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118-570: The defining theology of Universalism is universal salvation ; Universalists believe that the God of love would not create a person knowing that person would be destined for eternal damnation. They concluded that all people must be destined for salvation. Some early Universalists, known as Restorationists and led by Paul Dean , believed that after death there is a period of reprobation in Hell preceding salvation. Other Universalists, notably Hosea Ballou , denied

236-565: A "religion of the heart." Early followers were most often German in ancestry. The majority of the early American Universalists lived in the Mid-Atlantic colonies, though Rhode Island also had a fair number of followers. Adams Streeter (1735–1786), the first minister of Universalist congregations in Oxford and Milford, Massachusetts , original societies of Universalism in New England, came from

354-562: A Baptist background, ordained in 1774. Hosea Ballou has been called the "father of American Universalism," along with John Murray , who founded the first Universalist church in America in Gloucester, Massachusetts , in 1774. One of the most important early Universalist evangelists was Dr. George de Benneville . Born in a Huguenot family exiled to England, he arrived in America in 1741. A physician and lay preacher, he spread Universalism among

472-581: A Baptist preacher who wrote several books promoting the universal salvation of all souls after a period in Purgatory , who founded the first Universalist church in Philadelphia, and founded a church that ministered to enslaved African Americans in South Carolina; Hosea Ballou , a Universalist preacher and writer in New England; and Hannah Whitall Smith , a writer and evangelist from a Quaker background who

590-706: A July 3, 2009, meeting in Troy, Ohio, called the Old German Baptist Brethren, New Conference . Several fundamental disagreements identified by the New Conference and adherents included: allowing regular group Bible studies outside of the Sunday worship setting; permitting open outreach & mission efforts; use of email and the Internet; Scriptural application of church discipline as guided by Matthew 18; and preservation of

708-767: A bearing on the decision of a majority of the former members of the Philip Hess faction of the German Baptist Brethren to join the Old Conference of the Old German Baptist Brethren after the dissolution of that group in September–October 2010. The increasing conservatism since the 2009 division was not sufficient for the majority of the Gene Wagoner faction of the German Baptist Brethren to move to

826-449: A beginning and an end, and complete in itself. Aristotle (peri ouranou, i. 9,15) says: "The period which includes the whole time of one's life is called the aeon of each one." Hence it often means the life of a man, as in Homer , where one's life ( aion ) is said to leave him or to consume away (Iliad v. 685; Odyssey v. 160). It is not, however, limited to human life; it signifies any period in

944-658: A creed, most Old German Baptist Brethren claim that the New Testament is the closest thing they have to a creed. Generally, the OGBB believe in Free Will , and that faith and baptism in the Lord Jesus Christ is required for salvation, to be followed by a life of literal obedience to His word (the result of that faith). When there is a question of applications for a specific issue or area of life for which Scripture has no clear mandate,

1062-673: A form of Universalism and his subsequent excommunication by the Joint College of African-American Pentecostal Bishops in 2004 caused Christian Universalism to gain increased media attention because of Pearson's popularity and celebrity status. Since 2007, the Christian Universalist Association has ordained more than 30 ministers in the United States and other countries who believe in Christian universalism. A proponent of

1180-426: A formal separation from the main body. An agreement was reached by those present to re-organize as The Old German Baptist Church, and between 500 and 600 members aligned themselves with this new group; the majority of the new membership was primarily composed of individuals from Pennsylvania, along with others from New York, Wisconsin, California, Ohio, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, and West Virginia. While technology

1298-458: A given point of time in Jude 6. Aionios means enduring through or pertaining to a period of time. Both the noun and the adjective are applied to limited periods. Words which are habitually applied to things temporal or material cannot carry in themselves the sense of endlessness. Even when applied to God, we are not forced to render aionios everlasting. Of course the life of God is endless; but

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1416-685: A group to settle in Pennsylvania. In 1720 forty Brethren families settled in Surhuisterveen in Friesland. They lived among the Mennonites there, remaining until 1729, when all but a handful emigrated to America in three separate groups from 1719 to 1733. By 1740, nearly all of the "Schwarzenau" Brethren had relocated to Pennsylvania and they ceased to exist as an organized group in Europe. Peter Becker organized

1534-476: A large part of their beliefs from Evangelicalism and Reformed theology . Many of them come from an Evangelical Christian background, but they may or may not identify with this movement and seek to remain with it. Some Evangelical Universalists avoid using the word "Universalism" to describe their beliefs, perhaps because of the negative connotations of this word among conservative Christians. Alternative terms that are in use among Evangelical Universalists include

1652-545: A mainly English speaking church with about 58,000 members in 500 congregations in 1880. In the early 1880s there was a three-way division among the German Baptist Brethren: In 1881, the more conservative and traditional Old German Baptist Brethren withdrew from the larger progressive faction in order to maintain older customs, traditional dress, and simpler forms of worship. In 1883, the Brethren Church left

1770-405: A monthly periodical, The Vindicator . The Old German Baptist Brethren are a non-resistant sect, whose young men usually file as conscientious objectors in times of war. Members of the church do not believe in defending themselves against physical attacks outside of war, either. Members do not file lawsuits, defend themselves against lawsuits, or use liens to collect debts. The form of worship

1888-436: A more simple, family and church-focused lifestyle. They wanted to focus on personal discipleship, daily and weekly worship, bearing one another's burdens, and working together to build relationships while conquering obstacles. They did not want to lose their children to a fast, self-centered lifestyle and kept a cautious attitude, waiting to observe resulting consequences rather than automatically accepting every new innovation of

