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.
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