Brethren is the name for several Protestant groups that developed from the Pietist movement in Germany in the 1600’s and 1700’s. The Pietists were Christians–primarily Lutherans–who rejected the emphasis on ritual and formal worship in their state church. They wanted to return to the simple life of the early Christians and live by the literal (exact) word of the New Testament. Some Brethren met in small groups for prayer and Bible study. They refused to take part in disputes between religious sects or to give their groups a name. They simply called themselves Brethren or Christians. As part of the Pietist movement, the Brethren originally acted with those who founded the Moravian Church and the Amana Society. See Moravian Church ; Amanites .
With the Quakers and Mennonites, the Brethren are known as a historic peace church. They try to follow the simple standards of Christ’s Sermon on the Mount. Brethren refuse to take oaths, try to avoid violence, and refuse to fight in wars. They also emphasize service to people in need. The Brethren Service Commission carries on a vigorous program of international aid for victims of war and natural disasters. Brethren are devoted to Christian unity, and they take part in the national and world councils of churches.
Brethren immigrated to the United States between 1719 and 1740, and settled in Pennsylvania. Until recently, they have remained concentrated in rural Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. The strongest denomination in the United States is the Church of the Brethren, with about 1,000 congregations (see Brethren, Church of the ). Smaller churches in the United States include the Brethren Church, the National Fellowship of Brethren Churches, and the Plymouth Brethren.
