It’s Official: Covenant Brethren Church

[Ken]

Just curious how large this new denomination (or conference) is. How many churches representing how many members?

Anyone have a guestimate?

[steve-in-kville]

Best answer for Ken... a lot of movement will take place after the holidays/New Year. Many are still in the process of withdrawing from their respective districts, which requires money. In our case, and in the case of neighboring congregations, that six figures plus.

Once the withdrawal takes place, there will be more firm commitments. As of now, lots of verbal intentions.

Only prediction I can make is, just like our district is now, the new conference will be just as diverse. That's the beauty of it all!

[Wayne in Maine]

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.

Interesting indeed. Do these Brethren splits tend to happen at a slower pace than Mennonite splits? I guess before Eastern formed, there was the MMM conservative group. But a whole movement with newsletter? That doesn't seem to me to be the Mennonite pattern.

Brethren splits do happen more slowly than among Mennonites. Part of it is that the approach to church discipline is much different. Brethren will "bear with the erring brother" for a very, very long time and so the denomination has ended up erecting a big tent with LGBTQ activists and cape dressed women all calling themselves "Brethren". I have watched this split developing for almost 30 years. There were enough reasons for the conservative wing of the church to separate even back then, it would have happened if they were Mennonite.

[steve-in-kville]

Brethren splits do happen more slowly than among Mennonites.

In my experience, much of that has to do with "chain of command" and leadership structure as a whole. That can work for the good, too.

The Brethren circles have a larger deacon body, whereas the Mennonites might have one, possibly two per congregation. But then the Brethren deacons have a lot of behind-the-scene work (Lovefeast, spring visits, etc).

[Ernie]

Only prediction I can make is, just like our district is now, the new conference will be just as diverse. That's the beauty of it all!

Will the new conference include congregations that still expect head-covering?

I am under the impression that there are some head-covering congregations that are forming a new group that is separate from Covenant Brethren. Is that correct?

[steve-in-kville]

I am under the impression that there are some head-covering congregations that are forming a new group that is separate from Covenant Brethren. Is that correct?

There was talk early on about that. haven't heard anything in a while. I can find out pretty quick, though....

[steve-in-kville]

There was talk early on about that. haven't heard anything in a while. I can find out pretty quick, though....

I work with a handful of COB folks from the various congregations represented in the area. It would appear that most mid-stream churches are considering (or already committed) to the CBC. AFAIK, most are retaining the "Brethren" title in their church name.

The progressive end, for the most part, are remaining independent. Many adopted a "Community Church" type name. Some may eventually affiliate with the CBC as things settle down and establish themselves.

The conservative end... gets interesting. Heard some stuff there that I won't repeat on the boards. Most initially checked out the CBC but as of now, none are moving forward on it. There were some rumors they may create their own conference, but that was some time ago and haven't heard much since.

Keep in mind this is our district. Not the conference as a whole. YMMV.

[Heirbyadoption]

There was talk early on about that. haven't heard anything in a while. I can find out pretty quick, though....

I work with a handful of COB folks from the various congregations represented in the area. It would appear that most mid-stream churches are considering (or already committed) to the CBC. AFAIK, most are retaining the "Brethren" title in their church name.

The progressive end, for the most part, are remaining independent. Many adopted a "Community Church" type name. Some may eventually affiliate with the CBC as things settle down and establish themselves.

The conservative end... gets interesting. Heard some stuff there that I won't repeat on the boards. Most initially checked out the CBC but as of now, none are moving forward on it. There were some rumors they may create their own conference, but that was some time ago and haven't heard much since.

Keep in mind this is our district. Not the conference as a whole. YMMV.

Steve, would the conservative end of the COB departures tend to shy away from the CBC out of a desire to maintain more traditional Brethren practices such as close communions, some level of Plain dress, headcoverings, simpler styles of worship, less visible patriotism (such as flags), etc, etc, or would the dividing issues be more on a doctrinal level?

[steve-in-kville]

Steve, would the conservative end of the COB departures tend to shy away from the CBC out of a desire to maintain more traditional Brethren practices such as close communions, some level of Plain dress, headcoverings, simpler styles of worship, less visible patriotism (such as flags), etc, etc, or would the dividing issues be more on a doctrinal level?

On the surface, that appears to be the go-to cover story. The two congregations that would be on the conservative end of my informal poll are dominated by two or three families that tend to "run things." I understand that has more to do than dress, worship styles, etc. Appears to be a control issue.

[Heirbyadoption]

Steve, would the conservative end of the COB departures tend to shy away from the CBC out of a desire to maintain more traditional Brethren practices such as close communions, some level of Plain dress, headcoverings, simpler styles of worship, less visible patriotism (such as flags), etc, etc, or would the dividing issues be more on a doctrinal level?

On the surface, that appears to be the go-to cover story. The two congregations that would be on the conservative end of my informal poll are dominated by two or three families that tend to "run things." I understand that has more to do than dress, worship styles, etc. Appears to be a control issue.

How little we learn from history, huh? I do wonder if the tendency toward such "control issues" (and I'm asking, not endorsing) might stem from a recognition of the consistent history of the COB at large to drift "left" over the last century and a half...?