The Christian Community
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2008-06-12T02:00:20Z
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{{portal|Christianity}}
'''The Christian Community''' (German: [[:de:Die Christengemeinschaft|Die Christengemeinschaft]]) is a [[Christian]] [[denomination]]. It was founded in [[1922]] in Switzerland by a group of mainly [[Lutheran]] theologians and ministers led by [[Friedrich Rittelmeyer]],<ref>Claudia Becker, ''Attempts of religious renewal in the modern trend by the example of the evangelic theologian Friedrich Rittelmeyer (1872-1938)'', Ph.D. dissertation, Freie Universität Berlin, 2000. [http://www.diss.fu-berlin.de/2001/120/indexe.html Abstract (English) and text (German)]</ref><ref name=Hemleben>Johannes Hemleben, ''Rudolf Steiner: A documentary biography'', Henry Goulden Ltd, 1975, ISBN 090482202-8, pp. 134-138 (German edition: Rowohlt Verlag, 1990, ISBN 349950079-5)</ref> inspired by [[Rudolf Steiner]], the Austrian philosopher and founder of [[anthroposophy]].<ref>Friedrich Rittelmeyer, ''Rudolf Steiner Enters My Life'', ISBN 076613654X</ref> Christian Community congregations exist as financially independent groups with regional and international administrative bodies overseeing their work. There are approximately 350 worldwide. The international headquarters are in Berlin, Germany.
The Christian Community is led by the "circle of priests," with leaders known as coordinators appointed within the circle. A first coordinator (Erzoberlenker) is consulted by two second coordinators (Oberlenkers). There are also third coordinators (Lenkers) on the regional level and a synod of priests. There is no additional ordination for the leadership. The priesthood of the Christian Community has always been open to women.
==Practice==
The Christian Community does not require its members to conform to any specific teaching or behaviour.<ref name=Hemleben/> The main practices are:
*The Christian Community celebrates the [[Eucharist]], which it calls the "Act of Consecration of Man."
*There are six other sacraments; [[Baptism]] , [[Confirmation]] , [[Marriage]] , The Last [[Anointing]] , Sacramental Consultation and the Sacrament of [[Ordination]].
*It takes the whole of the [[New Testament]] and especially the four [[gospels]] as its inspiration.
==See also==
* [[Anthroposophy]]
* [[Rudolf Steiner]]
* [[Berthold Wulf]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://www.thechristiancommunity.org/ The Christian Community in North America] with extensive introductory articles
* [http://www.thechristiancommunity.co.uk/ The Christian Community in the UK and Ireland] also with introductory articles
* [http://www.christengemeinschaft.de/ Die Christengemeinschaft] German site of The Christian Community
* [http://www.thechristiancommunity.net/ The Christian Community in Australia and New Zealand] with full programmes for all congregations in the region
* priest seminaries of the Christian Community in [http://www.seminary-chicago.org Chicago], [http://www.priesterseminar-stuttgart.de Stuttgart (Germany)] and [http://www.priesterseminar-hamburg.de Hamburg (Germany)]
* [http://www.antroposofi.org/ks/michaeltapp.htm The Christian Community - An Introduction] by Michael Tapp, retired priest in The Christian Community, former national coordinator for the UK and then Australia/New Zealand
* [http://www.renewtheology.org/ The Journal for the renewal of religion and theology] An online peer-reviewed open access journal inspired by the theology of The Christian Community
{{christian-denomination-stub}}
[[Category:Christian denominations]]
[[Category:New religious movements]]
[[Category:Priests]]
[[Category:Anthroposophy]]
[[cs:Obec křesťanů]]
[[da:Kristensamfundet]]
[[de:Die Christengemeinschaft]]
[[eo:La Komunumo de Kristanoj]]
[[fr:La Communauté des chrétiens]]
[[nl:De Christengemeenschap]]
[[ja:キリスト者共同体]]
[[no:Kristensamfunnet]]
[[pl:Wspólnota Chrześcijan]]
[[simple:The Christian Community]]
[[fi:Kristiyhteisö]]
[[sv:Kristensamfundet]]