2006-450: A personal copy. The hymns were written by both Old German Baptist Brethren members and many well-known authors from the 18th and 19th centuries. The style of singing is generally started and led by a congregationally-elected deacon, and is slow, usually in 4 part harmony or unison. The more conservative in practice a district may be, the slower the singing tends to be, though the difference may not be immediately obvious to visitors. The singing

2124-616: A position between the two extremes. In 1869 and 1880, a group of Brethren in the Miami River Valley of Ohio submitted a petition to Annual Conference to stop the liberalization and return to traditional Biblical Brethren values. On both occasions, a more moderate petition was submitted to the delegates. Both times, the Miami River Valley group found the rewording unclear and ambiguous, and therefore unacceptable. In 1881, they resubmitted their petition to Annual Conference, and it

2242-568: A result, he was dis-fellowshipped from the 1882 annual meeting of the Brethren. He met with other progressives on June 6 and 7, 1883, and together they formed The Brethren Church . The remaining middle group retained the name German Baptist Brethren. At the Annual Conference of 1908 at Des Moines, Iowa , the name was officially changed to the Church of the Brethren. Their Annual Conference justified

2360-522: A separate church with visible rules and ordinances—including threefold baptism by immersion, a three-part Love Feast (that combined communion with feet washing and an evening meal), anointing, and use of Church discipline steps as instructed in Matthew 18, culminating with the "ban" against wayward members. Religious persecution drove the Brethren to take refuge in Friesland , Netherlands. In 1719 Peter Becker led

2478-636: A state of punishment after death for the wicked. The first General Society was held in 1778. Annual conventions started in 1785 with the New England Convention. In 1804, this convention changed its name to "The General Convention of Universalists in the New England States and Others." At its peak in the 1830s, the Universalist Church is reported to have been the 9th largest denomination in the United States. The Church consolidated with

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2596-428: A way to reconcile these seeming differences. There are three general types of Christian Universalism today – Evangelical Universalism, Charismatic Universalism, and Liberal Christian Universalism – which by themselves or in combination with one another describe the vast majority of currently existing and identifiable versions of Christian Universalist belief and practice. The type of Christian Universalism that departs

2714-472: Is Gerrard Winstanley , author of The Mysterie of God Concerning the Whole Creation, Mankinde (London, 1648). American Universalism developed from the influence of various Pietist and Anabaptist movements in Europe, including Quakers , Moravians , Methodists , Lutherans , Schwenkfelders , Schwarzenau Brethren , and others. Pietists emphasized individual piety and zeal and, following Zinzendorf ,

2832-474: Is Love and Power and Truth and Light; that perfect justice rules the world; that all His sons shall one day reach His feet, however far they stray." Prior to his death in November 2023, former Pentecostal Bishop Carlton Pearson promoted his "Gospel of Inclusion" with his teachings and beliefs being a hybrid between Charismatic and Liberal Christian Universalism. A minister in the liberal Christian denomination of

2950-571: Is a Schwarzenau Brethren denomination of Anabaptist Christianity. It emerged from a division among the Schwarzenau Brethren in 1881 and is aligned with Old Order Anabaptism . The Schwarzenau Brethren tradition has roots in Anabaptism , as well as in the Radical Pietist revival . The Old German Baptist Brethren practices believer's baptism as the biblically valid form of baptism. It

3068-777: Is also characterized by strict religious adherence with rejection of modern culture and modern assimilation. It teaches plain dress . It is one of several Schwarzenau Brethren groups that trace their roots to 1708, when eight believers founded a new church in Schwarzenau , Germany . The Old German Baptist Brethren church has about 4,000 baptized members. The Old German Baptist Brethren are historically known as German Baptists in contrast to English Baptists , who have different roots. Other names by which they are sometimes identified are Dunkers, Dunkards, Tunkers , and Täufer , all relating to their practice of baptism by immersion. Originally known as Neu-Täufer (new Baptists), in America they used

3186-413: Is fairly consistent from church to church, with a cappella singing, kneeling in prayer, sermons by congregationally elected ministers (called the plural ministry because of having several ministers in each congregation), and provision for divided seating with women and men assembled on opposite sides of the meetinghouse. The Old German Baptist Brethren use their own hymn book, of which most members maintain

3304-470: Is laid down (closed) or deferred until the following annual meeting. These decisions are kept on record as "Minutes of the Annual Meeting", and referred back to for consideration when there is any significant deviation from them. They touch on many things, including dress, technology, political involvement, and entertainment. This Minute Book is kept in the homes of the members. The theological position of

3422-413: Is marked by its emphasis on theosis; the idea that the return of Christ is a body of perfected human beings who are the "Manifested Sons of God" instead of a literal return of the person of Jesus; the idea that these Sons will reign on the earth and transform all other human beings from sin to perfection during an age that is coming soon (a version of millennialism ); and the absolute sovereignty of God,

3540-472: Is similar to that of River Brethren or Old Order Mennonites. The Old German Baptist Brethren dress plain . The women's dress is similar to the dress patterns of River Brethren or plain Mennonites, like the "Joe Wengers" ( Groffdale Conference Mennonite Church ) or the Beachy Amish : long dresses and white cloth or net cap-style head coverings. The main difference is the use of a Brethren-style angled cape over

