Congregation
As a congregation, we are grateful for each person who gathers with us each week. We seek to foster a safe and caring environment so that we can experience the mind of Christ in community. As a welcoming group, we encourage fellowship, conversation, questions, and relationships.
Our commitment is to one another in Christian love and spiritual nurture.
Our call: Continuing the work of Jesus. Peacefully. Simply. Together.
Our hope is that you can join with us on any Sunday morning as a friend and guest.
Historical Background
This congregation is part of the Church of the Brethren, founded in Germany in 1708 over 300 years ago.
The Church of the Brethren grew out of the historic Anabaptist and Pietist experiences that formed in Germany after the Reformation. We are a part of the larger Brethren movement that includes the German Baptist Brethren, the German Baptist Brethren New Conference, the Dunkard Brethren, the Grace Brethren and the Ashland Brethren as well as other Brethren groups.
We view ourselves in partnership with all seeking Christians and all religious persons and groups as we attempt to create communities of a living and inspired faith. We want to live in a spirit of cooperation as a beloved community as we invite others to share in the love of God.
Denomination
Church of the Brethren is headquartered in Elgin, Illinois and also maintains a Brethren Service Center located in New Windsor, Maryland. We conduct a yearly Annual Conference http://www.brethren.org/ac/ that moves to different locations within the United States. Church of the Brethren Annual Conference combines fellowship, business, and worship experiences.
We support Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, IN which provides ministerial training. There are also six liberal arts colleges affiliated with the denomination: Bridgewater College, Bridgwater, VA; Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, PA; Juniata College, Huntingdon, PA; University of LaVerne, LaVerne, CA; McPherson College, McPherson, KS; and Manchester University, North Manchester, IN.
For more information go to the denominational website: www.brethren.org
Biblical Beliefs
We believe in the whole Bible with a special emphasis on the New Testament as it offers us the way of Jesus that is personally focused, socially relevant and intellectually sound for every age.
When the values of Christ conflict with the values of the world around us, God strengthens us to count the cost of our faith commitment and to suffer if we must, in order to remain true to Jesus the Christ.
However, in all our efforts, we continue to be open to the ideas and inspiration of others while we seek to understand the Bible as it unfolds in our life experiences.
Life of Faith
After the example and teaching of Jesus the Christ, we give priority to serving one another in love and acceptance.
We believe that all of life is a sacred creation of God and that the ways of injustice, violence, and environmental degradation are not compatible with the Spirit of Christ.
We believe that we are being called to be in a spirit of reconciliation as we live together and with others in our community and world.
In doing so, we want to reach out to all others as we share together these faith experiences and the love of God.
Relationships
In Christ, we believe that there is no force in matters of religion as we relate in our faith responses.
We believe that the greatest gift of God’s spirit is love embodied in the followers of Jesus. This love is complete as we seek out one another in an invitational and open manner.
We believe God calls us to encourage one another in times of joy and sorrow as well as in all the experiences of our lives.
We practice a welcoming environment for worship and fellowship, through which we form lasting friendships.
Connections
Our congregation is part of the District of Missouri/Arkansas of the Church of the Brethren, located in this area, across the southern part of the state and in northern Arkansas.
We share our life with 13 other congregations as together we meet yearly for a District Conference and celebrate in fellowship and worship, conducting the necessary organizational business and affirmations of leadership.
There is a strong bond between our congregations that provides connections and support.
The district’s website is www.missouriarkansasbrethren.org
Camping Opportunities
Our District sponsors a yearly camping week at Camp Hammond Mill in Dora, MO, located in the southern part of Missouri, near West Plains. This opportunity includes campers of various ages, supported by adult staff who provide program and activities for Christian development. Campers are registered through one of the district congregations. Contact a member of the Warrensburg Church of the Brethren ministry team if you are interested in more information.
Our Brochure