It’s Official: Covenant Brethren Church

[MichaelPA]

I knew there were a few "pop ups" but couldn't have said it was that many.

It was Myers who made a comment to that effect on FaceBook.

Here's how they are counting, with formatting and [comments] for clarification:

As we all know, the Brethren movement began on that August morning in 1708 when 5 men and 3 women entered the waters of the Eder River in Germany for the first baptisms. To date there are 7 Brethren bodies as part of that movement:

2 among the old orders, [OGBB and OGBB-NC]
2 among the Charis (Grace Brethren), [Charis Fellowship and Conservative Grace Brethren]
Brethren Church,
Dunkard Brethren,
CoB
… and now #8 CBC.

What about the Old Brethren, Old Brethren German Baptist, and the Old Order German Baptist?

[Neto]

The group you have in mind seems to be the one referenced in the following articles as emerging in the mid-1800s; I don't know much about this group. Since they were also Baptists from Germany they were given the same label, but it doesn't seem that there could have been an organizational connection to Mack's movement.
http://www.inthemidstofwolves.com/faith.html
https://mbherald.com/german-baptists-south-russia/

I guess we DO always say that we are not Protestants..... (Referencing the first article above, which says that Protestants first arrived in Russia in 1801 - these Baptists. If they had just said "non-Orthodox", then the Mennonites settled there earlier, around 1789 or so.)

Thanks for the links, by the way, and the additional info.

[ohio jones]

What about the Old Brethren, Old Brethren German Baptist, and the Old Order German Baptist?

Those do seem to be related, but are quite a bit smaller than the others; maybe that's why they were not included.

[Judas Maccabeus]

Is this related to Charis Fellowship in any way?

No answer here, but apparently CBC must be an eighth group to come out of the general Brethren "fold". I recently watched a short presentation by Dr. Terry White (a friend from college days) who is in the Charis Fellowship group, that from what I understand, must have also formed recently. (Interesting that both groups were having their general conferences at the same time. I was confused because Craig A. Myers also replied to a comment/question I made on FaceBook - made me think he was also a part of CF.)

CF is a relatively new name for the Grace Brethren, who have been around for a while.

Had some of them in the grad school I attended. Good people. I would call them firmly within the evangelical movement, with a bit less politics.

J.M.

[MaxPC]

Another 'come out from among them' Anabaptist group. Will it ever end ? Makes me wonder how much of this is really glorifying God. So many different opinions on how we should engage with the world and one another in living as Christ followers. How could these differences be Holy Spirit lead ? Which are and which are not ? Which are disputable matters and which are not ? Are any of us truly lead by the Holy Spirit ? Very puzzling to me but perhaps not to some of you ?

Sudsy, the reason they give for leaving COB is because it became clear that COB is no longer led by the Holy Spirit nor is it obedient to the Bible. These kinds of exoduses have been occurring, as you know, in a number of denominations including MCUSA. Consistently, those leaving multiple mainstream churches are seeking to renew fidelity to the Biblical teachings regarding marriage, sexuality, and other key points.

[steve-in-kville]

Sudsy, the reason they give for leaving COB is because it became clear that COB is no longer led by the Holy Spirit nor is it obedient to the Bible. These kinds of exoduses have been occurring, as you know, in a number of denominations including MCUSA. Consistently, those leaving multiple mainstream churches are seeking to renew fidelity to the Biblical teachings regarding marriage, sexuality, and other key points.

This is correct. Also keep in mind, this movement has been in play for decades. I remember this being talked about (in hushed tones, albeit) in the early/mid 90's before I stepped over to the dark side.

[MaxPC]

Sudsy, the reason they give for leaving COB is because it became clear that COB is no longer led by the Holy Spirit nor is it obedient to the Bible. These kinds of exoduses have been occurring, as you know, in a number of denominations including MCUSA. Consistently, those leaving multiple mainstream churches are seeking to renew fidelity to the Biblical teachings regarding marriage, sexuality, and other key points.

This is correct. Also keep in mind, this movement has been in play for decades. I remember this being talked about (in hushed tones, albeit) in the early/mid 90's before I stepped over to the dark side.

Very true, Steve. The fact that those seeking to return to the Bible spent several decades using a peaceful due process through the church procedures show that they are both patient and are not being rash when they left. The leadership of COB had fallen too far from the Holy Spirit and the Bible to hear their pleas and concerns. In the end after all that effort, the CBC and BRF decided to shake the dust from their feet. It was a difficult decision because many had to leave behind beloved relatives. They chose fidelity to Christ.

[steve-in-kville]

What's interesting, there very same chain of events led to the Dunkard Brethren division so many years ago: there was a conservative movement within the conference, a published newsletter (The Bible Monitor) and eventually that movement broke ties and became their own entity.

[temporal1]

Sudsy, the reason they give for leaving COB is because it became clear that COB is no longer led by the Holy Spirit nor is it obedient to the Bible. These kinds of exoduses have been occurring, as you know, in a number of denominations including MCUSA. Consistently, those leaving multiple mainstream churches are seeking to renew fidelity to the Biblical teachings regarding marriage, sexuality, and other key points.

This is correct. Also keep in mind, this movement has been in play for decades. I remember this being talked about (in hushed tones, albeit) in the early/mid 90's before I stepped over to the dark side.

Very true, Steve.
The fact that those seeking to return to the Bible spent several decades using a peaceful due process through the church procedures show that they are both patient and are not being rash when they left. The leadership of COB had fallen too far from the Holy Spirit and the Bible to hear their pleas and concerns. In the end after all that effort, the CBC and BRF decided to shake the dust from their feet. It was a difficult decision because many had to leave behind beloved relatives. They chose fidelity to Christ.

My experience agrees with the 1990’s. What began then continues damage today.
What Christian church has not been devastated by it??

Reading their FAQs pages reflects the effort and difficulty involved.

It boggles my mind that any group, realizing the pain they are causing others, would continue, pridefully and undaunted, even within churches. Every church.

When i first stumbled upon MD, i hoped Mennonites might be one group that found a way to avoid these worldly conflicts. Nope. No refuge.

[temporal1]

What's interesting, there very same chain of events led to the Dunkard Brethren division so many years ago: there was a conservative movement within the conference, a published newsletter (The Bible Monitor) and eventually that movement broke ties and became their own entity.

Protestant, Catholic, Anabaptist, the pattern doesn’t vary. It’s not over.
Truth will prevail, altho the road can be rocky.