3658-453: Is the official position of the church while individual members may differ somewhat in personal belief. They are noted for several ordinances like believer's baptism by trine immersion, feet washing , the love feast , a communion of unleavened bread and wine, the holy kiss , and anointing of the sick with oil. Baptism is by trine- and forward- immersion in water. They hold an Annual Meeting associated with Pentecost, and cooperate in publishing

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3776-494: Is this: that at last every individual of the human race shall become holy and happy. This does not comprise the whole of their faith, but, merely that feature of it which is peculiar to them and by which they are distinguished from the rest of the world." The remaining central beliefs of Christian universalism are compatible with Christianity in general: In 1899 the Universalist General Convention, later called

3894-635: The American Unitarian Association to form the Unitarian Universalist Association . Some state Universalist Conventions did not accept the consolidation. These churches and others form minor pockets of Christian theological Universalists which remain, but most are affiliated with other denominations. Universalist congregations tended towards independence and were not easily prone to centralization. They generally met in state conventions, which usually had more authority than

4012-516: The Charismatic tradition was the Home Missions Church, a loosely organized network of ministers and house churches founded in 1944. In 2007, the Christian Universalist Association was founded by thirteen ministers from diverse denominational backgrounds as an ecumenical organization promoting a revival of Christian universalism. Yale Professor of Philosophy Keith DeRose points out that in

4130-465: The New Age and New Thought movements, some people in the emerging church movement, some Unitarian Universalists who continue to follow Jesus as their primary spiritual teacher, and some Christians from other religious backgrounds. Liberal Christian Universalism emphasizes the all-inclusive love of God and tends to be more open to finding truth and value in non-Christian spiritual traditions compared to

4248-594: The Old Brethren . In 1915, another congregation of Old Brethren was organized in California. The issue which is often given as the initial cause for division was the changes brought in with acceptance of automobiles and telephones among the Old German Baptist Brethren. Generally, the Old Brethren also wanted more unity and wanted to uphold the old order form of annual meeting which was simpler than had recently developed among

4366-581: The Primitive Baptist Universalists . They are often known as "No Hellers" and believe that temporal punishment and separation from God during life is the only hell. The Universalist Church of America gradually declined in the early to mid 20th century and merged with the American Unitarian Association in 1961, creating the modern-day Unitarian Universalist Association , which does not officially subscribe to exclusively Christian theology. Christian Universalism largely passed into obscurity for

4484-627: The United Church of Christ , Pearson continued to believe in ideas and practices of Pentecostal or Charismatic forms of Christianity. Pearson incorporated New Age and New Thought teachings into his message. Pearson was declared a heretic by his Christian Pentecostal and Charismatic peers in 2004. Brian McLaren is a Christian leader in the emerging church movement who is sympathetic to the idea of Universalism but does not embrace it. A number of ministers and evangelists connected with Restoration Nation conferences are Universalists who draw from both

4602-605: The Universalist Church of America , adopted the Five Principles: the belief in God, belief in Jesus Christ, the immortality of the human soul, that sinful actions have consequence, and universal reconciliation. Christian Universalists disagree on whether or not hell exists. However, they do agree that if it does exist, the punishment there is corrective and remedial, and does not last forever. Purgatorial universalism

4720-535: The Universalist Church of America . There is no single denomination uniting Christian universalists, but a few denominations teach some of the principles of Christian universalism or are open to them. Instead, their membership has been consolidated with the American Unitarian Association into the Unitarian Universalist Association in 1961. In his Plain Guide to Universalism , the universalist Thomas Wittemore wrote, "The sentiment by which Universalists are distinguished,

4838-469: The Vindicator each month. Ex-member Michael Hari contributed two widely circulated books of essays titled Brethren Thinking and One Faith in recent years. The Old German Baptist Brethren historically believe in baptismal regeneration , placing the emphasis on the obedience of the new believer through faith, repentance, and baptism rather than a sacramental view that the water itself washes away sins. This

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4956-580: The preexistence and reincarnation of the soul, and New Thought ideas such as the law of attraction . The Unitarian Universalist Christian Fellowship is an organization for Liberal Christian Universalists, especially those who belong to the Unitarian Universalist Association . The Unity Church is a liberal Christian denomination which teaches some Universalist beliefs. The Liberal Catholic Church believes in Universal Salvation. Within its articles of faith it declares: "We believe that God

5074-588: The substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ for the sins of all humanity as the basis for their Universalism. In 2006 a mainstream evangelical writer, revealed as Robin Parry in 2009, under the pseudonym of "Gregory MacDonald" (taken from the names, Gregory of Nyssa and George MacDonald ) released a book, The Evangelical Universalist . In 2008 this inspired the creation of a forum, featuring "Gregory MacDonald" and Thomas Talbott , to discuss Evangelical Universalism and related topics. Evangelical Universalists derive

5192-445: The "Larger Hope" or "Blessed Hope" and the "Victorious Gospel". Some Christians with a background in the Charismatic movement or Pentecostalism have developed a version of Universalism which could be called Charismatic (Christian) Universalism. Charismatic Universalists usually do not call their theology "Universalism" but commonly refer to their specific beliefs by the terms "Reconciliation" (shorthand for universal reconciliation,

5310-463: The 1820s by Russell Streeter—a descendant of Adams Streeter who had founded one of the first Universalist Churches on September 14, 1785. Some Christian universalists claim that in Early Christianity (prior to the 6th century ), this was the most common interpretation of Christianity . As a formal Christian denomination , Christian universalism originated in the late 18th century with

