The central point of this part of our guide is the Covenant Brethren Church, a fellowship of congregations that traces its heritage back to the historic Church of the Brethren, while embracing an orthodox and evangelical interpretation of Scripture, salvation, and church practice.
The Covenant Brethren Church began in July 2019 when about fifty Church of the Brethren leaders met in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, to pray, discern, and discuss a new vision for Brethren in the 21st century. They decided to separate from the Church of the Brethren over concerns about Biblical authority, accountability, and the denomination's developing stance on homosexuality. CBC was officially incorporated in West Virginia on May 22, 2020.
The CBC upholds Biblical authority as the controlling standard of faith and practice, the sanctity of marriage as defined in Genesis 2 and affirmed by Jesus in Matthew 19, the sanctity of human life from conception, and historic New Testament Brethren ideals and practices dating back to 1708.
The Covenant Brethren Church embraces Brethren heritage infused with orthodox evangelical conviction. The CBC affirms that Scripture is fully inspired, infallible, and the final authority for the church. The CBC affirms the traditional Brethren belief in the Trinity and the gospel of Jesus Christ as the only means of salvation. In the CBC, there is an emphasis on personal holiness, adult (believer's) trine baptism by immersion, the love feast (feet-washing, communal meal, communion), and anointing of the sick. There is a mutual accountability of ministers, lay leaders, and congregations to the CBC's Statement of Faith. The CBC seeks to maintain a lean organizational structure focused on Christ-centered worship and the Great Commission.
The CBC requires pastors and deacons to meet Biblical qualifications without gender restrictions, and encourages the full use of spiritual gifts among women in preaching, teaching, and governance, reflecting historic Brethren practices of licensing and ordaining women since the mid-20th century.
The Covenant Brethren practice believer's baptism by trine immersion, reflecting the Apostolic pattern and Alexander Mack's Schwarzenau Brethren precedent (1708) of adult baptism upon confession of faith. The baptismal rite includes three kneeling immersions in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; the laying on of hands with prayer for repentance, forgiveness, and empowerment by the Holy Spirit; and a welcome into membership by the right hand of fellowship and the holy kiss, as a symbol of unity.
The CBC's governance and fellowship model includes an Annual Meeting & Worship Conference to elect officers, focus on worship, and equip congregations; a simple nine-member executive board elected by delegates at the Annual Meeting; Regional Clusters for ministerial training, camping, and church planting; and its headquarters and office space in Fairmont, West Virginia. Editorial, legal, prayer, name, location, and structure teams address key foundational needs.
As of early 2022, at least fifty-two congregations had disaffiliated from the Church of the Brethren and joined the Covenant Brethren Church. Membership and ministerial credentials are received upon affirmation of the Covenant Brethren Statement of Faith. There are no mandatory fees or assessments; financial support of CBC's work is on a free-will basis.
The CBC's initial core came from thirteen Brethren districts spanning Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Indiana.
Recommended Resources
A member of the Covenant Brethren Church, Antioch observes Covenant Brethren traditions on baptism, anointing, the love feast, and holy communion, with details available on the church's website's "Practicing Our Faith" section. Worship schedules, Sunday School classes, and its key ministries and programs are featured on the website, including its BLAST (Believing, Loving, And Serving Together) program, which meets on Wednesday evenings. The church's history is included.
https://www.antiochcob.org/
Center Hill Covenant Brethren Church
Situated on Freeport Road in Kittanning, Pennsylvania, the congregation is a member of the Covenant Brethren Church. Founded in 1820 and built in 1861, the congregation's roots are in the Brethren movement of 1708 in Schwarzenau, Germany. The church's address, a map, phone number, email address, service times, and a calendar of events are published on the church's website, which includes an overview of its ministries, a sermon archive, a blog, and a newsletter.
https://centerhillchurchpa.org/
Ewing Covenant Brethren Church
Serving the Ewing, Virginia, community, the congregation became a member of the Covenand Brethren Church fellowship in 2020. The church office coordinates its location, service times, and community programs. The latest worship schedules, outreach events, and volunteer opportunities can be found on the church's website, with additional information available by calling the church's office. Contact details are posted on the site. Directions and a map are also featured.
https://ewingcovenantbrethren.org/
New Beginnings Covenant Brethren Church
Based just outside Middletown, Maryland, New Beginnings offers Sunday worship and fellowship opportunities rooted in Christ-centered discipleship. Its website features its mission, vision, practices, core beliefs, and giving options, along with its location, service times, and an introduction to the pastor. Announcements and schedules for Bible studies, outreach activities, services, prayer gatherings, and a sermon archive are set forth, along with the publications.
https://www.nb-cbc.org/
Scalp Level Covenant Brethren Church
The Windber, Pennsylvania, congregation is part of the Covenant Brethren Church. Its mission and vision are set forth on the church's website, which features its leadership ministries, nurture commission, stewards commission, witness commission, service schedules, and a calendar of regular and special events. Other resources include a photo gallery, an archive of weekly livestream sermons, DVDs of past worship services, devotionals, a newsletter, and contact details.
https://www.scalplevelcbc.com/
Shiloh Covenant Brethren Church
Located in Moatsville, West Virginia, the congregation meets for community worship and fellowship gatherings every Sunday and participates in various age-specific and outreach initiatives, which are announced and scheduled on the church's website. The congregation is part of the Covenant Brethren Church, historically rooted in the 16th-century Anabaptist and Pietist movements. Membership information, tips for newcomers, and volunteer opportunities are set forth.
https://shilohcovenantbrethrenchurch.com/
Spindale Covenant Brethren Church
The Spindale Covenant Brethren Church is a small, community-focused congregation in Spindale, North Carolina. Its official website serves as a primary hub for worship schedules, outreach ministries, and other online resources for members, visitors, and other interested people. Affiliated with the Covenant Brethren Church, the congregation meets on Sunday mornings at 10:30, with in-person, drive-in, and live streaming options available. Its community and congregational programs are highlighted.
https://spindalecbc.org/
