Brethren Religion Disambiguation, Acronym Dictionary, and Definitions:

Brethren (neu-täufer)(B-nt): This is the primary line of Brethren before the split in 1883. It was alternatively known by the names German Baptist, or German Baptist Brethren and existed from 1708-1908 when the church changed its name to “The Church of the Brethren” (COB)

Church of the Brethren (COB): The largest group to emerge after The Split between 1880-1883. Renamed from German Baptist/German Baptist Brethren in 1908. Continues to be known today as the Church of the Brethren. They are considered to be the “central theological line” within the Brethren theological milieu generally, and understood as the direct descendent group of the Brethren (neu-täufer)(B-nt), German Baptist, German Baptist Brethren line.

Old German Baptist Brethren (OGBB): The ultra-conservative branch of the Brethren heritage with historical roots in the Brethren Old Order movement of the late 19th Century. The fellowship has, since the 1880s, adapted to cultural influences with cautious consideration. Today these Brethren remain somewhat aloof from society while maintaining strong spiritual and social ties among themselves. Theology: The OGBB recognize the depravity of fallen humanity and the redemptive work of God through his public confession, and the obedience of the penitent in a life of righteousness. They, therefore, stress salvation by grace, faith, and a life of obedient works as defined by the Scriptures as they understand them. They cannot understand an effectual faith without an obedient life and the manifestation of fruitful works. This, coupled with a literal interpretation of the Scriptures by the OGBB, leads to the practice of certain ordinances, including baptism, feetwashing, the love feast meal, the communion of bread and cup, the salutation of the holy kiss, and anointing of the sick for healing. In addition, they Share the other traditional Brethren doctrines, including nonresistance, nonconformity to the world, the sanctity of the marriage vow, and a refusal to swear oaths. These they hold with a rather strcit uniformity which has led some to describe them as legalistic. This impression has been fostered, perhaps, by the maintenance of strong Annual Meeting and local church coucil meeting authority as a safeguard against the loss of the principles mentioned above. In actual fact, some of the OGBB tend to be legalistic in their interpretation of Scriptures and church coucil decisions and some tend to take more liberty. The result, however, has been a rather comfortable and united fellowhsip within the grace-faith-obedience framework. (Brethren Encyclopedia, Vol. 2 / P. 996, 997)

Brethren Church (BC): Split from the Brethren (neu-täufer)(B-nt) central theological line in 1883.

Brethren Church (Ashland)(BCa):

Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches (FGBC): Split from the Brethren Church (BC) in 1939. The 1939 division yeilded two roughly equal groups, the BC and the FGBC.

Other names for the Brethren:
1) “Duch Babtist Susiety.” – May 10 1798, Martin Garver (Garber) called himself a “Minister of the Duch Babtist Susiety.” – Wayland, John W., A History of Rockingham County, Virginia, 1912. P. 250.

“The Split” or “The Division”: This refers specifically to the split that occured within the church in 1883 when the Old German Baptist Brethren, and the Progressive Brethren Groups spolit into three main groups. The following is taken from the Old German Baptist Brethren Entry in the Brethren Enyclopedia:

The Old Order movement developed among German Baptist Brethren concurrently with the Progressive Brethren movement and the two proved mutually incompatible. The Old Order movement initially had greater influence over the Annual Meeting but during the eighth decade of the 19th century the latter graduatee exerted a greater influence. The newly developing Brethren periodicals gave expression to the various influences at work within the church. The Vindicator being the voice of the Old Order ause. As polarization developed and issues began to take shape, it was apparent that certain geographical areas were stronger centers of Old Order influence. These included Maryland, SE Pennsylvania, the Miami Valley of Ohio, and Iowa, with scattered interest throughout the denomination.

The first actual withdrawal was that of the Beaverdam, MD, congregation in 1880, with support from Pipe Creek, MD, and Antietam and Mill Creek, PA. The group held its own coucil meeting at Pentecost, 1881, corresponding to the Annual Meeting. Several Iowa congregations also organized in 1880, and the Bear Breek congregation of SW Ohio was out of Brethren fellowship in the same year.

The actions in southern Ohio followed several petitions to Annual Meeting from elders’ conferences in the Miami Valley in 1868, 1869, 1879, and 1880. The Resolutions Passed at the Special Conference (1881), drawn up at a meeting held Aug. 24, 1881 in the Ludlow-Painter Creek congregation of Darke Co., OH, also resulted in withdrawal. An organizational meeting was held in the Salem congregation, Montgomery Co., OH, in Dec., 1881; the First Annual Meeting of the Old German Baptist Brethren was held in the Wolf Creek congregation of Montgomery Co. in 1882. The Maryland-Pennsylvania fellowship soon identified with the Miami Valley Brethren as did the Virginia Brethren, and subsequently individuals or parts of congregations elsewhere identified with the Old German Baptist Brethren by endorsing the Resolutions of 1881. (Brethren Encyclopeida, Vol. 2 P. 996-997)