Mission Statement and Beliefs:

 

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." -Matthew 28:19



At Waterford Church of the Brethren, our mission is to live up to the commission given to the church and it's people in this verse. We strive to preach the Good News, Teach and Disciple regardless of race, ethnicity or station in life, love without restraint, including loving our enemies, baptize in the name of the Holy Trinity, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and take the Message to the ends of the earth.



We are to be purveyors of God's Love, God's Peace, God's Forgiveness, God's Salvation, and God's Communication System, Prayer. This is the core of the Church of the Brethren Anabaptist Theology, and has been for the past 300 years.

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Church History:

The Church of the Brethren's traces it's roots to1708 in Schwarzenau, Germany. In the time of governmental control of the church and low tolerance for religious diversity, there were still religious dissenters who lived their faith in spite of the threat of persecution. Alexander Mack, a miller who had been influenced by both Pietism and Anabaptism, was one of these dissenters, who along with 4 other men and 3 women gathered at the Eder River to be baptized. They understood this baptism as an outward symbol of their new faith and as a commitment to living that faith in community. This new group simply called themselves “brethren.”



Due to growing persecution and economic hardship, Brethren began emigrating to North America in 1719. Most Brethren left Europe by 1740, including Mack, and the first congregation in the New World was organized at Germantown, Pa., in 1723. Expansion across the continent and changes due to the Industrial Revolution caused strain and conflict among the Brethren. In the early 1880s a major schism took place resulting in a three-way split. The largest branch after the schism was the German Baptist Brethren, who changed their name to the Church of the Brethren in 1908.



During the 20th century, focus areas of Church of the Brethren included educating its young people by developing Sunday schools, camping, and youth programs; strengthening its emphasis on service, missions, and peacemaking; increasing its ecumenical involvement; and developing a new denominational structure. While times have changed, the Church of the Brethren today maintains the basic beliefs of the first Brethren and seeks to find new ways to continue the work of Jesus in the world.



The Waterford Church of the Brethren opened its doors to the community in 1918