Moravian Church
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2008-07-14T16:02:23Z
Johnpacklambert
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:''This page is about the Moravian Church globally. For information about the church in a particular geographic area, use the links at [[Moravian Church#Organisation|Organisation]] below.''
[[Image:MSeal2.jpg|thumb|125px|right|The Moravian Seal, as rendered by North Carolina artist Marie Nifong.]]
The '''Moravian Church''' or '''Herrnhuter Brüdergemeine''' is a [[Mainline (Protestant)|mainline]] [[Protestant]] denomination. Its religious heritage began in [[Kunvald]] late 14th century [[Bohemia]] (modern [[Czech Republic]]). Its official name is '''Unitas Fratrum'''<ref>[http://www.unitasfratrum.org/ http://www.unitasfratrum.org/]</ref> meaning '''Unity of the Brethren''' (not to be confused with the small [[Unity of the Brethren]] church based in Texas). It is also occasionally referred to as the '''Bohemian Brethren'''. It places a high premium on Christian unity, personal piety, missions and music.
The church's emblem is the Lamb of God with the flag of victory, surrounded by the Latin inscription: ''Vicit agnus noster, eum sequamur''; or in English: Our Lamb has conquered, let us follow him.
==Origins==
{{Main|History of the Moravian Church}}
===Early history===
The movement that became the Moravian Church was started by [[Jan Hus]] ({{lang-en|John Huss}}) in the late 14th century. Hus objected to some of the practices of the [[Roman Catholic Church]] and wanted to return the church in [[Bohemia]] and [[Moravia]] to what he believed were the simpler practices of early [[Christianity]]: [[Mass (liturgy)|liturgy]] in the language of the people (i.e. [[Czech language|Czech]]), having lay people receive [[Mass (liturgy)#Communion_rite|communion]] in both kinds (bread ''and'' wine), and eliminating indulgences and the idea of [[purgatory]].
The movement gained [[List of rulers of Bohemia|royal]] support and a certain independence for a while, but was eventually forced to be subject to the authority of Rome. Hus was tried by the [[Council of Constance]] and burned at the stake ([[1415]]).
Within fifty years of Hus's death, a contingent of his followers had become independently organized as the "Bohemian Brethren" (''Čeští bratři'') or [[Unity of the Brethren]] (''Jednota bratrská''), which was founded in [[Kunvald]], Bohemia, in [[1457]]. These were the earliest [[Protestant]]s, rebelling against Rome more than a hundred years before [[Martin Luther]].
After [[1620]], due to the [[Counter Reformation]] and the [[Thirty-Years War]] ([[1618]]–[[1648]]), and after being abandoned and betrayed by the local nobility which had previously tolerated or supported them, the Brethren were forced to operate underground and eventually dispersed across Northern Europe and as far as the [[Low Countries]], where bishop [[Comenius|John Amos Comenius]] attempted to direct a resurgence.
The largest remaining communities of the Brethren were located in [[Leszno]] ({{lang-de|Lissa}}) in [[Poland]], which had historically strong ties with the Czechs, and in small, isolated groups in [[Moravia]].
=== Herrnhuter Brüdergemeine, 18<sup>th</sup> century renewal===
[[Image:Haidt Zizendorf.JPG|thumb|250px|Zinzendorf preaching to people from many nations]]
In 1722, a small group of Bohemian Brethren who had been living as an underground remnant in [[Moravia]] for nearly 100 years arrived at the [[Berthelsdorf]] estate of [[Nicolaus Ludwig Zinzendorf|Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf]], a nobleman who had been brought up in the traditions of [[Pietism]]. Out of a personal commitment to helping the poor and needy, he agreed to a request from their leader (Christian David, an itinerant carpenter) that they be allowed to settle on his lands in the [[Oberlausitz]] (Eng: "Upper Lusatia") in present day [[Saxony]] in the the east of modern-day [[Germany]].
