How We Began
It was 1767, and an inter-denominational renewal movement was
sweeping through the colonies (otherwise known as the Great
Awakening). Back then, Christians gathered in what they called
“Great Meetings.” These were lively affairs. Several hundred
people from all over might spend several days hearing a string of
stirring speakers.
Isaac Long hosted a Great Meeting at his big barn in Lancaster,
Pa. Martin Boehm, a Mennonite preacher, told his inspiring story
of becoming a Christian and a minister. It deeply moved William
Otterbein, a German Reformed pastor. Otterbein left his seat,
embraced Boehm, and said loud enough for everyone to hear, “Wir
sind bruder.”
Which, being translated, means, "We are brethren." And that's
where our name originated--United Brethren in Christ.
Otterbein and Boehm realized that, despite their many
differences--in theology, background, education, personality, and
even stature--they agreed on the basics of the faith.
In the decades ahead, those men spearheaded a lost movement
which, eventually, organized into a denomination with the official
name Church of the United Brethren in Christ.
The movement spread to include a bunch of German speaking
churches in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, and Ohio. In time,
the loose movement saw the need for organization. In 1800, they
began holding a yearly conference for business and
inspiration--the forerunner of today’s “General Conference,” our
highest decision-making body.
Just 13 ministers attended that first conference, which was
held in a house. They did two major things:
1. Adopted a name: United Brethren in Christ.
2. Elected Boehm and Otterbein as bishops. Both men, at the
time, were in their mid-70s.
The United Brethren church has the distinction of being the
first denomination to actually begin in the United States. Other
denominations existed at the time (Lutheran, Reformed, Mennonite,
and others), but they were transplants from Europe. The United
Brethren church was truly Made in America.