5428-460: The 1940s and 1950s came to believe in the ideas of Christian Universalism on their own, separately from the Universalist Church tradition. They emphasized the teachings of universal reconciliation and theosis . These ideas were spread primarily through newsletters and traveling evangelists from the 1950s to 1980s, and were not typically identified by the term "Universalism". The only significant organization representing these beliefs that emerged within

5546-529: The 19th century through the labors of Edward Cronin and John Nelson Darby . However, the teachings of Darby, called Dispensationalism , have been influential among some in the Old German Baptist Brethren. The Schwarzenau Brethren were first organized in 1708 under the leadership of Alexander Mack (1679–1735) in Schwarzenau, Germany, now part of Bad Berleburg in North Rhine-Westphalia . In August of

5664-459: The 19th century. The Brethren Church represents the more liberal faction, pushing ahead to new frontiers because of their belief that a newer way of doing things is a better way. The mainline progressive German Baptist Brethren changed their name to the Church of the Brethren in 1908. The most conservative Brethren churches emphasize consistency, commitment to daily discipleship and literally following

5782-612: The 2009 Annual Meeting held near Waterford, CA. The report stated in part, "Members of the Old German Baptist Brethren Church in full fellowship and in good standing with the Church, believe and agree that the Old German Baptist Brethren’s interpretation of NT doctrine is scriptural and has been prompted by the Holy Spirit and it is their mind to remain in this fellowship and to teach, support and promote

5900-656: The 2009 Directory of Officials, the Old German Baptist Brethren had 6,149 members in 56 churches at the end of 2008, although this number was reduced to approximately 3600 members after the 2009 Annual Meeting Report which led to the organization of the Old German Baptist Brethren (New Conference). The largest concentration of congregations is in Ohio (16), followed by Indiana (9), California (4), Kansas (5), Pennsylvania (5), Virginia (4), Washington (3), Florida (2), Wisconsin (2), Georgia (1), Michigan (1), Missouri (1), Montana (1), Oregon (1), Tennessee (1), and West Virginia (1). Almost 54% of

6018-424: The 2015 Annual Meeting voiced to formally permit the filtered/third-party Internet service facilitated by the "Brethren Resource Group", several of the more-conservative congregations who were dissatisfied with the decision of the majority repeatedly sent queries to subsequent Annual Meetings objecting to the decision and the procedure used at the 2015 meeting. Not receiving satisfaction and being unwilling to submit to

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6136-668: The American Revolution. In 1814 the Society was incorporated as the Seventh Day German Baptist Church . Several branches were established, some of which still exist. A group called the Church of God or "New Dunkers" withdrew in 1848. They disbanded in August 1962. In 1782 the Brethren forbade slaveholding by its members. The German Baptist Brethren grew from a small sect of about 1,500 German speaking members in 1790 to

6254-524: The Christian Scriptures there are verses which point to universal reconciliation and verses which point to destruction or eternal punishment for some. If looking only to scripture, he argues that Universalism is not only based in scripture, but has a stronger scriptural backing than the position of destruction or eternal damnation. Like early Christians, he points to Purgatorial Hell, a temporary place of cleansing of sin that will be necessary for some as

6372-607: The Evangelical and Charismatic traditions. One notable example is Robert Rutherford, a minister from Georgia (USA) who was a finalist on The Learning Channel 's 2006 reality TV series The Messengers . Another example is Dick King, an independent Charismatic Baptist pastor in North Little Rock, Arkansas, whose church left the Southern Baptist Convention in 2004. The conversion of Bishop Carlton Pearson to

6490-438: The German Baptist Brethren over several matters revolving around separation from following fleeting fashions and whatever is popular with the world (James 4:4) including Sunday Schools, higher education, expensive and luxurious dress fads, revivalism, nationalism and practicing less church discipline. The Old German Baptist Brethren and Old Brethren churches represent the conservative faction who wanted to remain plain and live

6608-537: The German immigrants of Berks County, Pennsylvania , and later around Philadelphia and New Jersey . Benneville also commonly visited the Ephrata Cloister , a utopian community with Universalist beliefs. He arranged for the translation of a German book about universalism, The Everlasting Gospel (1753 translation), by Georg Klein-Nicolai of Friessdorf, Germany . Nearly forty years later, Elhanan Winchester read

6726-460: The New Conference from the Old since that time, primarily in Ohio, Indiana, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Following the division of 2009, the majority that remained with the Old German Baptist Brethren (often referred to as the "Old Conference") decided at their 2010 Annual Conference to continue the ban on email and the internet. They agreed to allow very limited use for member businesses already online, with

6844-420: The New Testament, which is the order of the Brethren. They favor a capella singing, as the voice is the best instrument, made by God. They do not trust the fruit of spiritual innovations, such as Sunday Schools and emotional extended meetings. They promote plain dress, simple uncomplicated living, reading and following the words of Jesus. They believe that worldly amusements and entertainment appeal to and feed

6962-566: The OGBB was largely established by Peter Nead and William J. Shoup, both prolific Brethren authors and preachers. Nead, in particular, was a schooled Lutheran who converted to the Brethren and brought a refined system of teaching to the fellowship. Today the writings of Alexander Mack , R. H. Miller, Peter Nead, and the collected essays of Samuel Kinsey, along with the collected articles of the group's monthly periodical, "The Vindicator", form their most important doctrinal writings. A lively series of devotional and doctrinal essays continue to appear in