The refugees established a new village called [[Herrnhut]], about 2 miles (3 km) from Berthelsdorf. The town initially grew steadily, but major religious disagreements emerged and by [[1727]] the community was divided into warring factions. Count Zinzendorf worked to bring about unity in the town and the ''Brotherly Agreement'' was adopted by the community on [[12 May]], [[1727]]. This is considered the beginning of the renewal. Then, on [[13 August]] [[1727]] the community underwent a dramatic transformation when the inhabitants of Herrnhut "Learned to love one another," following an experience which they attributed to a visitation of the [[Holy Spirit]], similar to that recorded in the [[Bible]] on the day of [[Pentecost]].
Herrnhut grew rapidly following this transforming revival and became the centre of a major movement for Christian renewal and mission during the 18th century. Moravian historians identify the main achievements of this period as:
# Setting up a watch of [[continuous prayer]] which ran uninterrupted, 24 hours a day, for 100 years.
# The origination of the [[Daily Watchwords]]
# The establishment of over 30 settlements globally on the Herrnhut model, which emphasised a lifestyle of prayer and worship and a form of communal living in which personal property was still held but simplicity of lifestyle and generosity with wealth were considered important spiritual attributes. As a result, divisions between social groups and extremes of wealth and poverty were largely eliminated.
# The start of missionary work (see next section).
# The formation of many hundreds of small renewal groups operating within the existing churches of Europe, known as "diaspora societies". These groups encouraged personal prayer and worship, bible study, confession of sins and mutual accountability.
===Missions===
The Moravian missionaries were the first large scale Protestant missionary movement. The church sent hundreds of Christian [[missionaries]] to many parts of the world including the Caribbean, North and South America, the Arctic, Africa, and the Far East. They were also the first to send unordained "lay" people (rather than trained professional clergymen), the first Protestant denomination to go to slaves, and the first in many countries of the world.
The first Moravian missionaries were a potter named [[Leonard Dober]] and a carpenter named [[David Nitschmann]], who went to the Caribbean island of [[Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands|St Thomas]] in 1732.
The start of far-flung missionary work necessitated the setting up of independently administered Provinces. So from c1750,{{Fact|date=September 2007}} the history of the church becomes the history of its Provinces. Articles about some of these (and their history) are linked from [[Moravians#Organisation|Organisation]] below.
Former mission fields where there is no longer any work include Australia and Greenland.
===The present===
[[Image:USVA headstone emb-27.jpg|thumb|Moravian Church]]
The modern ''Unitas Fratrum'' or Moravian Church, with about 825,000 members worldwide, continues to draw on traditions established during the 18th century renewal. In many places it observes the convention of the [[lovefeast]], originally started in [[1727]], and sometimes continues to use older and traditional music in worship. In addition, in some older congregations, Moravians are buried in a traditional [[God's Acre]], a graveyard organized by gender, age, and marital status rather than family.
The Moravians continue their long tradition of missionary work, for example in the Caribbean. This is reflected in their broad global distribution. The Moravians in [[Germany]], whose central settlement remains at [[Herrnhut]], are highly active in education and social work. The American Moravian Church sponsors [[Moravian College]] and Seminary. The largest concentration of Moravians today is in [[Tanzania]].
The motto of the Moravian church is:
: (Latin) ''[[In necessariis unitas, in dubiis libertas, in omnibus caritas]]''
: (English) "In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; and in all things, love"
==Organization==
===Provinces===
The church has work around the globe and so is organised into provinces, each responsible for a particular geographic area:<br />
{{columns | width=30%
|col1 =
*'''Alaska'''
*[[American Provinces of the Moravian Church|'''America (North)''']]: Canada and the Northern States of the USA
*[[American Provinces of the Moravian Church|'''America (South)''']]: Southern States of the USA
*[[British Province of the Moravian Church|'''British''']]: England and Northern Ireland, with a small society in Dublin
*'''Congo'''<ref name=NewProvince>Congo and Zambia were added at a Unity Board meeting in May 2007.</ref>
*'''Costa Rica'''<ref name=Affiliated>Affiliated Province - not a voting member of the Unity Board.</ref>
*'''Czech Republic'''
|col2 =
*'''Eastern West Indies''': Trinidad, Tobago, Barbados, Antigua, St. Kitts, and the Virgin Islands including St. Croix, St. John, St. Thomas and Tortola.
