Conservative Grace Brethren Churches, International
Encyclopedia
Conservative Grace Brethren Churches, International (CGBCI) is a conservative group that separated from the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches
.
In 1939 the National Fellowship of Brethren Churches developed from struggles that occurred within the progressive Brethren Church
during the 1920s and 1930s. Later the National Fellowship became known as the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches
(FGBC). In 1992, due to doctrinal disagreements in the FGBC, the Conservative Grace Brethren Churches, International was formed. The Conservative Grace Brethren maintain a 12-article statement of faith similar to the FGBC statement of faith. Comments added in 1994 were designed to "conserve" what the CGBCI asserts are the original Grace Brethren tenants, including such things a young earth creation, the cessation of sign gifts, the seven-year eschatological tribulation, and eternal punishment as a conscious state.
In 2003 CGBCI had 46 churches in 15 states of the United States
, with the main concentration being in Ohio
and Pennsylvania
. In 2007, a ministerial dispute over the discipline of a Mansfield, Ohio, pastor resulted in the withdrawal of several congregations from the CGBCI, and the participating congregations dropped to 39 churches. In February 2010, the CGBCI official website listed 37 churches in the CGBCI fellowship. In November, 2011 the CGBCI official website listed 40 member churches.
The CGBCI supports only "endorsed" missionaries. According to the CGBCI official website, missionaries are supported in Brazil
, Cameroon
, Germany
and India
.
The Conservative Grace Brethren is one of six Schwarzenau Brethren
groups that cooperate ecumenically in the Brethren World Assembly (founded 1992), and with the Brethren Encyclopedia having one representative on the Board of Directors with the following groups: Church of the Brethren
, Dunkard Brethren
, Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches
, Old German Baptist Brethren
, and The Brethren Church
.
Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches
The Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches is a theologically conservative fellowship of Brethren churches descended from the Schwarzenau Brethren movement of Alexander Mack of Germany.-History:...
.
In 1939 the National Fellowship of Brethren Churches developed from struggles that occurred within the progressive Brethren Church
The Brethren Church
The Brethren Church is one of several groups that traces its origins back to the Schwarzenau Brethren of Germany. In the mid-19th century, the church began to struggle over modernization. Progressives stressed evangelism, objected to distinctive dress, and objected to the supremacy of the annual...
during the 1920s and 1930s. Later the National Fellowship became known as the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches
Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches
The Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches is a theologically conservative fellowship of Brethren churches descended from the Schwarzenau Brethren movement of Alexander Mack of Germany.-History:...
(FGBC). In 1992, due to doctrinal disagreements in the FGBC, the Conservative Grace Brethren Churches, International was formed. The Conservative Grace Brethren maintain a 12-article statement of faith similar to the FGBC statement of faith. Comments added in 1994 were designed to "conserve" what the CGBCI asserts are the original Grace Brethren tenants, including such things a young earth creation, the cessation of sign gifts, the seven-year eschatological tribulation, and eternal punishment as a conscious state.
In 2003 CGBCI had 46 churches in 15 states of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, with the main concentration being in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
and Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. In 2007, a ministerial dispute over the discipline of a Mansfield, Ohio, pastor resulted in the withdrawal of several congregations from the CGBCI, and the participating congregations dropped to 39 churches. In February 2010, the CGBCI official website listed 37 churches in the CGBCI fellowship. In November, 2011 the CGBCI official website listed 40 member churches.
The CGBCI supports only "endorsed" missionaries. According to the CGBCI official website, missionaries are supported in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
The Conservative Grace Brethren is one of six Schwarzenau Brethren
Schwarzenau Brethren
The Schwarzenau Brethren, originated in Germany, the outcome of the Radical Pietist ferment of the late 17th and early 18th century. Hopeful of the imminent return of Christ, the founding Brethren abandoned the established Reformed and Lutheran churches, forming a new church in 1708 when their...
groups that cooperate ecumenically in the Brethren World Assembly (founded 1992), and with the Brethren Encyclopedia having one representative on the Board of Directors with the following groups: Church of the Brethren
Church of the Brethren
The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination originating from the Schwarzenau Brethren organized in 1708 by eight persons led by Alexander Mack, in Schwarzenau, Bad Berleburg, Germany. The Brethren movement began as a melding of Radical Pietist and Anabaptist ideas during the...
, Dunkard Brethren
Dunkard Brethren
The Dunkard Brethren are a small group of conservative Schwarzenau Brethren churches that withdrew from the Church of the Brethren.The Church of the Brethren represents the largest body of churches that descended from the original pietist movement began in Germany by Alexander Mack and 7 other...
, Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches
Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches
The Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches is a theologically conservative fellowship of Brethren churches descended from the Schwarzenau Brethren movement of Alexander Mack of Germany.-History:...
, Old German Baptist Brethren
Old German Baptist Brethren
Old German Baptist Brethren descend from a pietist movement in Schwarzenau, Germany, in 1708, when Alexander Mack founded a fellowship with seven other believers. They are one of several Brethren groups that trace themselves to that original founding body...
, and The Brethren Church
The Brethren Church
The Brethren Church is one of several groups that traces its origins back to the Schwarzenau Brethren of Germany. In the mid-19th century, the church began to struggle over modernization. Progressives stressed evangelism, objected to distinctive dress, and objected to the supremacy of the annual...
.