7080-465: The Old German Baptist Brethren upon the dissolution of that group in spring of 2012, although several of them did reunite with the parent body Old German Baptist Brethren Church prior to the 2012 Annual Conference. Several of the former members of that faction have joined the small migration of former Old German Baptist Brethren moving to Trenton, MO and have united with them in the more traditional horse and buggy Old Brethren German Baptist group. After

7198-465: The Old German Baptists. There was more division over the acceptance of the automobile in 1930. After the 1930 divide, those who adopted the use of the automobile placed less stress on annual meeting authority than did the parent body, believing it to be more for edification and teaching. Personal conviction from the Holy Spirit and Scripture rather than legislative decisions of annual meeting is now

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7316-458: The Report were given 60 days to reconsider their decision without repercussion. Those who remained silent or did not attend the meetings were assumed to be in agreement or willing to submit to the decision, and were retained as members. A majority of the members who did not accept the Report and were subsequently disfellowshipped participated in the re-organization of a new body, which was organized at

7434-590: The Seventh Day Dunker Brethren, whose distinctive principle was that they believed that Saturday was still the true Sabbath . They were founded by Conrad Beissel (1690–1768). In 1732 Beissel led the establishment of a semi-monastic community with a convent and monastery at Ephrata , in what is now Lancaster County, Pennsylvania . While celibate, the community also welcomed believing families, who lived nearby and participated in joint worship. The monastic feature and celibacy were gradually abandoned after

7552-574: The Universalists, along with various other denominations, vigorously opposed slavery as immoral. They also favored postbellum legislation such as the Fifteenth Amendment and the Freedman's Act to enfranchise all American citizens. Like many American religions, Universalism has generally been amenable to church-state separation. In New England, Baptists, Universalists, and Quakers provided some of

7670-458: The World Wide Web themselves. An increasing adherence to traditional patterns of dress and practice has also become significantly more evident among the remaining conservative membership. A trickle of members moving to the more traditional horse and buggy groups (primarily Old Brethren German Baptist ) may also have slowed. Increasing conservatism in the Old German Baptist Brethren has also had

7788-538: The attitude of other forms of Christian Universalism, while remaining generally Christ-centered. In contrast to Evangelical Universalism, Liberal Christian Universalism views the Bible as an imperfect human document containing divine revelations, is not necessarily Trinitarian, and often downplays or rejects blood atonement theology in its view of the crucifixion of Jesus . Some Liberal Christian Universalists believe in mystical philosophies such as panentheism and process theology , Gnostic or New Age ideas such as

7906-429: The basis for adherence to the church's order. Old Brethren adult membership, among six congregations (in California, Arkansas, Indiana, and Ohio), in 2000 was 250. In 1939, Old Brethren who wished to maintain the stress on annual meeting decisions and the rejection of automobiles, telephones, electricity, and tractors formed a group called the Old Brethren German Baptists . Old Brethren German Baptist membership in 2012

8024-460: The book and converted to Universalism. He was influential in the printing of the Sauer Bible of Christoph Sauer (1695–1758), the first German Bible printed in America, with passages supporting Winchester's belief in the universal availability of salvation. In the South, Rev. Giles Chapman was a former Quaker and Continental Army Chaplain who married into a Dunker family. The first Universalist church in South Carolina (and possibly in America)

8142-412: The case on the basis of the earliest Christian writings, theological tradition, scripture, and logic, that if God is the good creator of all, he is the savior of all, without fail. In his book, That All Shall Be Saved , he calls opponents of the school, who believe that some or all people are condemned to eternal damnation, "infernalists". Christian Universalists assert that the doctrine of eternal Hell

8260-447: The course of events, as the period or age before Christ; the period of the millennium; the mythological period before the beginnings of history. The adjective aionios in like manner carries the idea of time. Neither the noun nor the adjective, in themselves, carry the sense of endless or everlasting. They may acquire that sense by their connotation, as, on the other hand, aidios , which means everlasting, has its meaning limited to

8378-467: The doctrine of apocatastasis ) and "Sonship" (shorthand for "Manifest Sonship" which is a variant of the doctrine of theosis ). The term " Feast of Tabernacles " is used by some Charismatic Universalists as a term for their post-Pentecostal spiritual tradition, reflecting a symbolic interpretation of this Jewish festival as an entrance into a fuller knowledge and relationship with God and understanding of God's plan for humanity. Charismatic Universalism

8496-459: The dress bodice, which is only attached around the neck and not at the waist as Mennonites and Amish do. The more conservative women may wear a loose winter cloak instead of a more form-fitting coat, and a black bonnet over their white covering when going out. The men wear beards without moustaches, button up shirts, plain coats without lapels at worship services and often the more conservative men wear suspenders and black hats. The beard, worn without

8614-501: The existence of Hell entirely. Members of the Universalist Church of America claimed universalist beliefs among some early Christians such as Origen . Richard Bauckham in Universalism: a historical survey ascribes this to Platonist influence, and notes that belief in the final restoration of all souls seems to have been not uncommon in the East during the fourth and fifth centuries and