*'''European Continental''': Germany, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland
*'''Guyana'''<ref name=Affiliated/>
*'''Honduras'''
*'''[[Jamaica Province of the Moravian Church|Jamaica]]'''
*'''Labrador'''<ref name=Affiliated/>
*'''Nicaragua'''
|col3 =
*'''South Africa'''
*'''Suriname'''
*'''Tanzania (Rukwa)'''
*'''Tanzania (Southern)'''
*'''Tanzania (South Western)'''
*'''Tanzania (Western)'''
*'''Zambia'''<ref name=NewProvince/>
}}
Other areas where work is going on, but which are not yet established as Provinces are:
*'''Star Mountain Rehabilitation Centre''', Ramallah, Palestine - under the care of the European Continental Province. Work began among people with [[leprosy]] in 1867 at the 'Jesus Hilfe' home in Jerusalem, responsibility for which was taken over by the Israeli State. In 1980, the former Leper Home on Star Mountain was converted for use as a home for handicapped children of the Arab population.<ref name=Almanac/>
*'''South Asia''' (India, Ladakh, Nepal, Assam) - under the care of the British Province. Formerly the West Himalayan Province (1853) and designated a Unity Undertaking in 1967.<ref name=Almanac/>
*'''Eastern Tanzania and Zanzibar''', and '''Malawi''' - under the care of the Tanzania South Province.
*'''Northern Tanzania''' - under the care of the Tanzania South West Province.
There also seems to be some work beginning in '''Peru''' {{Fact|date=August 2007}}.
Tanzania is divided into 5 provinces because of size of country and the numbers of people in the church. There is an attempt to co-ordinate the work in Tanzania in various ways through "The Moravian Church in Tanzania".
The lists above, except for some details given under 'Other areas' can be found in the Moravian Almanac.<ref name=Almanac>The Moravian Almanac is published annually (October) as a supplement to the devotional book 'Daily Watchwords'. Most Provinces publish their own almanac with details of local congregations and the wider Provinces. Copies may be obtained from the Moravian Church House (office) of any province (for addresses see the provinces pages).</ref>
Each Province is governed by a Synod, made up of representatives from each congregations plus ex officio members.
The Synod elects the Provincial Board (aka Provincial Elders' Conference or PEC<ref>In Moravian usage, Elder is a title applicable to the members of any church board (conference) whether at provincial or congregational level. The term is not relative to age, but to responsible people who, commanding the respect of their fellow members, have been elected, at provincial level by the Synod, and at local level by the Congregation Council. A Board of Elders always acts collegially, not individually<sup>[7]</sup>.</ref>) to be responsible for the work of the Province and its international links between Synods.
===Districts===
Many of the Provinces are divided into Districts (probably this is not the case everywhere).
''District Conferences need a mention''.
===Congregations===
Each Congregation belongs to a District and has spiritual and financial responsibilities for work in its own area and provincially. The Congregation Council (all the members of a congregation) meets usually twice a year and annually elects the Church Committee which acts as an executive.
In some Provinces two or more congregations may be grouped together into circuits, under the care of one minister.
===Unity Synod and Board===
The Unity Synod meets every 7 years and is attended by...
The Unity Board is made up of one member from each Provincial Board, and acts as an executive committee between Unity Synods. It meets 3 times between Synods but much of its work is done by correspondence and postal voting.
There is no "Head Office". The President of the Unity Board (who is elected by the Board for 2 years and not allowed to serve for more than two terms) works from his/her own Provincial office.
