by that time had begun to approach by a large group to the most radical of Wesley.
This caused a rift between the more traditional, recalling who once refused to join in that effort Boehm close to Methodism, but these were in the minority. This process would take about twenty years, since 1843, when brothers separated the Old Order River, who kept away from the Methodist tradition. Subsequently, the expulsion of Bishop arise Matías Brins for organizing their own religious center, which wanted to conduct their own independent Bible study, then, it was established as the undisputed leader and organized his followers into a separate group , originally known as Children of Zion joined subsequently formed after his expulsion from the so-called United Church of Zion, with no ideological difference with respect to the brothers in Christ, and is today a group of minority purely evangelist.
The Church of Saints Calvary began in 1963, just one year after seeking legal recognition, after which the majority group, far and to its beginnings, took the name of "Brothers in Christ", not to be confused by the many factions that Methodism was getting closer.
So for the time being recognized as a religious institution, there were several groups apart, even some who called themselves Brothers of the River, initially had a good number of faithful members of the Mennonite tradition. But the decline of traditional River Brothers was notable because in 1890 there were nine congregations one each in several counties in Pennsylvania and four in Dickinson County. Participating members at that time were 588. During the next fifteen years, were forced to migrate from Pennsylvania to Kansas and there was no increase and adding some defections and deaths, and by 1906 the total membership in Kansas totaled just 450. It is known that there are four factions that claim to be the original Brothers River in about 300 congregations, various factions of River Brethren withdrew in the middle of the nineteenth century, including the Yorker Brethren and the Zion United Church, of whom little is known.
All these changes led to an uproar in the Mennonite community, to the extent that the Amish do, take away the final determination of all these subgroups and not participate in its modernization, as did the German Baptist brethren , who fought to keep intact its traditions at the expense of extremely isolated in the world.
other hand are now called "Brothers in Christ" have grown into a more evangelical group, dropped out of community life, austere and clothing simple life. In 1904 the organization was incorporated under the laws of Pennsylvania and recognized by that name in that year, having the central office in Harrisburg.
organization also adapted very differently to traditional Mennonite model and included a system of district governments, state councils, and a general conference. The officers of the church in the early 1950's were bishops, ministers, and deacons. The bishops preside over all council meetings, marriages and enforcement of ordinances, and all the functions of the ministry. The name was a slow transition but not return in which it went from a system in which living elders or pastors of their own income to become a ministry car supported by contributions and hired herders.
However over time some names Mennonites, Hutterites, Brethren in Christ and Amish, sought again the unity that once enjoyed, for it was founded in 1920, with funding from congregations in Canada, USA and The Netherlands, the Mennonite Central Committee, to help their brothers in Ukraine, affected by the suffering caused by the First World War and the subsequent civil war. Since then, the Committee has been successful campaigns to assist in all world poor and affected by natural disasters or wars, regardless of the beliefs of people receiving aid. But you have to do with certain procedures and standards, have never reached a consensus that had once been.
The name Mennonite is still used by minority churches pentecostal and evangelical in nature, but certainly has nothing to do with that movement established by Menno Simons, except common doctrines of Protestantism, very mixed with touches of Pietism, Methodism, and only having in common the custom of baptizing adults.
For Brothers in Christ, Mennonite and other evangelical groups, particularly in South America have forgotten the anti-war and anti-political character of its origins, as some famous pastors and prominent members have been active in politics, performing at local elections, even as part of government in some countries and many base members have no qualms in joining the military.
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