8732-558: The first American congregation at Germantown, Pennsylvania, on December 25, 1723. In 1743 Christopher Sauer, an early preacher and a printer, printed a Bible in German, the first published in a European language in North America. The first schism from the general body of German Baptist Brethren occurred in 1728, but more followed after the American Revolution , as different groups sought their own ways. The first separatists became

8850-502: The first women in the United States to receive ordination in a national denomination, Antoinette Brown having been the first when she was ordained by the Congregational Churches in 1853. By 1920, there were 88 Universalist women ministers, the largest group in the United States. Christian Universalism Christian universalism is a school of Christian theology focused around the doctrine of universal reconciliation –

8968-471: The flesh rather than the spirit, often taking the place of regular worship and fellowship, distracting believers and becoming forms of idolatry. They believe Jesus is calling all of us to be disciples, to love and follow Him. The progressives in the Brethren church focused on grace, novel practices, assimilation and acceptance. They promote higher education, salaried ministers, liturgical services and Sunday Schools , and revivalism . The majority of Brethren hold

9086-450: The historical Brethren practice of decision-making by "taking the voice" (or vote) of every member, whereas no discussion was permitted upon presentation of the 2009 Report, and only a vote of affirmation was permitted. The New Conference Polity Statement, declares that "the church must never be elevated to a place of equality with Jesus Christ," reflecting the New Conference's somewhat more individualistic approach to faith (in opposition to

9204-719: The idea of universal salvation is also the Polish Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś , who in an interview on September 26, 2024, claimed that "[...] all people, regardless of which religion they profess, OR WHETHER THEY PROFESS NONE AT ALL, are saved through the death, resurrection, and ascension of the Lord Jesus". There are many religious issues on which Christian Universalists disagree with each other, depending on their theological background and denominational tradition. Some examples include: Old German Baptist Brethren Defunct groups The Old German Baptist Brethren (OGBB)

9322-551: The last taught eternal Hell (in Carthage or Rome ). However, the Encyclopedia also notes that most contemporary scholars would take issue with classifying these early schools as Universalist. An important figure in early American Christian Universalism was George de Benneville , a French Huguenot preacher and physician who was imprisoned for advocating Universalism and later emigrated to Pennsylvania where he continued preaching on

9440-399: The least from orthodox or traditional Protestant Christian doctrine is Evangelical (Christian) Universalism, also called Biblical or Trinitarian Universalism . Evangelical Universalists hold to conservative positions on most theological or doctrinal issues except for the doctrine of hell , in which case they assert universal reconciliation instead of eternal torment. They tend to emphasize

9558-569: The loudest voices calling for disestablishment of the government sponsored churches of the standing order. One example comes from the 1770s. By Massachusetts state law, citizens were taxed to support the Congregational Church of the community where they lived. Sixty-one people in Gloucester left the church to form the Independent Church of Christ, which stood for Universalism. They then refused to pay their taxes. The church they built

9676-592: The magnitude of the mercy to be shown to them." Ilaria Ramelli , a scholar of the early Patristic history writes, "In the minds of some, universal salvation is a heretical idea that was imported into Christianity from pagan philosophies by Origen" ( c.  185–253/54 ). Ramelli argues that this view is mistaken and that Christian theologians were the first people to proclaim that all will be saved and that their reasons for doing so were rooted in their faith in Christ. Eastern Orthodox theologian David Bentley Hart makes

9794-401: The members gather once a year at their annual meeting and consider the issue in light of Scripture, past practices, and current contexts, then voice (or vote) on it, with a few chosen leaders of the church counting the votes. While the Brethren strive for unanimity in any decision, that is difficult to achieve, and often the vote is decided by a majority voice. If such cannot be reached, the issue

9912-433: The more traditional/conservative arm of membership. Conference representatives were sent to each district (congregation) in the brotherhood to determine the willingness of each member to accept the report. Those who refused to accept the report gave their names, which were recorded and sent to the secretary of the standing committee for processing, and they were disfellowshipped (ie excommunicated). Members who refused to accept

10030-443: The mustache, is required for those in ministry, and encouraged but not required for lay brothers. There are no radios, television sets, stereos, tape recorders, VCRs, or large musical instruments in members' homes. There has been a long debate over the use of the Internet since the mid-1990s; contrary to various reports, it was not the primary catalyst for the split in 2009 or 2020 (see above paragraph on 2009 division). According to

10148-548: The name "German Baptist" and officially adopted the title "German Baptist Brethren" at their Annual Meeting in 1871. From their formation in 1881 and until the early 1900s the Old German Baptist Brethren were often referred to as "Old Order German Baptist Brethren". There are several different Brethren groups that are not related to the Schwarzenau movement, such as the Plymouth Brethren that arose in England and Ireland early in

10266-470: The name change by citing the predominant use of English in the church, the fact that the name "German Baptist" frustrated some mission work, and that it would helpfully disassociate the denomination from the Old German Baptist Brethren. In the early 20th century several more conservative Brethren left the Old German Baptist Brethren and formed their own churches. In 1913, a group broke away in Indiana and formed

10384-669: The next few decades with the end of the Universalist Church as a separate denomination. However, the Unitarian Universalist Christian Fellowship remains as an organization for Christians from the Unitarian Universalist tradition and liberal Christians interested in Unitarianism and Universalism. Some Christians from a Pentecostal background who were involved in the Latter Rain Movement of