==Beliefs==
In her ''Book of Order''<ref name=UBoO>Church Order of the Unitas Fratrum, published by order of the Unity Synod.</ref><ref name=UBoO-Online>[http://www.unitasfratrum.org/pages/ground_unity.html The Ground of the Unity]</ref> the Moravian Unity accepts:
*The three [[Ecumenical Creeds]]: [[Apostles' Creed|Apostles']], [[Nicene Creed|Nicene]] and [[Athanasian Creed|Athanasian]]
*The 21 Articles of the Unaltered [[Augsburg Confession]]
*The Confession of the Unity of the Bohemian Brethren of 1535
*The [[Barmen Declaration]] of 1934
*The [[Shorter Catechism]] of [[Martin Luther]]
*The Synod of Berne of 1532
*[[The Thirty-Nine Articles]] of the [[Church of England]]
*The [[Heidelberg Catechism]]
According to the Ground of the Unity<ref name=UBoO/><ref name=UBoO-Online/> of 1957, fundamental beliefs include but are not limited to:
*The [[Holy Trinity]]
*The Fatherhood of God
*God's Love for fallen humanity
*The [[Incarnation]] of God in the God/Man [[Jesus Christ]]
*Jesus's sacrificial death for the sinful rebellion of humanity
*His [[Resurrection]], [[Ascension of Jesus Christ|Ascension]] and Exaltation to the Right Hand of the Father
*His sending of the [[Holy Spirit]] to strengthen, sustain and empower Believers
*His eventual return in majesty to judge the Living and the Dead
*Of His Kingdom there shall be no end
*There is one [[Baptism]] for the forgiveness of sins
*Infants are baptized
*Without defining the mode or method, the "How", Moravians believe that they receive the true Body and Blood of Christ in the [[Holy Communion]]. This is most clearly seen in Bishop [[August Gottlieb Spangenberg]]'s ''Idea Fidei Fratrum'', and in the Easter Morning [[Litany]].
These tenets of classical Christianity are not unique to the Moravian Church. The Moravian Church has never sought to "invent" doctrines. The emphasis in both the Ancient Unity as well as in the Renewed Unity has been on Christian Living and the Fellowship of Believers as witness to a living Christian Faith.
==Worship==
* [[List of hymnals#Moravian Church|Hymn Books]]
* Liturgy
* the Sacrament of the Holy Communion
* The Sacrament of Baptism, Infants and Adults
* Marriage
* Confirmation
* Christian Burial
* Ordination Bishops, Presbyters and Deacons
* Consecration of church buildings and facilities
==Traditions==
* [[Lovefeast]]
* Cup of Covenant
* [[Christingle]] (object) and Christingle service
* [[Hosanna#Other examples of modern usage|Hosanna Anthem]]
* [[Moravian star|Moravian Advent star]]
* [[Daily Watchwords]], sometimes called Moravian Daily Texts
* [[Advent]] Wreath and Candles
* Passion Week/ Holy Week Reading Services
* [[God's Acre]] and [[Easter]] sunrise service
* Drawing of Lots
* [[Moravian music|Music]]
* [[Watch Night]] Service
==Former traditions==
* Settlements (Either under a separate heading or in a main article, list all worldwide & describe usual range of constituent buildings, etc.)
* the drawing of "lots" in decision making
* Single Brethren's and Single Sisters' Houses: In the old original Settlement Congregations of Europe, Britain and the US, there were separate Houses caring for the spiritual and also temporal welfare of the Choirs of Single Brethren, Single Sisters, Widows.<ref name=BBoO>Book of Order, The Moravian Church in Great Britain and Ireland, 2002.</ref>
* Wide/Short layout of church interiors
* Separate seating of sexes in churches
* Mission ships (the ''Harmony'' & the Snow Irene)
* Choirs (age/sex): The word 'Choir' has been used in the Moravian tradition since the eighteenth century to indicate a group of congregation members classified according to age and sex. Formerly there were in several congregations separate Houses caring for the spiritual and also temporal welfare of the Choirs of Single Brethren, Single Sisters, Widows.<ref name=BBoO>Book of Order, The Moravian Church in Great Britain and Ireland, 2002.</ref>
==Uniformed and other organizations==
* Boys Brigade / Scouts
* Girls Brigade / Guides / Upward & Onward
* Women's Fellowship
* Men's Fellowship
* Sunday School
* Young People's Missionary Association (YPMA)
==Prominent Moravians from c1400 to c1750==
* [[:Category:Bishops of the Moravian Church|Bishops]]
* [[:Category:Missionaries of the Moravian Church|Missionaries]]
* [[:Category:Writers of the Moravian Church|Writers]]
==Ecumenical relations==
{{seealso|Full communion}}
The Moravian Church provinces are members individually of the [[World Council of Churches]] and the [[Lutheran World Federation]]. Most provinces are also members of their national councils of churches, such as the [[Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland (EKD]]) in Germany and the [[National Council of Churches]] of Christ in the US. The American Southern Province was instrumental in the founding the North Carolina Council of Churches. The British Province is in the British council of churches and has an interim Communion agreement with the Church of England. The two North American provinces are in full communion with the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]] (ELCA) and are in dialogue with the [[Episcopal Church]] in the United States about entering full communion with them as well.
