Evangelical Bretheran Church
| Evangelical Brethren Church | |
|---|---|
| Église des Frères Évangéliques | |
 Church of New Life, Jacqueville, Upper Asema | |
| Type | Free Church |
| Orientation | Salvationist |
| Theology | Conservative |
| Polity | Congregationalist |
| Region | Worldwide, Significant populations in Arcadia, The Libertines, and Upper Asema |
| Language | Multiple |
| Liturgy | Contemporary worship |
| Members | 13,147,791 |
| Church buildings | 3,782 |
| Aid organization | Global Brethren Network |
The Evangelical Brethren Church is a Christian Denomination which operates globally but is based in Arcadia. It is the largest denomination within the Brethren Tradition and is a growing tradition in several counties worldwide. Founded in 1949 by D.W.C Chaloner it initially started as a single church in the small town of Beckettsville, Arcadia and has grown steadily ever since. The church holds to Fehrian Theology and teaches free grace, conditional security, and free will.
The church while small in its native Arcadia, has seen exponetial growth in places like Upper Asema thanks to well funded missionary work in the 80's and 90's. with over 2/3rds of its practisioners being of Maurian origin.
History
Beliefs
Evangelical Brethren believe that the bible is the inspired word of god free of error in all that it affirms. Evangelical Brethren believe that Jesus was sent and died for everyone, but that humanity has the free will to follow christ, and that salvation is dependent of ones willingness to accept and live as Jesus commands. hold that both Faith, and good works are th ultimtate basis for salvation. The church also affirms only using the Authoritative King Edward Version (AKEV) Bible as the sole bible to use in church functions. while other versions are not explicitly discouraged for congrgants to also read. the church believes in the superior source for the AKEV's translation. The Brethren are biblical literalist, and see the AKEV as coming from more authentic early sources, as well as the faithfulness of the translation itself.
Brethren hold very orthodox views of the divinity of christ and of most issues of Christology. Evangelical Brethren hold to three [[Wikipedia: Ordinance (Christianity)|Ordinances]], Baptism, Lord's Supper, and Unction. Brethren have a unique baptism formula, where people are fully immered backwards in water three times, once when baptized in the name of the father, once in the name of the son, and once more in the name of the holy spirit. Evangelical Brethren Have a congregationalist polity and hold to a strictly independent view of church authority. While brethren churches are allowed to meet and network with one another, Churches are discouraged from taking part in or starting formalized church assosiations. Local pastors hold sole authority over their congregations so long as said pastor has the blesssing of the Congregation. Seminary education is not manitory for one to become a pastor, however many do so.
The Evangelical Brethren are a Peace Church and opposes tyranny, injustice, exploitation, and dehumanization as interpreted from a biblical perspective whenever and wherever they exist since its inception. Through its charity, the Global Brethren Network the denomination has supported efforts to help those affected by war. While ideas of how one is to life in acordance with a peaceful lifestyle, the prevelent possition is that violence as an act of immediate self-defense is not sinful itself, but that political action is prefered. Many groups called the Manifestants Anti-Guérilla were formed by Brethren Churches during the Third Asemese Civil War, and played a role in the peace process in the country. These groups would organize in villiages, and woukld on occasion defend communities from direct militants and government attacks, but would facilitate localized peaceful resolutions. However this believe is not universial and many Brethren are members of the military today.