10502-610: The nonexistence or severe limitation of human free will , and the inevitable triumph of God's plan of universal reconciliation. Many Charismatic Universalists meet in house churches or do not belong to a church at all. Most of the evidence of Universalism existing as a school of thought within the Charismatic movement is found in a large number of internet-based ministries that are informally networked with one another. Liberal Christian Universalists include some members of mainline Protestant denominations, some people influenced by

10620-517: The other views of a temporary hell. First Augustine's views of hell were accepted in the early Latin Church, Up until the Reformation Augustine's view of hell as eternal was not questioned. About the word aion as having connotations of "age" or "temporal", the 19th-century theologian Marvin Vincent wrote: Aion , transliterated aeon, is a period of longer or shorter duration, having

10738-448: The parent body of "Old German Baptist Brethren" occurred in the 1990s resulting in three car driving congregations of 185 total members. While each conference has an "official" name, members of all conferences refer to themselves generally as Old Order German Baptists. In 2009, a major division was a result of the rejection, by a large percentage of members (approximately 2,400 individuals), of an unprecedented committee report adopted by

10856-464: The parent body's stronger emphasis on unity through mutual practice and theology). The majority of the remainder of the departing members have joined similar existing groups such as the Old Brethren or Dunkard Brethren, or moved on to more mainstream church fellowships. Since the split, a few families who stood with the New Conference in 2009 have returned to their Old Conference membership, primarily in Ohio and Indiana, and several families have migrated to

10974-709: The postmortem view that God continues to evangelize to people even after they die (1 Chronicles 16:34; Isaiah 9:2; Romans 8:35–39; Ephesians 4:8–9; 1 Peter 3:18–20; 4:6). According to the New Schaff–Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge (1912), over the first five hundred years of Christian history there are records of at least six theological schools: four of these schools were Universalist (one each in Alexandria , Antioch , Caesarea , and Edessa – Nisibis ), one taught conditional immortality (in Ephesus ), and

11092-547: The question is whether, in describing God as aionios , it was intended to describe the duration of his being, or whether some different and larger idea was not contemplated. Author Thomas Talbott states that if one believes in the idea of eternal hell or that some souls will be destroyed, one must either let go of the idea that it is God's wish and desire to save all beings, or accept the idea that God wants to, but will not "successfully accomplish his will and satisfy his own desire in this matter". Author David Burnfield defends

11210-511: The repeated decisions and re-affirmations of the general brotherhood at the Annual Meeting, and following the work of a committee of elders called to the Antietam, PA congregation to resolve several issues, there were two independent meetings held on November 11-12 and December 9-10, 2020, on a farm near Greencastle, Pennsylvania, to discuss the grievances of the dissatisfied members and to consider

11328-543: The same year, five men, including Mack, and three women gathered at the Eder , a small river that flows through Schwarzenau, to perform baptism as an outward symbol of their new interpretation of the faith. One of the members of the group first baptized Mack, who then, in turn, baptized the other seven. Mack along with the seven others believed that the Roman Catholic, Lutheran, and Reformed churches were taking extreme liberties with

11446-695: The study and treatment of mental illness, and insisted that the insane had a right to be treated with respect. He published a pamphlet on the iniquity of the slave trade. As part of his abolitionism, he helped organize the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery and the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage , the first antislavery society in America; he also served as its president. Rush believed, as did Winchester and most Universalists, in

11564-579: The subject. De Benneville was noted for his friendly and respectful relationship with Native Americans and his pluralistic and multicultural view of spiritual truth which was well ahead of his time. One of his most significant accomplishments was helping to produce the Sauer Bible, the first German language Bible printed in America. In this Bible version, passages teaching universal reconciliation were marked in boldface. Other significant early modern Christian Universalist leaders include Elhanan Winchester ,

11682-558: The theological position of the OGBB can be diverse, and often represented geographically. A Doctrinal Treatise was published in 1952, primarily for the sake of young men who went abroad in Civilian Public Service camps or other work programs, and it presents many doctrinal distinctives of the OGBB; however it is not a creed or formal statement of faith to which members must subscribe, as members interpret and apply some of its various theological points differently. When asked for

11800-494: The true message of Christianity revealed in the New Testament, so they rejected state-church unions, use of force and violence, and the established liturgy, including infant baptism and existing Eucharistic practices. The founding Brethren were broadly influenced by Radical Pietist understandings of an invisible, nondenominational church of awakened Christians who would fellowship together in equality, purity, and love, following Jesus while awaiting Christ's return. A notable influence

11918-441: The understanding that they discontinue use within three years. To date, the subsequent queries again requesting some form of business use have been met with a discussions ending in reaffirmation of the 2010 decision. As of 2015, there is a group of nine brethren working autonomously with outside communications companies to arrange a "third party" system to allow their members access to needed online information without actually using

12036-508: The unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. It will be expected that members hearing the reading of this report will be willing to accept the same." No positions on specific questions of doctrine or church practice before the Conference were addressed in the Report, though the general understanding was that it asked for an affirmation of loyalty to traditional doctrine and practice as interpreted by

12154-481: The view that all human beings will ultimately be saved and restored to a right relationship with God . "Christian universalism" and "the belief or hope in the universal reconciliation through Christ" can be understood as synonyms. Opponents of this school hold that eternal damnation is the ultimate fate of some or most people. The term Christian universalism was used in the Christian Intelligencer in

12272-423: The wicked there are punishments, not perpetual, however, lest the immortality prepared for them should be a disadvantage, but they are to be purified for a brief period according to the amount of malice in their works. They shall therefore suffer punishment for a short space, but immortal blessedness having no end awaits them ... the penalties to be inflicted for their many and grave sins are very far surpassed by