An interesting aspect of Moravian history and work is the so-called "Diaspora" work in Germany and Eastern Europe, seeking to deepen and encourage the Christian life among members of the territorial churches, particularly in Poland and the Baltic, but also throughout the German lands. Count Zinzendorf's ideal was a fellowship of all Christians, regardless of denominational names and the Moravian Brethren sought in the Diaspora not to convert people to the Moravian Church but to awaken the hearts of believers and make them better members of the churches to which they already belonged. At first the objects of a great deal of suspicion, in the course of time the Moravian Diaspora Workers eventually became valued co-workers in the vast expanse of eastern Europe. The Diaspora Work in eastern Europe suffered almost total destruction in World War II, but is still carried on within the territorial churches of Germany. With the independence of the Baltic republics, Estonia and Latvia, it was revealed that much of the Diaspora Work there had been kept alive in spite of Soviet Russian domination and had born fruit.
==Historical societies, etc.==
* American North: ''the Moravian Historical Society'' and Historic Bethlehem (Pennsylvania)
* American South: ''the Wachovia Historical Society'' as well as [[Old Salem]]
* British: Defunct.
* Continental Province ''Verein für Geschichts- und Gegenwartsfragen der Brüdergemeine''
==Publications==
* der Brüderbote, the periodical of the Continental Province
* Unitas Fratrum, the publication of the Continental Province's historical society
* the Moravian Magazine, the publication of the North American Provinces
* the Moravian Messenger, periodical of the British Province
* ''Moravian History Magazine'' - Published within the British Province but deals with the work worldwide.
==Notes and references==
{{reflist}}
==Bibliography==
* Fries, Adelaide ''Records of the Moravians in North Carolina'' (1917).
* Gollin, Gilliam Lindt. ''Moravians in Two Worlds'' (1967)
* Langton; Edward. ''History of the Moravian Church: The Story of the First International Protestant Church'' (1956).
==External links==
* [http://www.unitasfratrum.org/ The world wide Moravian Church Unity]
* [http://www.moravians.net/ The Moravian Church Eastern West Indies Province]
* [http://www.moravian.org/ The American Moravian Church]
* [http://www.moravian.org.uk The British Moravian Church]
* [http://www.moravianmission.org/partnerprovinces/alaska.phtml The Alaska Moravian Church]
* [http://www.moravian.ca/ The Moravian Church in Canada]
* [http://www.mun.ca/rels/morav/index.html Moravians in Labrador]
* [http://www.ebu.de Evangelische Brüdergemeine, Germany]
* [http://www.ebg.nl Evangelische Broedergemeente, Netherlands]
* [http://www.archiv.ebu.de/index_e.html Moravian Archives]
* [http://www.moravianmusic.org Moravian Music Foundation]
* [http://www.zinzendorf.com "Zinzendorf.com" - Historical site with information on Count Zinzendorf]
* [http://www.mustardseedorder.com "Mustardseedorder.com" - explores Zinzendorf's "order of the mustard seed"]
* [http://www.24-7prayer.com "24-7 prayer" - a contemporary movement inspired by Moravian 100 year prayer watch]
* [http://www.unityofthebrethren.org/ "Unity of the Brethren" a separately incorporated Moravian Church body in Texas]
* [http://hometown.aol.com/rechcigl/myhomepage/faith.html Moravian Brethren from the Czech Republic]
* [http://link.library.utoronto.ca/inuitmoravian/ The Labrador Inuit Through Moravian Eyes]
* [http://moravianheritage.org The Moravian Heritage Network]
* [http://www.nps.gov/history/NR/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/59bethlehem/59bethlehem.htm ''Bethlehem, Pennsylvania: A Moravian Settlement in Colonial America,'' a National Park Service Teaching with Historic Places (TwHP) lesson plan]
* {{CathEncy|wstitle=Bohemian Brethren}}
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