Old German Baptist Brethren

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July 1, 2026

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The Old German Baptist Brethren are a conservative group that emerged from a schism within the Church of the Brethren in 1881. This separation was a protest against the adoption of Sunday schools, higher education, missions, and church societies, which they felt deviated from earlier beliefs.1

The broader Brethren movement originated in Schwarzenau, Germany, in 1708, founded by Alexander Mack and others who sought to follow Jesus Christ's commandments. Influenced by Protestantism, Pietism, and Anabaptist teachings, they practiced believer's baptism by immersion and emphasized a simple way of life. Many Brethren later emigrated to Pennsylvania in the United States. The Old German Baptist Brethren, also known as Old Order Dunkers, represent a branch that chose to maintain traditional practices and resist modernizing changes within the denomination.231

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Brethren
…conservative wing called itself the Old German Baptist Brethren to emphasize its conviction that it was holding to earlier beliefs. The liberal party, led by Henry Holsinger (1833–1905), called itself the Brethren Church. The middle-of-the-road majority continued as the German Baptist Brethren until 1908, when it officially adopted the title…
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…conservative wing called itself the Old German Baptist Brethren to emphasize its conviction that it was holding to earlier beliefs. The liberal party, led by Henry Holsinger (1833–1905), called itself the Brethren Church. The middle-of-the-road majority continued as the German Baptist Brethren until 1908, when it officially adopted the title…
Read More