Centennial Statement
The
Brethren Church was formally organized at
Dayton, Ohio, on June 6-7, 1883. The
Brethren movement, from its beginnings in
1708, had always avoided a formal creed,
fearing that it would limit the work of the
Holy Spirit in shedding new light on
Scripture. The Dayton Convention reaffirmed
this historic position:
“that the Bible, and the Bible alone, is
our all-sufficient creed and rule of
practice.”
With
that unchanging motto, each generation of
Brethren must struggle under the Spirit’s
guidance to discern the meaning of Scripture
for its life. Such a process has several
important values: it can give renewed
purpose and direction to the church; it can
bring the church to greater unity in thought
and practice; and it assists the church in
declaring its fundamental beliefs to the
world.
This
centennial statement, therefore, is not
meant to be a creed but a milepost in the
spiritual journey of The Brethren Church. It
is a testimony of this generation’s faith
and life.
 |