12390-484: Was Ernest Christopher Hochmann von Hochenau, a traveling Pietist minister. While living in Schriesheim , his hometown, Mack invited Hochmann to come and minister there. Like others who influenced the Brethren, Hochmann considered the pure church to be spiritual and did not believe that a highly organized church was necessary. By 1708, the date of the first Brethren baptisms, Mack had rejected this position in favor of forming

12508-637: Was active in the Holiness movement as well as the women's suffrage and temperance movements. The Unity School of Christianity , founded in 1889 by Charles and Myrtle Fillmore , has taught some Universalist beliefs such as God's total goodness, the divine nature of human beings, and the rejection of the traditional Christian belief that God condemns people to Hell. In the early 20th century, some Primitive Baptists in Appalachia started espousing Universalist ideas. By 1924, these churches branched off to form

12626-530: Was an independent National Convention from 1790 to about 1810. Notwithstanding its tendency toward independence, Universalist congregations supported the construction of The Universalist National Memorial Church in Washington, D.C., to serve as the official church of Universalism. In 1921, the Universalist General Convention approved funds for the building of the church and services began in 1925. The present church, located at 1810 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington DC,

12744-456: Was apparently taught by Gregory of Nyssa , though this is disputed by Greek Orthodox scholars. According to the Universalist historian Rev. George T. Knight , in the first five or six centuries of Christianity there were six known theological schools, of which four (Alexandria, Antioch, Caesarea, and Edessa) were universalist. The first verifiable and undisputed believer in universal salvation

12862-518: Was established in 1930 and its current congregation continues to follow Universalist principles. The Universalist Church of America involved itself in several social causes, generally with a politically liberal bent. As noted above, Benjamin Rush was a major political activist for anti-slavery causes in early America. The issue resurfaced in the 1850s with the Fugitive Slave Act and other compromises;

12980-511: Was not a part of Christ's teachings nor even the early church, and that it was added in. According to theologian Edward Beecher , in the first four centuries there were six main theological schools and only one of them advocated the idea of eternal hell. Christian universalists point towards mistranslations of the Greek word αιών ( aion – an epoch of time), as giving rise to the idea of eternal hell. Dr. Ken Vincent writes "When it ( aion )

13098-583: Was over 100 and growing rapidly, with congregations in Indiana, Ohio and Missouri. As the original Old German Baptist Brethren body became more accepting of automobiles, another group withdrew in 1921 to become the Old Order German Baptist Brethren . They do not use automobiles, electric power or telephones but do use tractors in the field and for transportation on the public roadways for work related activities, such as going to work sites or selling produce in towns. Two other minor divisions in

13216-461: Was rejected for violating a technical procedure. In November 1881, conservative Brethren led by the Miami River Valley group met and formally split from the Church of the Brethren to form the Old German Baptist Brethren. They held their first annual meeting in 1882. At the same time, Henry Holsinger , a leader of the progressives in the church, published writings that some Brethren considered slanderous, anti-Jesus, and unscriptural and schismatic . As

13334-546: Was seized and sold to pay; however, the Church sued, and in 1786, they won their case. Although the Universalist Church as a denomination never fully embraced Spiritualism , many Universalists were sympathetic to this nineteenth-century movement. Spiritualism was preached with some regularity from Universalist pulpits in the middle decades of the 19th century and some ministers left the denomination when their Spiritualist leanings became too pronounced for their peers and congregations. On June 25, 1863, Olympia Brown became one of

13452-576: Was the Freedonia Meeting Hall , situated in Newberry County . Benjamin Rush , a signer of the Declaration of Independence and a convert to Winchester's teaching of universal salvation, but not a member of a Universalist church, was a vigorous foe of slavery, advocated the abolition of the death penalty, advocated for better education for women, supported free public schools, was a pioneer in

13570-445: Was the belief of some of the early church fathers, especially Greek-speaking ones such as Clement of Alexandria , Origen , and Gregory of Nyssa . It asserts that the unsaved will undergo hell, but that hell is remedial (neither everlasting nor purely retributive) according to key scriptures and that after purification or conversion all will enter heaven. Fourth-century Christian theologian and Bishop Diodorus of Tarsus wrote: "For

13688-509: Was the most vocal point of contention over the last several years, there were several resolutions adopted at the December 2020 by the separating members. These included a commitment to unanimity in decision-making (which has since been modified), greater caution and avoidance of internet usage and related technology, greater adherence and discipline toward plainness of dress, and the prevalence of conference decisions over local practices. In general,

13806-543: Was translated into Latin Vulgate, aion became aeternam which means 'eternal'." He also states that the first written record of the idea of an eternal hell comes from Tertullian, who wrote in Latin. The second major source of the idea of hell as eternal was the 4th-century theologian Augustine . According to author Steve Gregg, it was Tertullian's writings, plus Augustine's views and writings on eternal hell, which "overwhelmed"

13924-632: Was vested in national conventions. To train ministers (among other things), the Church founded in 1831 the coeducational Clinton Liberal Institute in Clinton, New York . The church later established three divinity schools: Theological School of St. Lawrence University (1856–1965), the Ryder Divinity School (c. 1885–1913) at Lombard College , and the Crane Theological School of Tufts University (1869–1968). The Philadelphia Convention

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